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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  Great automobile! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By ahoogah - February 7 - 11:23 am

  Gas mileage great! Why bother with a small car for extra mileage? No noticable performance with E85. Steering in small area even greater! Be comfortable with a mid size vehicle!

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  Try it! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By townhome - February 7 - 10:00 am

  If you havent driven a Chevy in a few years, you will be very impressed. My Malibu Maxx is highly competative with all other mid-size cars, foreign or domestic. The hatchback is so useful, I dont understand why most Americans are opposed it to. You get all of the utility of an SUV with MUCH better gas milage and much better performance, plus a lower sticker price. In addition, Chevy has packed so much standard equipment in, I keep finding little details that make me say "Hey, thats cool......"

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  excellent value - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jeff and Alicia - February 7 - 10:00 am

  excellent economy car. More power than we initially thought. It goes up the mountain roads quite easily. Lots of room for large drivers. Fun to drive and great on gas.

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  Execellent choice! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rebekah - February 7 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased vehicle September 2004, love it! Very roomy on the inside with comfortable seating. I have a 64" sister and she can fit without bumping her legs on the back of the seat. Radio controls are not as confusing as listed, very easy to drive, handle and has good pick-up. Nice amount of cargo space in back- we can fit our 90 lbs dog in the back. Is a fantastic buy and I recomend it to all who want an SUV, not a boat to drive.

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  1500 crew/ls/z-71 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hillman1 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  bought truck 1 week ago. Vast improvement over x-cab for hauling passengers. Truck averaged 18.1 MPG on computer on 1000 mile trip. No regrets and rebates make the purchase well worth it

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  One Great Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ugadawg1998 - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I narrowed my search to the Chevrolet Silverado and Nissan Titan. I chose the Chevrolet because of added standard features the Chevy had over the Titan...engine performance isnt everything Nissan (thats what their dealers want you to believe). Bought this as a family hauler and weekend worker. It has lived up to all its expectations to this point. Love this truck!!!

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  Daves Review - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dbosco - February 6 - 7:33 pm

  Absolutely the best car Ive ever owned! Great style, fuel economy, interior is flawless! Those foreign cars just got beat with a world class automobile! Its so quiet inside traveling down the highway and the stereo is fantastic. What a way to travel!

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  Silverado, best all-purpose truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jack - February 6 - 5:20 pm

  We truely love our Silverado. It is our family vehicle, our camping truck, our bad weather truck, and long distance vacation transportation. It has everything we ever wanted, or will ever need, in a vehicle.

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  I LOVE this car!!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Cathy - February 5 - 9:10 pm

  I recently bought a 2006 Monte Carlo SS and couldnt be happier. This car is fun to drive. Its a BEAST really!! I was worried about gas, seeing its a v8, but those worries went away. I drive mostly highway, and its excellent on gas. I love how this car looks, inside and out. My old car was a 02 Grand Prix GT (2 door) and this car is very similar, except with a lot more power. Chevy did a great job with the 06-07 models, and I couldnt be happier!! =]

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  Overall - Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chuck - February 5 - 12:40 am

  We bought it new planning to occasionally tow our travel trailer. We have the 6.0L engine, 4WD Z71 package, locking diff, towing pkg. We have gotten up to 21 mpg on the high plains and some mountains at posted speed limits. We have the 3.73 rear axle, but should have gotten the 4.10 for towing our 5800# trailer, especially in the mountains. Only disappointment is the mpg towing; usually 8 to 9.5 mpg. The 6-speed tranny would have helped in the mountains but wasnt available in 07.