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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  Its a Winner - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mothergoose - August 19 - 2:00 am

  Unlike the young guys writing reviews, Im a grandma who has owned performance cars since 1964 starting with a gas guzzling 426 Plymouth. Three 5.0 liter Mustangs and an SLP performance package Camaro were among the cars Ive had and, while all were enjoyable to drive, none came close to the performance and handling of the Vette. This is a dream car to drive with great bang for the buck . musta

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  Basic run-around car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Murray - August 18 - 1:36 pm

  Great car to run errands with, take to the stadium or downtown to dinner and a show. Easy to park. Comfy enough for four on a short excursion. Not for cross-country. Roomier than it looks. Reminds me of the VWs of my youth

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  Awesome Car. - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Krystle - August 18 - 6:56 am

  I just bought mine but, i love it already. It really is a great car. It drives wonderfully. It handles great. Looks sporty for a great price.

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  Malibu the car with personality - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tyral hodge - August 18 - 2:43 am

  The Malibu reminded me of the driving experience that I got out of my 97 Mitsubishi Diamante a car that was great bang for buck but over shadowed by the big names Lexus & Acura. However I dont believe this will happen with Malibu due to all the advertisement. The car gets lots of looks and people think its a more expensive vehicle. Love the control you have of the car. I love power so its not quite enough but for a person who isnt a car buff like myself its more than plenty. I would buy another one. Tried to get my spouse to get one but they didnt want to have the same car. Car gets stated mpg, engine is quiet & took me awhile to get use to the smooth ride smoother than Accord.

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  2004 Cavalier Coupe - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By DaveG-in-AZ - August 18 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle may have been engineered years ago, but it still has tons of bang for the buck!!

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  Best of both worlds - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By stoming Norman - August 18 - 2:00 am

  Great truck rides like a car. Easy to drive can see all around no blind spots. pleaty of power easy to swicth over. Lots of fun real head turner.

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  Why bother looking at anything else?? - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Candle_Guy - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I almost didnt look at an Impala. But on the recommendation of my brother-in-laws brother I checked out the Impala. I went to the dealership to see what "Uncle Jack" was raving about for a test ride and fell in love the the car. Quiet ride, quick acceleration, large trunk, simply everything about the car. The Sutliff Chevrolet salesperson didnt have the exact car that I wanted, but he found one for me. LS trimline (have to have the spoiler), Berry Red Metallic paint, sunroof, and the equipment package so I had all the bells and whistles I would ever want. This is my Mercedes for only $20,000. It just has a bowtie on the front.

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  great car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By MONROE - August 18 - 2:00 am

  only have 400 miles on it cant wait to put more miles on it great car fun to drive feel very safe in it very happy.

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  07 tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By slightbo - August 17 - 9:53 pm

  Granted we have only had the car for a little over a week, but we love it so far and have no complaints. The touchscreen Nav is great, the interior is beautiful, the exterior (we got black) stands out and adding aftermarket 22s helped things out a lot because the stock tires leave a lot to be desired! So far no creaks, rattles or issues. Even with the DOD engine average around town mpg hovers around 13. Rides very quiet and smooth, even on the 22s. Exterior wind noise is minimal and while the car is big it doesnt drive big.

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  Great Midsize Sedan - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sdelz - August 17 - 6:16 am

  I bought this car for safety and fuel economy reasons but its a whole lot more than that. Its a fun car to drive! Its got great acceleration when you need it and if you dont have a heavy foot you can see 30miles/gallon combined and 40miles/gallon highway. The electric power assist steering is wonderful. However, we just received a "voluntary customer satisfaction" notice in the mail that they have had some problems with a sensor in the steering wheel and on some units they have to replace the steering wheel. This is a warranty item and they will test and replace through 1/31/06 if needed. Great handling and ride with the Saab Chassis. Overall a great car