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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  2006 Chevy Crew Cab - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Steve - June 24 - 3:00 pm

  3.73 axle ratio helps MPG: 19 city/23+ highway - great for a truck, but Id like better. Great power, chirping tires down the road. Folks complain that the interior design is old school, but I like it. Biggest issue is that the steering wheel feels off center from the seat. Great ride, fun to drive, hands down winner compared to Lariat. Big, comfortable cab is great for kids and adults. Rear radio with headphones is a hit with me and the kids. American Eagle tires are junk. Bargain for better tires. I like the 06 interior configuration better than 07.

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  SS has no rival - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Better Fords - June 24 - 9:00 am

  My last car was a Ford, & I liked it a lot. Im not stuck on one brand, rather, I buy what I consider to be the best car for the money. The SS fits that bill more than any car Ive ever owned. I love the understated, clean styling. IMHO, simple interiors are best, & the SS is as straightforward as it gets. 18" rims are great, and like the rest of the car, tough looking yet classy at the same time. Love the heated seats, XM radio, & sunroof - options I had never splurged for in the past. Hwy ride is smooth, be careful, though...this car can get away from you! Mileage is function of my driving; can get 28 mpg on hwy if I need to, but fun factor of the V8 has me averaging more like 19 :)

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  My Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Cheeky - June 24 - 2:43 am

  I love my Aveo! As soon as I saw that these were going to be coming out soon I just had to have one! Its great on gas, comfortable and very roomy. My husband is a big man and he has enough room for his long legs. I get great mileage and I just cant get over how good the car drives. I just cant say enough about my Aveo. I just hope more people buy them so they can experince the same.

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  Last of the Big Two-Doors - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Wheelz51 - June 23 - 10:00 am

  Have had this car since Aug 01 & love it. It has 145,000 miles & seems to be running strong. Have replaced the alternator twice as well as the fuel pump. Havent had the gasket prob (yet) as others have described. I love the split bench seat and column shift & wish GM would bring that back. I use a wheelchair & the 2-door makes it much easier to load my ride. Curious as to why the 98 gets 30 mpg & 99 drops to 20! Well keep this car til it dies, hope to get another 100K. Because of needing a large 2-door, my next ride will probably be the Toyota Solara.

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  AWESOME, WHY BUY ANYTHING ELSE - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mozvette - June 23 - 2:00 am

  Wow, what beauty and power, American muscle refined. Step on it and you know what I mean. Everyone looks at this baby. The best buy. I like Porsches and Bimmers in my rear view. Love it.

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  Its been good to me. - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Big Chuck - June 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this Suburban from a private party in 1996 with 34,000 miles on it. I use it mostly driving solo, but do, on occasion, haul a 29 trailer behind. I dont think you can beat the ride and comfort. Gas mileage has averaged 13-14 with mostly city driving, but have gotten about 18 on expressway driving at 70-75 mph with the cruise on. Ive got just over 148,000 on this now and am considering switching to a truck so that I can tow a 5th wheel.

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  Tahoe Review - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By nadine - June 23 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Tahoe 1994 4x4 2DR Diesel, 1999 4x4 LT, and currently 2001 4x4 4DR Lt with Autoride. I have had wonderful experiences with all. My favorite however is the comfort of my 2001, it is an absolute creampuff, and it is all factory - no modifications, but all the bells and whistles. The gas mileage is better now with the new Vortec engines and smaller tank.

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  So much better than my previous Z-71 - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By CHRISB - June 22 - 4:40 am

  My lease was up on my 06 Z-71 LT3 truck in October 08, so I decided to buy the new 08 for about $2500 more than it would have cost to buy the 06 off of the lease. Wow! What a huge difference a redesign can make. Same basic powertrain, but 5.3 now with flex fuel, same 4L60, but I am almost sure that GM has stopped using that junk rear end supplier that plagued the previous body truck. They claim the new truck is 146% stronger in the frame, and I would say that much and more. I like the Active Fuel Management, but it doesnt seem to work above 70, or on an incline of any sort whatsoever. Overall A+

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  Best One Yet - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Slickeeboy - June 22 - 2:00 am

  Great overall truck. This is my third one and is by far the best. Good torque for off-road and the posi doesnt hurt either. The 190hp 4.3 moves the heavy S-10 model better than I thought it would.

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  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Steve Jobs - June 22 - 2:00 am

  Totally reliable, fun, great 4wd car that can handle situations the bigger suvs cant. Convertible is totally fun.