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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  2003 Chevy Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cslav - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Manual 5sp.transmission is smooth, 2.2L/140hp engine has adequate pick up and acceleration. Very smooth and quiet ride. Suspension and handling are excellent. Would like to see how it performs in the snow. Braking is excellent. Overall a great performer, for a basic car. Exterior design is beautiful. Paint appears of excellent quality. Interior design is lacking a bit, though. Its definitely NO FRILLS, and driver seat comfort isnt that great. Its functional, to say the least. Definitely a good car, overall; and I always find Chevy engines to be very reliable. With the $5000 rebates offered on 2003 models, this car is a great deal.

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  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Terry Tate - July 16 - 10:00 am

  Great car for the money. Rides great, price unreal, great family car, you cant go wrong. Can ride a little boatee if you take the corners like a teenager.

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  impressive - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Juanita - July 16 - 10:00 am

  We have been very impressed with this automobile. It has performed flawlessly. We are glad that we chose the LS version. Even though it is only rated at 205 hp, it accelerates rather quickly and reaches freeway limits more rapidly than I would have expected from such a small engine. It holds the road very well and it handles curves with no sway, a feature I was VERY surprised with.

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  Tough, Fun & Practical - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By NickKat - July 16 - 10:00 am

  I have found my Trailblazer LTZ to be tough, yet fun and practical. It replaces the boring old station wagons and mini vans with something able to do much more. It is quick and stable. It tows well, hauls well and the 4WD adds a measure of exploration and safety not available in those vehicles AND with reasonable fuel economy (especially vs the big station wagons) and great luxury as well.

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  i love this car - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By imcbeddings - July 16 - 10:00 am

  this car iz tha bomb

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  Easy Ownership - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Halfcent - July 15 - 10:30 pm

  The Cobalt is a super easy car to own. Its easy to insure, easy on gas, easy to maintain, easy to drive anywhere. You will notice what seems like a very big difference in looks between the base models and the upgraded cars. Leather interior on this car makes it seems like an entirely higher grade vehicle. Spring for the extras on this one, it make a big difference. Heated seats, OnStar, MP3 radio with Pioneer speakers, many others. And it is a much better car then its Cavalier predecessor.

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  Nightmare - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dave - July 15 - 4:20 pm

  This vehicle is by far the worst vehicle I have owned. I have had it in for serivce numerous times, and a solution is never presented. Vehicle is loud at all speeds, acceleration and power is terrible. Ride quality is very rough, and with every bump the vehicle jumps. Have had check engine light, oil light, and engine service light come on about 3-5 times a week. And as far as gas mileage, I average about 15-16mpg. This is by far the worst vehicle I have owned, I regret buying it every day. Please try to avoid this vehicle in any way.

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  Silver Bullet - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dreamcomestrue - July 15 - 4:11 pm

  After a Mazda 626, Nissan Sentra, Isuzu I-Mark, 280Z, Ford Mustang, Toyota Camry LE, Odyssey, and Azera, I was finally able to get my dream car, the 2007 Corvette. My better half and I thoroughly enjoy the drive, especially with the option of the targa during the endless southern CA summers! No mechanical problems, good gas mileage (about 27 mpg highway, so far), beautiful paint (machine silver), titanium interior, XM radio, and paddle shifters in sport mode! Wonderful 400HP engine purrs along at highway cruising speeds, hardly breathing hard at 1800 rpm, then roars to life in an exciting way and eats up the road when presented with a chance to sprint. Miles of smiles guaranteed!

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  Chevy baby - 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Robert Snyder - July 15 - 9:21 am

  How comfortable this car is . We love this car

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  Great SUV - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By Cory - July 15 - 5:23 am

  Great for an SUV. I average about 21 MPG of mixed city/Hwy. The hybrid system is smooth but not seamless. There is an occasional clunk when when the engine disengages. I have had the truck on every type of terrain, including snow, mountains, and mud. It performs as well as any modern SUV, just remember, it is no jeep.