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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  the best camaro - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By big d - May 20 - 2:00 am

  i drive a 2001 camaro z28. i was looking for the 1998 body style, with the round lights, the yellow blinker and the new more powerful engine. since sept. 11 the intrest went down to 0.0% i figured id go with a new car. i have no regrets from buying this car, its fun, its fast, its comfortable, and everytime i drive down town i check my self out in the windows. when every i see another camaro driver we exchange looks and smile.

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  great - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lyle wimer - May 20 - 2:00 am

  the best car ever

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  Diablo - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Tom Stewart - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Thats the name of my Impala SS, a true American masterpiece. There are minor irritants like the bucket seats could have better support features. But these are buried in the joys of driving this two-ton hot rod! I had 10 guys at the dealership drooling and hoping I wouldnt take the car. Its the most reliable car Ive owned. It still looks red hot and attracts comments. Chevrolet made a terrible trade-off in stopping SS production for what...everyday trucks? On the other hand, it gives we SS owners an appreciable investment while we devour the thrills!

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  Shimmy - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Taylor Michael Sr. - May 19 - 2:00 am

  This is our 2nd corvette, last one was a 90 coupe. This 96 has the same body style. With top off, excessive shimmy that shows up in steering wheel, no matter what speed the car is going. Have set tire pressure acording to mfg. specs. 30 to 35 psi range. Had the front tires balanced at 80 mph. Still have the shimmy in steering wheel. Ive found no lose parts in front end or any damage, with car having only 27,100 miles at time of purchase. With top on there is no shimmy. Called local Chevy dealer who has a service rep. that knows corvettes, I suppose, he said it is normal? The 90 coupe that we had before, was fine with the top off! Can anybody help?

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  Tested them all - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jeff in Mtwc, WI - May 19 - 2:00 am

  Of all the cars I drove, the Venture was the best. The van has a solid feel and great features for the entire family.

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  A Great Buy - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Roger - May 18 - 8:20 am

  The last three new cars I purchased were Toyotas. But after driving a new Malibu which I had rented from a car rental place for a trip, I fell in love with it. Confort is important for me since I am disabled. After completing our trip, I knew that when it came time to purchase a new car, The Malibu would be the one.

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  2000 s10 review - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By mike leach - May 18 - 2:00 am

  i have had very good luck with this vehicle. There have been no problems with it so far. I am very well pleased.

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  you are loseres - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 125367576814 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  you guys dont know what you are talking about.you are all idiots for bad- mouthing such a great car. me and some of my friends all own one and we all love it.go to car domain.com and look at all of the street models you will see why its such a great car.

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  Great Bargain - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rpm - May 18 - 2:00 am

  Im 62 and weigh 240 lbs. The car fits me. Seats are comfortable (very adjustable for all sizes), and car rides and drives great. Love the stearing. The car is very manueverable. Seems to have more pickup than my previous Passat turbo 4 cyl. Better gas milage, too, on regular gas. Whole lot of power in the lower ranges, where Im driving most of the time anyway. Much easier to get into and out of than my passat. And, Ive never found a Camrey or Accord I fits like this one. Others dont provide this much engineering, creature comfor and features for the money.

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  Fun even when not in the sun! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mysticalmike1053 - May 18 - 2:00 am

  The Avalanche is the best truck that i have ever owned. This truck can haul butt down the road and the sound of the engine roaring is one of the best sounding chevrolet egines ive ever heard. the ride is great. you never get boreed of the XM radio. this truck does 80 mph at only 2000 rpms. my suburban did those rpms at 50.