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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  Great Chevy - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By KD - October 26 - 1:28 pm

  I bought this Chevy after doing much looking between the Ford, Chevy, and Toyota. After test driving all three I wasnt even interested in anything else. It has tremendous power and is a lot of fun with the stick shift. I love the tall stance and the satellite radio. And to think I almost bought the Toyota!

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  05 Colorado Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By jvassau - October 26 - 5:14 am

  I purchased the 05 Colorado after having four S-10s over the past 8 years. I was looking for more room, comfort and economy. I have found all of this and more. I was skeptical of the L-5, but that engine has all the guts of my other trucks and then some, the transmission is great. The truck has proven to be reliable and gets much better mileage than the S-10s, with just a little tweaking, air intake, chip and suspension upgrades. The 4 wheel drive has proven to be good quality system, i believe an upgrade from the S-10, whether in snow, ice or off road, construction site. The payload needs a bit of help, suspension wise. All in all I am satisfied with my puchase.

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  Traded Down to a 2004 for Comfort - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Joe Anastasio - October 25 - 11:57 pm

  Since July 1997 I have owned 13 C5 Corvettes (all new) and 1 C6 (2007 new). Problem was I bought the C6 Corvette site unseen (never sat in one). Im 63" and 280lbs and my knees were against the dash. The 3" they took away from it did make a difference. I was lucky though. Found a dealer willing to swap me my 2007 for a 2004 plus a fair amount of money. Im a happy camper again. Plenty of comfort and all the fun of driving a Corvette. I really dont miss any of the new features in the C6 that I had for 3 months. I never used the Nav system. Be sure to "test drive" your new car BEFORE purchasing. I was lucky. Didnt lose a lot of money for my mistake.

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  Cavalier Racer - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jason Howard - October 25 - 5:33 pm

  I am currently building up my cavalier to race and take to car shows. It actually handles and responds better than I thought it would when I got it.

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  Jims Chevrolet Malibu - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By James Pastore - October 25 - 2:27 pm

  I have read allot about the engine in this car (ecotech) and have heard nothing but good comments about it. I know they have increased the power in this engine to 900 HP for racing, so I believe this engine will work for me. Maybe it will come. However, I presently have allot of power for what I need. It is hard to keep this car at 55 MPH with barely touching the gas pedal. It passes very easily. It looks great. Runs smooth and quiet. People have asked me what kind of car is it. They are surprised when I tell them it is a Malibu. I presently get 33.8 MPG combined.

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  LTZ Z71 Crew Cab - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 3006 - October 25 - 1:23 pm

  LTZ Z71 Crew Cab is the way to go! So far, I am averaging 17.9mpg with 12k miles of driving in all conditions. I love pretty much everything about this truck and I havent had to take it in for any warranty work yet! the only thing I can say need improvemnts are the roof height if you get a sunroof. I am 62" and sometimes I my head brushes the roof. Annoying as heck. Also, the rear bumper is worthless in the new trucks. I was bumped in the rear left corner. With the old truck, I wouldnt have had any damage at all. However, the bumper on the new truck folded right in and the side panel crushed. $1500 to repair! The lady hardly touched me!

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  Sweet street rod - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By Beach potato - October 25 - 10:23 am

  Lots of smiling driving in Fla. with the top down. The exhaust is throaty and has a neat gurgle. Fast as I need. Only problem is Goodyear quit making the tire and the wheel and it wont accept a lot of other makes due to profile. Aqua Blur paint job gets a lot of compliments.

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  04 ZO6 - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ensbdon - October 25 - 8:41 am

  I drive my ZO6 every day, and I really enjoy the experience. I have had a couple of problems (window motor replaced and leak in the brake system), but luckily it still was under warranty. The handling and performance are unmatched for price and the looks, in my opinion, are better than the C6 version. Overall, I would say its a great value for the price, and depreciation is slow!

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  can you say ZZZROOMMM - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Diane Roberts - October 25 - 7:29 am

  Wanna feel like a million bucks?? Drive this car for a while. Its build like a tank, heavy doors etc. but handles like a dream, hugs the road in sharp curves.

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  Bulletproof Car with 3.8L - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By RickMiller - October 25 - 1:58 am

  i purchased this car with about 25k on it in march of 01. I drive about 30k miles a year and really test cars. Normally i got a new car every year. With a well maintained 196,540 on my odometer i am pleased to say other than a new battery, oil, tires, and an air filter, the car has been problem free. My mechanic says the car looks perfect mechanically and should go another 200k. I average 28.5 mpg on the highway but have gotten over 31.