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 Car I Have Ever Owned - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By AWar - February 28 - 9:03 pm

  I have had three different cars so far in my life, and I can say that this car is worth a lot more than I paid for it. My monthly payments are only $200 a month, and I get 30 MPG. I have never felt so grateful to have a car, and I have never ever felt this safe, and comfortable in a car. Not to mention, I have never had a car so luxurious (and I dont even have the model thats been supped-up). The basic model is already equipped as a luxury car. OnStar is amazing and comes standard, and I have a car phone which makes me feel safe. It has a 5 star frontal, and side crash test rating. I will probably own another one of these in the future.

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  Good work truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By das - February 28 - 7:53 pm

  No problems great work truck, hauls 2 yards of wet top soil with ease. Pulls 7,000lbs trailer with ease in fast lane.

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  Powerful fun- 1991 RS - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By GK - February 28 - 5:47 pm

  I always liked Camaros growing up and finally, in my 30s, bought a teal RS with the 5.0 liter V8 and Auto tranny and have loved it. It also has the 16" tires & silver wheels. The motor growl and acceleration have made it very fun to drive. My commute now is mostly mountain driving and Ive found the ride to be too harsh. Putting on smoother-riding tires and shocks helped but Im now thinking its time to move into a sports luxury sedan(with power close to this RS).

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  Sturdy hauler - my "covered pickup" - 2002 Chevrolet Express
  By Wallace Mason - February 28 - 4:27 pm

  At first I was intimidated by the size, but the fuel economy wasnt so different- better than same sized SUVs, and after driving it a few times it became very comfortable. It really is like a "covered, air conditioned pickup". The Vortec engine is the same used on Chevys trucks, and the feel is very trucky. The passenger tires and suspension make the ride very comforable, more so than a truck.

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  Excellent alternative to big SUVs - 2002 Chevrolet Express
  By George Hosui - February 28 - 4:17 pm

  I love my van -- its a base Express 1500 with carpeting and thats about it, but wow, what a lot of space in the interior, for FAR less than any SUV that even comes close in interior space, and all rear seats can be removed for a cavernous interior. Really.

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  Highly recommend 99 Venture LT - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By rmsutton - February 28 - 3:42 pm

  If you want a smooth comfortable ride with plenty of room, this is the vehicle for you. its like driving around in your livingroom recliner.

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  Great Car, fun to drive - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By znat - February 28 - 12:08 pm

  It is a blast to drive. Handles extremely well. However dont expect a luxury ride this is a high performance sports car!

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  I love my truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Landon - February 28 - 9:26 am

  Very smooth ride, lots of interior room, great acceleration, great power, quiet ride, tight ride, and the awesome exterior design all make this an excellent truck.

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  Awesome MiniVan - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By wbvan - February 27 - 7:40 pm

  Love the vehicle. Kids love the DVD, makes the long trips easier. Very comfortable. The eight seat option is great.

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  Z-MANS Corvette Review - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Z-MAN - February 27 - 1:36 pm

  THIS HAS QUITE POSSIBLY GOT TO BE THE MOST AWESOME VEHICLE IN THE WORLD, NEXT TO THE DODGE SHADOW.