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:

• 

  Pure J.U.N.K. - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Chebby - November 1 - 10:00 am

  Sorry I ever saw one of these things. Seemed pretty cool at first but quickly got ugly. Sucks gas like my old Hemi Cuda of 1970 vintage. Poor build quality and generally worthless design. Not really a truck and not really an SUV. It gets increasingly uglier every day and the plastic trim everywhere, inside and out, wont stay attached. Will dump it on the used car market soon. Certainly, Dodge and Ford have the edge.

• 

  Luv my Silverado - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rickdogdirtbikes - November 1 - 10:00 am

  It is a gem to drive, and quite comfortable. Very stylish, great economy. Sporty with the 5-speed trans. Oodles of power for a v-6. Best looking truck on the road. Only minor problem with injectors at about 30,000 miles and Chevrolet fixed it under a service bulletin. You cant find a better truck!

• 

  good - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By harrideo - November 1 - 10:00 am

  very good car. the only thing that i dont like about it is there is no child safty latch on the back door. other wise for short I LIKE IT. THE DEALER MADE MY SALE VERY EASY NO HASSLE.

• 

  A Chevy to enjoy. - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rugs - November 1 - 10:00 am

  Looked at Buick but ride was better than Buick 2000 and priced better. Enjoy riding this car very much.

• 

  Id buy another - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mikml2 - November 1 - 9:27 am

  This is my second Avalanche. The first one had some serious problems. I traded it and got a new one. This one had problems when I first got it, but once the kink got out of it, its been great.

• 

  Insane - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By R. Weeks - November 1 - 8:06 am

  I recently purchased the 2007 LT Avalanche and its an awesome truck. The interior is that of a luxury car not to mention it drives and rides like a car. The turning radius is unbelievable for a vehicle this size. The new body style is great. Surprisingly has a more aggressive look without the bulky plastic side panels. If you need an SUV/Truck, this is the way to go.

• 

  Black HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jim - October 31 - 6:30 pm

  I love to drive this car a lot. I really like the look, ride, and workmanship. I rate this car high. Mine is black, and it gets a lot of positive comments. This is my first new car since 1979 and I would buy this car again.

• 

  2001 Chevy Venture Plus - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Armstead - October 31 - 3:26 pm

  The look of the van is the best part. Performance is excellent. Changed the fuel pump and very expensive radiator in the first year of ownership. A great family vehicle. The extended version would have been better for groceries.

• 

  Neat car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Brian - October 31 - 9:20 am

  I purchased this vehicle in Aug 2003 when it first came out. I now have 72,000 miles on it and no complaints. It has only needed basic service. It needed new tires at 50K and new brakes at 60K. Only normal service issues. Three car seats fit in the back. Cornering has been excellent, expressway driving has been excellent 30+ mpg at 70 mph. Local driving averages 25 mpg. Could use a better sound system.

• 

  Pleased with my 04 Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By sburk - October 30 - 12:20 pm

  I purchased my 04 used with 14,000 miles on it. I have been very pleased so far. My Avalanche does not have the body hardware and is very sharp looking. I am getting about 15 mpg during mostly country driving as high as 19 mpg on highway trips. The interior is extremely comfortable especially on long trips. The ride is solid and quiet. I enjoy the sunroof and Bose stereo. I wish I had leather, but the black sport cloth seats are very nice. The bed cover was somewhat faded when I purchased the vehicle, but after using a product called "Back to Black" it looks like new. This is the perfect truck for a family man. Tons of rear seat space even for adults and I love the midgate versatity.