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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  This is my 2nd Avalanche - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By scott Lamson - November 10 - 7:30 am

  Only problem with my 1st. one was the PCV valve (which the dealer fixed). This new one so far has been great. I can hardly feel the transition between 8 cyl. to 4 cyl. Ill be much happier with the better gas mileage.

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  2009 Tahoe Hybrid is outstanding - 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By V & S - November 10 - 5:53 am

  Current mileage 19700. Superb vehicle beyond expectations. Superb assembly inside and out. Visibility is superb and blind spots nil. Ride is surprisingly smooth, quite, comfortable, roomy. Required no repairs at 14 months. Same tires and breaks. Handling is better than many cars, excellent acceleration, responsive, tight steering, little sway, great traction control and brakes. It almost never skids. Great sound system, navigation, rear camera, and warning lights. Holds 7-8 large adults; or 5-6 with baggage. Pulls 32 foot trailer with ease. Mileage is better than expected with cruise control, on flat roads, 27-29 mpg. City is 19-24 mpg.

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  My first truck! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By r!ckyr!ck - November 9 - 11:45 pm

  This truck absolutely is a head turner. I get compliments all the time. A co-worker has a previous model, and he loves my new and improved model. Very quiet cabin, strong engine, very tight fitting/looking panels inside and out. The black color just makes the truck look that much better. The premium cloth seats are very comfortable, midgate design very handy. Ive got the L1 model(2-wheel drive) w/ sunroof, DVD player, premium sound, and woodgrain interior. Oh check out the climate control on this thing, looks "importish". Man is this a truck or a luxury sedan? Chevy hit a home run with this one!

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  Its an OK truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By vnllgrll - November 9 - 9:48 pm

  Its not a bad truc,k but its not a great truck. I have had to put around $2000 into it in the almost 2 years that I have had it. All I can say it thank God for the extended service plan.

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  Great Truck for the Price - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Mark - November 9 - 5:46 pm

  Find that the Chevrolet extended cab work truck is an excellent value. Lots of room inside and good comfortable seating. The V6 is challenged to cruise in hilly areas without having to ramp into higher rpms, but does a good job on the highway. Most of these have exhaust vibration as mention by another reviewer. Transmission is smooth and brakes are responsive. I like the hood design for 2006 which is very rare. 21 mpg on the highway is a plus and access to the motor is easy.

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  Love it - 1992 Chevrolet Caprice
  By goldvirg01 - November 9 - 5:03 pm

  This is my 2nd Caprice. The 1st was a 91. It has 152,000 miles and rides pefect. Drinks too much gas. I get about a little over 200 miles on a full tank and I use premium gas. But it only drinks like that in the city. Strong motor. Not fast at all, but strong. Will burn rubber. Very heavy car. Fun to drive. I think it is one of the best cars ever made, except for the gas mileage. 91-93 were the best years from my experience.

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  Hot Rod - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Richie - November 9 - 4:28 pm

  This is a great car for the money. I own a Honda CRV which gets about only 25mpg. The Aveo gets 33 mpg consistently and has more pep and is easier to manuever. So far no mechanical problems whatsoever and we are very happy with it. Its great both in stop and go traffic and on the long haul rides. I had the oil changed at 3500 miles by the dealer and nothing else had to be done to it. great car.

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  Red 08 Malibu 2LT - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By bohemia1 - November 9 - 3:03 pm

  Great car. I am enjoying the comfort and quiet. Gas mileage is almost 24 mpg. Scheduled to go in shop this week for alignment check and A/C check. The premium sound system with XM radio is great. Improvements listed below are mostly minor but add "creature comforts".

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  Avalanche Rules - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Freddy Wayne Montoya - November 9 - 11:21 am

  I have had my Avalanche for 3 yrs. now. No problems to report, just oil changes and gas! Very roomy interior, love the leather. Drives great, gas mieage is good I think considering the truck and its capabilities. After all, gas mileage in an V-8 is really up to the driver! Overall, I am very happy with this truck and I would recommend it highly to anyone.

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  Just Perfect - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dave - November 9 - 11:15 am

  Ive always loved 4-door pick up trucks and I was for 3 years the proud owner of an Explorer Sport Trac but had been looking to replace it with a bigger more comfortable truck so I could feel more secure on the heavy traffic of the I-10. The Avalanche was the obvious answer. Better comfort ride, stronger transmission and more luxurious than the sport trac and actually has the same fuel economy as my old truck. I bought it used but it rides just as new.