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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  Avalanches rock! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Sarah - July 23 - 9:37 pm

  The Avalanche is very easy to drive. mine has the auto 4 wheel drive which I love for the winters in MI. It has awesome steering, I think it manuvers better than my Grand Am did!

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  Little car that can - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jamie - July 23 - 2:52 pm

  After comparing many different makes and models I finally settled on the Aveo. And it has not disappointed. I use my car for both personal and business uses, so I wanted good fuel economy(dont we all!) and interior room. I can honestly say that my Aveo is a better overall car and value than the 2007 Hyundai Accent and 2006 Kia Rio that I also tested and compared. The steering and suspension is tight and responsive. The engine is only rated at 103HP (lower than both the accent and rio) but it has good torque (especially from 1st to 2nd gear) to get you up to speed. Overall the cars performance and drive is better than I expected from a car of this size.

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  Good value - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By majorpaynepoo - July 23 - 1:56 pm

  I purchased my Impala not knowing what to expect with front wheel drive and the Impala name on the same car. My car has the 3900 v6 and man it will fly. I love the space it affords me since Im 63" and 240 pounds, with the seat all the way back I can barely reach the pedals. I also have a Deville Concour and Im happier with the Impala than I ever was with the Caddy. I am happy with the redesign of the Impala also I think it looks elegant as well as sporty with the dual exhaust and deep sounding mufflers. Happy, yes only wish there were more exterior locks on this. There is not even a place to put a key in the trunk or passenger door. Design? I dunno....

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  Nice Car Fun to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Vince - July 23 - 12:48 am

  Bought both 2006 sedan and hatchback within 2 days. Both are automatics, they handle nice on the highway, are a very quiet ride and have a very roomy interior. Gas mileage is 27-28 for both with a/c and mixed hwy/city. Havent taken a trip yet to see Hwy mileage. We have less than 500 miles on the engine and hope to see more improved mileage. So far we are very happy with our purchases.

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  My Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By shawn smith - July 22 - 10:55 pm

  I purchased my 2005 Chevy Cobalt in Oct. 2005. It is a wonderful car. It has great gas mileage. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Great Engine - Duramax - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Dave - July 22 - 2:16 pm

  Bought used from brother. 6.6L Diesel Duramax engine. Never a problem. Lots and lots of power with this engine. Maintenance easy for a DIY. Ill never go back to a gasoline powered P/U. I consistantly get 21 - 22 MPG on the highway, and 18 in town, when running with out a load. Everything solid, reliable and predictable. Would buy again in a minute. Brother chose this color. Id never get navy blue. Requires lots of washing.

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  It seems like one thing after another - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MICKITUP - July 22 - 12:46 pm

  I bought my 99 4wd in 2004 w/60,000 miles, now w/172,500 things are going wrong. 3 sets of tires(allignment, ball joints) 2 sets of rotors & brakes. Ive replaced the fuel, water, & P/S pump. My battery also leaked acid & the cables melted to the battery. Flickering lights, jiggling doors, the radio turns off/on by itself ,A/C wont blow on high, 2 broken door handles. Only the driver can control the power windows (bad switch) So After owning this Tahoe for 2 1/2 years & not being able to smog it due to a leaky injector in the 5th cyl.(recalled by Chevy) the DMV wont issue plates or send me the pink until she passes smog .Regardless of all this, Im buying a new Tahoe and will always drive a Chevy.

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  Up with Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Richard Waterstram - July 22 - 7:49 am

  I was not considering an 06 Uplander in my car search but am glad I came across one. I tried it and I like it. The ride is smooth and quiet. The visabilty and handling are perfect. The mpg is about what I was getting in my Windstar LX (19 & 26) and the price is right. So far there have been no problems.

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  Go Chevy - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mr.paradise - July 21 - 11:41 pm

  I purchased my Tahoe in 02 w/74k. She was a 1 owner with a fresh tranny! This SUV is the bomb! Done the average repairs: fuel pump, pittman arm, brakes and rotors. Rides great @75mph. Just remember it is a heavy SUV! You can not drive it like a car and expect the same results. (brakes, fuel economy,maintenance) My tank- Tahoe is holding its own at 167,000 miles with no signs of engine problems. If you are going to buy used, forget Ford and Dodge. Go Chevy

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  Great coupe - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jorge gutierrez - July 21 - 9:16 pm

  I loved this car since the first time I drove off the lot. I love the aceleration, and I never had a problem with it. I just love this Chevy.