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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  I love my Aveo - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By judy2164 - September 28 - 6:46 pm

  I absolutely love my new Aveo. It handles great, and feels bigger inside than it looks from the outside. Tons of trunk space. Plenty of leg room in the front. The adjustments on the driver seat are wonderful, I can drive long distances without feeling fatigued and sore when I arrive.

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  Be Cautious with a C7 - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Disappointed Idaho Corvette Owner - September 28 - 5:20 pm

  The C7 is a fun car to drive but I must say my C6 had better visibility and more interior room. The quality of my C7 was really marginal which lead to my decision to sell. It was really frustrating that the cooled seats did not work, the start/stop button sometimes worked, sometimes it did not. The windshield was such poor quality that when driving into the sun all I could see where the bubbles in the glass. The memory seats only worked when they were in the mood. The seats are now so small that my 5 11" 190lb body was always sitting on the bolsters vs actually sitting in the seat. The list goes on and on. Dont get my wrong, the car was fun to drive, lots of power and handles well. It was all the things that did not work and the Chevy Dealer telling me not to bring the car back to him as he could not fix the problems with the car. I expected more from a $70,000 car. I wish Id have kept my C6!

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  Good value - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Dale - September 28 - 3:14 pm

  Very comfortable car, particularly for its high gas mileage. The LTZ model is well equipped for the price. The LTZ trim gives life to an exterior styling that is rather ordinary.

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  trkn4evr - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By trkn4evr - September 28 - 12:43 pm

  This truck is great all around. There are so many little things that make the difference. The foldable back seats are very easy and create so much room, and the panels on the bed are a great invention. I have not had a problem in two years.

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  This is the best car ever!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Underdog101101 - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car ever.

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  0-60 4.2 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ricaro Dimishe - September 28 - 10:00 am

  the weels on the new vette are nice so are the tiers and the sound system is cool i really like the steering wheel and the clock i like the glass too

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  Chevy hit a homerun - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Neely - September 28 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is great. I had been waiting for it to come out for a while. Once it did, I was able to find the perfect one with the options I wanted (tan leather, sunroof, black). It has good fuel economy, solid performance, and looks great. Ive received a lot of compliments already from my friends. It has enough room in the back for my dog and handles like a car. Overall the perfect midsize crossover.

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  Leasing this vehicle was awesome! - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Jen Nicolia - September 28 - 4:14 am

  Love my cruze

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  Chevrolet S10 - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By wbchevy - September 27 - 11:07 pm

  Fantastic truck, excellent power for this vehicle class, and excellent overall value. This truck provides the perfect combination of form and function, providing good fuel mileage and overall capability. The cabin is quiet and well layed out, providing good room for most all passenger sizes. Overall, I would highly recommend this vehicle as it provides nearly full size capability with compact fuel economy of over 20mpg.

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  2004 Venture LT Luxury Van - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By escambiaguy - September 27 - 9:26 pm

  While I have only owned this van 2 months, it has been in my family since new. It has had hardly any problems. I am very pleased with the leather interior. It has good take off power, but does struggle somewhat on long hills. Earlier models had gasket problems, but that problem was resolved for 2004. The headrest of the 2nd row captains chairs do create a blind spot when backing up, but I have learned to adjust to it. There are also a few rattles from the rear door when going over bumps.