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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  Yellow roadster - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rnlemerson - June 12 - 2:00 am

  This is my second roadster, and wont be my last...I love everything about the corvette and cant wait for the 2005s...

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  $30,000 Performance Family Sedan - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By ChEvRoLeTfAn - June 12 - 2:00 am

  As soon as I turned over the keys to my 1998 Chevrolet Lumina Z-34 and got into the Impala and stepped on the gas, the difference was definately noticeble. The Lumina was quick and I used to be able to take the Civics and Eclipses right off the line but now, prior to experience,I have beat a 2000 BME 328i Sport sedan. I paid just over $30,000 and now that there is a special edition Indy 500 package i am probably going to trade it in.

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  Avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By AvaLanceinlagrandeor - June 11 - 10:00 am

  It is the best

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  NICE 4 PRICE - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Travis56346346 - June 10 - 2:00 am

  very nice car with lots of power for being stock, and can still pull out good gas milage, what mroe could you want other than power and milage?

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  Nascar Mama - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By krystalnator - June 10 - 2:00 am

  This has been by far my favorite car ever. Its awesome to drive. Everyone had to have one after i bought mine.

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  The Only Problems Were Caused By Me - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By blaised - June 10 - 2:00 am

  I only have about 5200 miles on this car, but they have been short trips, which is worse than highway driving. The gas mileage is excellent for such a large car (large by todays standards). The acceleration is also fantastic for this car. I think on the whole this car is outstanding except for its overall looks. (I do not think the crop of cars out there today are all that good looking, so my 7 rating of the Exterior Design is really a compliment). I slid on ice and damaged the front fascia, power steering unit had to be replaced because I hit a big railroad track, and mice got into my engine bay and chewed the wires. Exceptional.

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  sporty car - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By america - June 10 - 2:00 am

  Awesome car --- bring it back--ASAP.

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  good car - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tom ginder - June 9 - 4:43 am

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  Great Car - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By Marco - June 9 - 4:20 am

  I was in the market for a large SUV. So why not decrease my carbon exposure and increase some fuel saving. I avg. 21.3 city driving and almost 24 highway. The hybrid technology has changed the way I drive in that I am not as aggressive a driver as I once was; saving much more on fuel economy. I totally recommend hybrids. Great purchase even though people think a large SUV Hybrid is an oxymoron.

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  great car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By daddysgmgirl - June 8 - 10:00 am

  Great car! Ive had my Aveo for a little over a month, and it replaced a 12 year old Lumina I had. Its great, in city and on the highway. Good mileage. Only problem I have is my keyless remote entry broke (ironically on the day I mailed my first payment), so have to go to dealership. Bought it because moving and 60/40 split seats will be great!