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 REALLY WISH IT HAD 4 DOORS. - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By BABE - April 6 - 2:00 am

  IGOT MY VAN FOR MY 60TH BIRTHDAY AND I LOVE IT, BUT I WISH IT HAD 4 DOORS.WE TOOK IT TO MAINE THAT YEAR AND TOOK 2 OF OUR FRIENDS WITH US. IT THE MOST COMFORTABLE TRIP WE EVER TOOK. WE WERE MILITARY FOR 21 YEARS AND DONE A LOT OF TRAVELING, I ONLY WISH WE HAD THIS VAN WHEN OUR FAMILY WAS ALL AT HOME...

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  Good - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rick C - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Has nice comfortable seats and alot of room in the cab. Powerful engine.

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  L O V E - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By CvyLvr - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Well... Chevy did a good job! There is one thing that i really dont like though... who the hell thought of making an all aluminum diesel?? I dont know... The truck has okay power from the factory, but i recommend getting a Quadzilla power chip for it. You can turn the chip on and off with a switch on the dash!

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  impressed - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By jasbrat1 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  IMPRESSED WITH THE SMOOTH DRIVE, LARGE TRUNK GREAT FOR SHOPPING AND HAULING LARGE OPJECTS. GREAT ON COMFORT BEFORE WE BUY A CAR WE ALWAYS RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT FIRST AND LIKES THE SMOOTH RIDE.THANKS

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  One Awesome SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By shafman1 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive never driven a vehicle that was so quiet. The Tahoe has a built in feature which stops someone from trying to start the engine when its already running. It definitely needs it. It drives and handles very nice. The turning radius is great! Im very happy with all the ammenities the Tahoes has. It is loaded which is great for someone like me who loves gadgets. The Tahoe is definitely built around cutting-edge technology involving ammenites, safety, engine, brakes, and even the frame. Im very happy so far with my Tahoe! It is built like a Rock!

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  extreme comfort - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jay Acerra - April 6 - 2:00 am

  love my truck and the onstar that came with it Really a work horse!!!

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  Great Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bobwan - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck! I replaced a 5yr.- old compact pickup because I needed more power - boy did I get it. The truck has all the power and acceleration I need, along with car- like comfort. Ive taken two fairly long trips already (over 300 miles each) and Ive yet to grow tired of driving. I havent used it for towing yet, but I have no doubt it will have all the towing power I need. I added a tonneau cover to the box, and that seemed to improve the gas mileage a little. Right now, Im getting about 17.5mpg on the highway at 75-80mph - thats better than my old 4-banger, even with the higher acceleration.

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  Silly Boys Trucks Are 4 Girls! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chasityll - April 5 - 2:13 pm

  I bought my 07 Silverado crew cab Feb. 24, 2007 This is the best truck I have ever owned. I used to be a Ford girl, until now. I absolutely love this truck, it is great. When you look at it from the front, it looks like a monster, which it is!

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  Best Investment - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By SassyGem - April 5 - 6:56 am

  This is my first brand new car, and after years of driving hand me downs and discards, I love this car. I travel with my 100lb. dog and it has ample room for us both. Thats why I chose the sedan over the coupe. With XM Satellite radio, I couldnt believe I wasnt in heaven. While it uses a little more gas than Im used to (I drove a Honda for years and theyre gas misers), its not bad for an American car. I average about 26 mpg. During a recent road trip to VA beach from NY- I filled up once and it took me down with gas to spare! I am very pleased! My boyfriend loves the stereo system that came in the car.

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  Worth every penny - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Azmedian - April 4 - 11:33 am

  08 2500HD 4x4 Z71 Ext. Cab LTZ Black/Black Ive only had the truck a few days but I took a 500 mile trip to the Applilachian Mts. RJ Winter park & took it on some trails it handled better than expected & I never put it in 4-wheel drive.