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 Ride! Great Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Wizzard90 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this truck for a week, but I can tell already that its a winner. It rides and handles awesome. Ive got the I-5 and it has plenty of power and is smooth at all speeds. My previous vehicle was a 2001 Blazer LS and this truck is much more comfortable and fun to drive (with better gas milage!).

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  C5 Corvette Convertible - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ponty - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is great at everything that it does. It is fun, it is quick, it is dependable and it is economical.

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  Its one of the best SUVs. - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By trailblazered - October 7 - 10:00 am

  All I can say is I love it. No problems, tons of power, plenty of space, its stylish and I got it loaded with everything except the DVD. Gas could be better but I didnt buy an econo car to save money here. Ignore the editors review. Hey editor, the steering is fine unless youre racing around corners. I mean really, its an SUV people not a Ferrari!

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  Equinox 2005 - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ezelle - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Very comfortable ride; priced well; drives and handles like a v8; as much fun to drive as my old Camaro

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  Great little truck - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sexieblueyes25 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I ansolutely adore this little SUV - It drives like a car- handles great and is perfectly designed with comfort in mind !

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  Way cool car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By fire61765 - October 6 - 11:40 am

  This is the best sporty car I have owned. I would not want to get any other car. The power is great. The fuel mileage is great. Mine is at 32 miles per gal. Its fun to drive.

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  Wow Toyota & Honda Just Got Beat - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Karl - October 6 - 12:36 am

  The Chevy Traverse just beat Toyota and Honda. The Pilot and Sequoia are cars I test drove and hated. My friend talked me into test driving and I fell in love. The Traverse has a gorgeous interior. The design and suspension are elegant. The transmission is a bit hesitant on the downshift but other than that its sexy. This car has beautiful function all throughout it. The cargo is nice. If you get the chance by American its the way to go.

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  Great Gas Mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Hollswirth - October 5 - 11:20 am

  I love this car, it has get up and go,its roomy, the car looks very small on the outside, but on the inside its bigger. Its fun to drive, and I get great gas mileage with this car.

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  Review of Chevrolet HHR LT - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By William Houk - October 2 - 5:03 pm

  I drive the HHR to and from work every day for a round trip of 48 miles. The HHR is very comfortable and fun to drive. It is very peppy when I step on the gas. The ONLY thing I do not like is that the rear view mirror is in my line of sight. I have to make an effort to look around or under the mirror to see if there is anything I cannot see.

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  Fabulous! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jrsfan8 - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I researched this car for what seemed like years and my homework paid off. We love our Malibu, Stella. She is fun to drive, she turns heads, she is fast and easy to steer. I would recommend doing your shopping online and getting financing somewhere else. It saves so much hassle, even though you have to say no a million times to the sales guy and the closer. You can get a much better deal this way though and its fun to watch them squirm.