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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  See_the_world_today - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By dlw - April 4 - 2:00 am

  45K miles across 15 states (so far) in all sorts of weather. The Impala has been a comfortable and reliable commuter and a wonderful road trip car. Its fun to drive and easy on gas (30+ mpg going coast to coast in the summer). A spacious interior and a cavernous trunk means there really is room for a family of four on vacation for a week. Other than a minor accident (or perhaps vandalism - the external mirror was ripped off) and an act of stupidity (dont drop a foil candy wrapper in the cigarette lighter) it has been just scheduled maintenance.

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  Hot rod - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By wjdodg - April 3 - 4:13 pm

  I got the sports package with my Cobalt for another $1645. My favorite things it comes with is the XM satelitte radio free for three months and the white faced sport gauges. This is a very fun car to drive, also very appealing to look at. Ive heard alot of negative things about the spoiler, but I like it. You will see the younger generation driving this car, definitely not a family car. Chevy did a good job with this one. They will be very competitive with the Hondas and Toyotas of the world. Maybe not take over but they have a good start. Last thing my dealer said was " youve got yourself a real hot rod".

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  Forget the other models.....get the SS! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By drstein1977 - April 3 - 10:50 am

  I just bought this car last week, SS models are hard to come by. I have to say I am glad I didnt get the 2lt, this thing blows away the other HHRs I test drove. I have the automatic so theres less HP but the design and features on this thing are second to none. No turbo lag and this thing hugs corners as well as my 2000 Trans AM WS6! Definitely a good family car with a very sporty edge! Two tone interior is nice. Extra options I bought: 7speaker pioneer system, sunroof, XM radio, and other cool stuff. Definitely get the SS!

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  Love my Camaro - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bryan M - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Both my friend and I bought 1997 Camaros and we both had the same problem. The windsheild wipers do not park at certain temperatures. This is the only problem and one that I chose to ignore.

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  Z28 Camaro - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jason Billingsley - April 3 - 2:00 am

  The Camaro and Firebird are the last off the affordable muscle cars! Who cares about the Mustang! They were only good from 64 1/2 - 70. Chevy never put a four-banger in the f-bodies! Mustangs cant hang with the f-bodies! They just dont have the power from the factory!

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  Plastic pack Horse - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Floyd C Bedbury - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive Good handeling-- Most car for the buck. So much better than the old Vetts

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  Corvette is the King of the Road - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By VAVetMan - April 3 - 2:00 am

  Best automotive purchase ever made. Great handling and engine performance is second to none. Before I bought my Corvette driving was a chore but now its a pleasure. Will always own a Corvette the rest of my life.

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  2001 Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Alberto - April 2 - 2:00 am

  Great Truck. Perfect for the large family.

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  Lives for more horse power - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Norge1956 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  If you drive in heavy traffic - go with the automatic. The 6 speed is alot of work..

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  The Corvette !!!!!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By The VIKING - April 2 - 2:00 am

  The HUD is great - check it out