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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  SS - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By OhioSS - March 16 - 2:00 am

  I have always owned 4 wheel drive trucks, never have I driven one with more traction than the All Wheel Drive SS. I tow a large trailer, many times on glare ice, and feel confident and safe!

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  Maxx - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Rich Alvarez - March 16 - 1:16 am

  Other than minor details such as seat adjustment and cd changer, we are really enjoying our Maxx weve just celebrated 2 months driving it and we have recommended it to many of our friends. 2 Thumbs up... No I do not work for Chevrolet..

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  Dont buy this Van! - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Chevy Venture - March 15 - 9:58 pm

  We bought this van about 2 1/2 years ago with around 34,000 miles on it. It was very nice for the first year but then things started going wrong with it such as brakes needed replacing, tires wearing out too early, alignment off, sound system acting strange, video stopped working, doors not closing right. But the worst part is six weeks ago the transmission went bad and we replaced it for $2600! But it gets worse. Three weeks later the head gasket blew which is another $2000. With only 80,000 miles on this van, I am very disappointed. Weve owned estate wagons for years and never had to put money like this into them. My advice, buy foreign never American. Dont ever buy a Chevrolet.

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  4x4 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ken - March 15 - 2:16 pm

  All in all it is a good truck. Have trouble with speedometer and tach gauges. Company does not stand behind product and will not fix. Also trouble with front 4x4, having trouble fixing, speakers dont work then they work

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  so far so good - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mike j - March 15 - 10:00 am

  drives great easy to park rides nice hard to see out the back

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  chevy avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By DANO22 - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Love it!!!! No problems so far. It was actually everything it was advertised to be. Really!!!!

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  Opps We Made A Mistake - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Salchow - March 15 - 10:00 am

  Lots of Power, great acceleration, good turning. Have not used 4x4 yet. GM should provide compass on all the TrailBlazer mirrors, not just LT. Rear area is large, spare tire is under second seat. Mats are useless. Paint chipped in first week. Drivers side mirror on visor HAS NO COVER ON IT. Be careful, it is disorienting. Have contacted GM twice and dealer, no help. Have never seen a car with the mirror uncovered whether foreign or domestic. Is a safety hazard.

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  Aero Engineers Review - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By AZDesert - March 15 - 4:03 am

  After one month I am extremely pleased with the LTZ model. Power lift gate has been a pleasure when hands are full with stuff.

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  Good little road rocket - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By bert - March 15 - 2:58 am

  Bought as a short commute vehicle, never a major problem. Taken on a few long road trips. Always faithfully maintained due to low mileage/time ratio. One window motor failed, replaced via warranty. Brakes at 25000, good mileage considering short city daily drive, and multiple stops per mile driven. Never any problems, mileage decent, wasnt bought as an economy car. This little vehicle with the dual overhead cams will perform, and looks nice too. The traction control/anti-locks work very well in a Chicago area winter. I have found no faults with it.

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  Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By nathan mullins - March 14 - 8:43 am

  The Chevy Equinox is a stylish and comfortable ride with an affordable price tag. By far one of the best on the market.