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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  Love it, love it, love it - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By eddie moreno - July 17 - 12:36 am

  A very smooth ride, great acceleration, awesome fuel economy (28-31 mpg) A very comfortable & reliable vehicle. I am very impressed with Chevy. Great job guys. Great price also!

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  Sweet Action - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jeffthegreat - July 16 - 7:27 pm

  Ive had this C6 for 5 days now. It is my 2nd Vette, and im so glad to be back in one. I traded in an 06 BMW 330i which was really beyond boring. While practical I just had no fun it. The heads up display, the seats, the obnoxious roar of the engine - cannot be topped by any other manufacturer. The only complaint I have is with the cheap plastic interior. Come on Chevy, get rid of it. The pick up on this beast is beyond anything I expected. The C5 I had was really powerful and fast, this one blows it away. If youre looking for an exciting car, something to put a smile on your face...get one! You will not regret it.

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  Workhorse - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Magnus - July 16 - 7:15 pm

  Ive owned for over 10 years, great for the family, boat and overall workhorse. Only wished I had purchased the larger Suburban. Chevy should build all thier car/trucks this well.

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  2004 Monte Carlo Pace Car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By novaracer63 - July 16 - 5:01 pm

  Just bought my 2004 LS that was the original pace car at the NASCAR Races in 04. She had 54, 000 original miles on her.......Took a long trip over Christmas and averaged 34 miles to the gallon....very impressed. Having front wheel drive was also a plus since I did sell my Suburban for this car. Locally owned and that person purchased directly from the woman that owned it right off the Chevy Lot. (Did notice there is some kind of noise in either the steering column or in the left front end...any ideas what it could be....all the maintainence has been done prior to my ownership of the car.)

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  Great work car - 1994 Chevrolet Lumina
  By kitecat1 - July 16 - 3:50 pm

  I have had this car for 2 years it had 63,000 miles on it when I bought it for my mail route. It runs great. The only thing I have had to replace was tires, brakes and alternator. I have done routine maintenance on it [shocks plugs and wires] but that is about it. It now has 105,000 miles on it and still runs great. If this car can make it on a mail route with all the stopping and running when it is really hot with no problems I recomend this car to anyone.

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  Marvel of a Machine - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Adriana C. - July 16 - 3:43 pm

  This car drives and handles great. My first experience was questionable on rusty brakes from sitting in the dealership yard. I got new brakes on it and tires which made it drive beautifully. To be honest, I saw the car and loved it - the exterior is so noticable but not outrageous. You can point out people who have the Impala be it from looking to the front or back. I like that feel it gives of owning a car with a titled history and a better future. The space, reliability, and fantastic miles per gallon it gets sold me in the end. As a college student and a festive problem child who loves to drive - this is the ultimate car to fit all my needs.

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  Avalanche Exceeded Expectations - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Stephen - July 16 - 3:16 pm

  Given the price of gasoline, I was a bit skeptical in buying this vehicle. However, after completing a 2,000 mile trip to the Pacific Northwest and back I was amazed at the MPG I attained. I averaged close to 22MPG on our trip! Granted, I wasnt towing a trailer, however, for the size of the vehicle and the fact that we had loaded the rear bed with luggage and other travel gear, I was still pleased. The fact that the dealership had discounted the truck $12K from the $38,500 MSRP was the icing on the cake. It was equipped with the on road suspension package, sunroof, XM radio, Bose system, luggage rack, rear entertainment system, leather seats and electronic air. We love it!

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  2002 Astrovan - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Jed Depew - July 16 - 11:28 am

  I purchased an Astrovan due to its vast cargo capacity and some advice from a mechanic I know. While the engine and drive train has been good it seem likes everything else has a problem. Small things break on a regular basis and are a pain to repair. Door handles, door locks, rear seats, windshield, lights front and rear, etc.

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  A great vacation van - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By mm - July 16 - 8:44 am

  I like the dash layout, son loves the DVD player. It keeps him entertained for hours. Love the power doors. Real handy if hands are full. Great safety features like abs/traction control, antiskid control, side airbags. OnStar is great.

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  Great bang for your buck - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By tmelton24 - July 15 - 10:13 pm

  The longer I drive it the more I love it. The price was great, more options for my money than the Mazda CX-7. Have been getting 26 mpg. The ride is smooth and comfortable. My sixteen year old son (who is 61) loves the back seat that slides back. Everybody says it looks like a Lexus.