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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  owner - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By me - June 15 - 10:00 am

  i owned a 2000 impala and it was a great car and i expect this one to be better than the 2000 was

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  OK-good car - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By asdfjkl - June 15 - 9:56 am

  Was great for about nine months, then little things started to happen. Check engine light came on. Took it to autozone for diagnostics and they told me it was a camshaft position sensor. Its acceleration improved after that. The starter failed me in December...which I fixed. The V6 does not give a do-it-yourself person much room to work around. The wheel bearing on the front right side became very noisy and had to be replaced. As far as minor annoyances: Vent selector knob broke (without abuse), the "ding ding ding" of the alert when you get in the car or are low on gas is very annoying, cornering isnt great, nor is mpg. Its an ok-good car. Not the best, nor the worst Ive owned.

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  Like a rock - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mtnman - June 15 - 5:40 am

  After 2 1/2 years of ownership experience and 40K+ of driving this truck continues to be one of if not the best vehicle Ive owned. For a full size 4x4 5000lbs. truck, gas mileage is very good. Minding the speed limit will net 21 MPG on the interstate. Only one problem in ownership, bad power steering pump replaced under warranty around 10K miles. I grew up in a blue oval family and have owned different makes and models of all vehicles, foreign and domestic. As stated above I have no regrets about this truck. I would highly recommend GM products based on this ownership experience. (I wouldnt have done so just a few years ago.) Great job Chevy. Keep on making these classic bowties!

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  Chevy went all out on this Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By fs - June 15 - 1:30 am

  Wow....this is my third Chevy SUV and this tops them all. It is a great truck. Comfort and style come together to make 2007 Chevys best yet. The truck rides smooth, handles great, and braking and steering are refined. The interior has most everything in reach for the driver and passengers. Wherever you go there will be positive comments on the 07. By being a driver of past Suburbans and Tahoes I can realize the differences made in the new Tahoe. My opinion is that this SUV will give any other SUV a run for thier money.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By John Thayer - June 14 - 11:22 pm

  Love my Aveo. Getting 33 mpg going to and from work (very little stop and go driving). Love the way it handles. Pretty good power for a small car. About the only things I dont like are the coffee mug holders (block the radio and heater) and bad visibility (blind spots) from the rear window. Why are they making all these cars with tiny rear windows? Course, I love small cars. Just upgraded from my Metro and I love being able to pass without fear of falling behind the car Im trying to pass.

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  Me & My "Bu" - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Trudy - June 14 - 9:57 pm

  No one is allowed to drive but myself. I wash it every other week. It was my dream to have one. In the late 60s Dad bought a yellow one a standard & thats when i learned to drive a standard. It had spoke wheels a pretty yellow. My Bu is special to me. Love that style. It will be a classic Ill never trade it. Thanks for bringing them back!

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  Intimidator - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By je - June 14 - 1:53 pm

  Awesome engine and suspension combination. I have the Earnhardt limited edition. I have added dual exhaust which I think they should come stock with.

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  Beware the Chevy - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Price - June 14 - 12:38 pm

  For 30k I was impressed. Until the fuel pump, transmission, a/c system, heater core, front end, water pump (for the 2nd time) all went out in the same month. 5 grand later my truck is running again. Come to find out this is typical for a Chevy, and all before 100k miles. Unfortunately all at once for us. I love the room, but the true cost to own sends me back to Toyota. Get it together Chevrolet, you might as well be a Ford.

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  1100 mile review - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By LRhino - June 14 - 7:30 am

  Love the styling but the the back end needs to look more bold. Lot of positive comments from friends. Had a Tahoe (nice) but wanted better MPG & utility. Bought Silver w/Black cloth int & pwr sunroof. Definitely, not a rocket, but gets up to speed in time & the average mpg is just under 23 as long as you have a good mix of highway & city. Lots of traff lights impacts quickly. No road trips yet to verify the 29 mpg. Had also looked at the Rav 4 and the CRV. Passed on the Rav cause the rear door swings out & did not like the base of rear armrest sticking up when folding the rear seats down. The CRV was nice, but liked the Equinox styling much more. I would recommend the leather seating

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  Wowee - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By leedeane - June 14 - 4:56 am

  My Chevrolet Impala SS is without a doubt one of the best cars,and most fun to drive that I have ever owned. My fuel mpg ranges from 25-27 mpg, and the power I have to get out of a bad situation when driving is incredible. The fit and finish is on or above par of any of the imports that I considered. The comfort of the heated seats and the peace of mind of OnStar makes it a joy to drive. Plus the fold flat back seat is nice on trips to the hardware store etc.