Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Good Buy - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By K. - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I like how the car drives. Just breaking it in so for now fuel economy sucks but it will get better gettin about 28 on the highway 20 in the city rated for 26/37 but it will go up. No regrets about getting the stick. Only thing I miss about the Saturn I traded in is the remote keyless. This isnt a big deal with this car since its only 2 doors

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  Best Buy for the Buck - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By shdak63 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Minor problem with gas padel sticking, dealership cleaned and fixed, Fuel Gauge was also erratic, but dealership also fixed by replacing the fuel pump.

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  Pretty Satisfied - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Nickggg - October 7 - 2:00 am

  So far it seems to be a real solid truck. The I-5 engine seems to have enough power and the gas mileage is not bad. The heighth of the seats to cause a difficult view when passing but otherwise seams to be a solid truck.

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  Dig this ...Truck??? - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By earldog - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Great Combo of Function, Form and Ride

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  Love it! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ccairns - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I love my Tahoe! I drive 38 miles to work everyday, my Tahoe gives me the comfort and reliability I need on a daily basis. The cargo space comes in handy on the weekends for loading of large items (wood, furniture, etc.).

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  It is the best car out there! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Binh Contreras - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I love these trucks! They are comfortabel, however miliage is slim...too expensive! Well, I really like the leather seats and all the nice features, including on star! Dark blue is the best color. Dont change them to somthing square and keep up the beautiful chevy models...looking forward to new cars!

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  Excellent - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mathius - October 7 - 2:00 am

  I have recently purchased my Trailblazer and loved it since I drove it off the lot. It has just enough power to tackle the day to day things and great gas mileage. This is my 4th GM built vehicle and I have never had a problem with any of them.

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  03 4x4 4.8L - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BCKNBLK - October 7 - 2:00 am

  When the 03s first came out I hated the new design but it grew on me. I added a billet aluminum grille and it looks like a whole new truck now. The power of just the 4.8L impressed me so much that I thought it was a 5.3L at first. I had two Dodge Rams previously and the vortech motor would just walk all over the 5.2L and 5.9Ls I had in my Rams. Overall its a AWESOME truck and Chevy got back my loyalty with this truck!

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  Best vehicle I ever owned - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By corngator - October 6 - 10:00 am

  I have owned forty new vehicles in the last thirty-seven years and this one has the power, 8.1 (496) engine with 37.5 gas tank and 3.73 rear end to give me about fifteen MPG. Since 1976 when they made cars smaller and I am a large person, the Avalanche has the right fit and ride.

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  Great Ride!!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Shuba - October 6 - 10:00 am

  On road and off, this vehicle has performed wonderfully. 21K miles without any mechanical problems and much better gas mileage than previous explorer.