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 truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By jeffghs - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Couldnt ask for much more. Compared to F-250s much quieter, more power, more room inside. This is a tough truck.

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  Pleasant Surprise - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Red Tom - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Purchased 2003 LS to replace my wifes 98 Gran Prix. Wanted to replicate the 3.8 V6, traction control, and ABS of the GP in a different package. The Impala LS has become a favorite; it is quieter and handles corners and road irregularities better than the GP (both with 16" alloys). The driveline and brakes are excellent, and the aluminum front cross member and dash frame are apparent in body stiffnes and solid feel. Overall, a lot more fun to drive than I imagined.

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  Smooth - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By wilowbee - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is so much fun to drive. It is quiet and the power is fantastic. I love the way it looks and handles. I had another SUV and it did not handle or ride like this one. I am glad to have made to change to the Trailblazer.

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  RedSS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RedSS - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Unbelievable from the time you step on the gas until you peel yourself off the seat!

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  Chevy doing great things - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jim toms - September 11 - 1:53 am

  As an owner of Chevrolet trucks all my life, I cannot believe the drastic changes on the new Silverado. I have had mine for over a year now and I absolutely love it. As a commuter of 30 miles to work each way and then recreation. The gas mileage for a full size truck is unrivaled. You can notice a big change when the active fuel management kicks in because the gas gauge will actually rise it is incredible. It is nice to not have to sacrifice power for fuel economy. Seats incredible comfortable and extremely versatile.

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  The perfect car - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By STEVE - September 11 - 12:03 am

  I bought this car in a hurry, my Nissan pick up quit. I liked the styling and after test driving, found the Impala to be a blast. I bought the base LS. No anti lock brakes or fold down seat. I knew that going in. Buyers need to beware of what they buy. I love this car and if it holds up as well as my Lumina did, Ill be tickled. The 3.5 v- 6 does a good job and being able to burn E-85 is good and gas mileage penalty is not too bad.

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  LTZ review - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By David Watson - September 10 - 3:23 am

  I like everything pretty much. Ride is a little mushy. XM radio is a bust. It is not commerical free and there is a lot of blank spots.

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  Best Vehicle Ive ever owned. - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Pon1 - September 9 - 2:33 am

  Excellent acceleration. Smooth ride. Extremely comfortable and better fuel economy than previous models. I got every option possible and they all work flawlessly. Fantastic vehicle.

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  Maxx is cool - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By John - September 9 - 2:16 am

  A fun car to drive with superior handling and plenty of horsepower when needed. The instrumentation is user- friendly.

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  Awesome car...I love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By HLMcD - September 8 - 8:06 pm

  I bought this car because my son thought it was "sick"...being a good thing....I needed a fuel economy car and havent had a "car" for many, many years to drive on a daily basis...except for my Corvette. This is a really comfortable, sporty, fun car to drive and Im very happy I bought it! The stereo with Pioneer speakers kicks and its got quite a lot of spirit for a 4 cylinder car. I love it, love it, love it!