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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  Practical, lots of nice features - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By CPHV - June 8 - 2:00 am

  We traded down - or up? - from a 94 Suburban. The Venture has AWD, not 4WD, and gets 12 mpg better. The DVD, wireless headphones are great for our 5-year-old on long trips. Theres lots of room for people and their stuff. We had to have a AWD sensor replaced but a year and a half later, we are as pleased with the Venture as when we bought it.

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  Great Comfortable Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JTDalt - June 8 - 2:00 am

  I intended to buy a z71 pickup but once I test drove the Tahoe I was sold. Lots of room especially for tall people. Leather seats are comfortable with lots of features for seat height and ride. Have had no mechanical problems at all. Fuel economy is not great but what would you expect for a large SUV with a v-8. Great SUV

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  the title of my review - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By alban - June 8 - 2:00 am

  this car is one of the most beutiful and fun to drive cars ive ever seen in my life period

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  perfect design - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dominic vega - June 7 - 10:00 am

  i love the design of the super charge monte carlo and the interior

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  i like barettas - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By berettagurl - June 7 - 2:00 am

  barettas are cool cars,

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  I love this truck - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By Cougar69 - June 7 - 2:00 am

  This is my first truck and I am just delighted with it. I love its 4 wheel drive capability yet it is still a sweet looking truck. I love my truck, I think chevy may have gotten a lifetime customer out of me

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  Impala - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JeffGreer1 - June 7 - 2:00 am

  We have been pleasantly surprised by this automobile. The trip mileage is consistently 35 miles per gallon. Much better than we expected for a car this size.

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  2003 tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tahoe lover - June 7 - 2:00 am

  The overall experience of owning my tahoe has been great. The only problem I have had is the battery keeps going bad. It is very comfy and I love the DVD player and XM radio. I would buy another tahoe in the future.

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  my impala - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By richard Livingston - June 7 - 2:00 am

  great brakes fit and finish well above average

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  I cant believe it is a Chevy - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Ken - June 5 - 2:13 pm

  I am amazed at the way this truck handles and the gas mileage. In city rual driving I get 18+ to the gallon. Comfort is excellent and quietness is a welcome relief for a truck. Just got out of a 2005 Tacoma and my legs and back love the Tahoe.