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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  good family car - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By energyguy - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a good family car that gives you a break from the minivan. My Monte Carlo is a reasonable compromise between power and fuel economy for an american product. It lacks in sportiness in comparison to the older rear wheel drive models, but it has been a good choice as a second family vehicle used for daily work commuting.

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  To the Maxx! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By njscribe - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Have now driven 2500 maxx-miles. Car came in perfect condition and no faults or flaws have shown up. Continued to discover features. GM has trumped the competition, including honda and toyota. The quality of design and materials is unsurpassed, and the price is a tremendous bargain for what you get. Edmunds has totally missed figuring out that the maxx really is an EXTENDED SEDAN like Chevy is advertising and not a "large wagon" like they have classified it. What is unique about maxx is that it provides so much comfort for four or five people. In that regard it is like a compact limo.

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  Robke Rules! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By katrinak - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a great truck. It is the perfect size, nicely powered and very comfortable - as are all Chevys products. Just a joy to drive.

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  Wow!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By debbiem - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I love it! I was knocked out when I saw it. Looks better than a Lexus and performs great but at less than 1/2 the price.

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  the truth is - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Colman Bieber - March 6 - 5:49 pm

  Great car, rides like a caddy, good looks and lines, quiet, great features especially in safety

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  mmc knows - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mmc - March 5 - 9:36 am

  This is a great vehicle. I hear some complaints about headlights. Mine are great and I can see good at night. Thhe steering is very tight. No one has mentioned the tight turning radius. Wow. This SUV can park in tight spots no other chevy of comparible size could even think about. I dont like the non-removable mirrors on the visors( I got the LS model).Out of all the reviews I have read on the trailblazer I have not read one thing about the killer stereo. Good thing I have cruise control, because its real easy to drive faster than I ought to be driving. mmc

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By mcd1995 - March 5 - 3:46 am

  My 2005 SS Monte Carlo was my personal dream car for my price range. After bypassing the 2004 Mustang Cobra because of price, I picked the Monte up used with 30k miles for just $13,000 and Im loving it. The interior is very sleek, contrary to the Edmunds review. Trunk is HUGE and theres good interior space. The car itself gets a lot of looks. Im now at 42k miles and have no major mechanical problems. Like most, I think Chevy ruined the Monte by not making it a manual RWD. Still, the monte can easily reach 300HP with $1400 in mods. Ive used these mods, so I basically paid $14400 for about 310 HP, great styling, and comfort. Great deal.

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  Duramax 360hp 650 torque stock - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Rich - March 4 - 2:23 pm

  If anything, better than my 2002 2500 hd 4door long bed. Pulls my Montana 5th wheel like a dream, and as a new vehicle not broken in, I got nearly 11mpg between Albany and Syracuse, NY, but down to 9 through the Catskills. Most comfortable seats ever (my other car is a Ford ambulance). It seems to be the quietest diesel out there. OnStar is great and hooks right in with Verizon with the family plan. OnStar safe and sound is great. Love the heated seats, and the dual zone AC is great. It means the wife and I are both comfortable. The DVD keeps the grand kids occupied. Multiple mode sound means I listen to my CDs, the kiddies can use wireless for the movie, and 2 headphones for others.

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  11,000 Mile Rundown - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ChevyGuy - March 4 - 2:16 pm

  I must say that I am extremely happy that I bought my Silverado before GM decided to make them ugly for the 06 model year. The truck is doing fantastic. It is a joy to drive and has little malfunction. The transmission seems a little unsure but functions nonetheless. The mileage is good for the L33 engine and has plenty of range with the 26gal tank. The standard bridgestone dueler tires will throw all the rocks they come across so some ruberized undercoating wouldnt be a bad idea. I highly recommend the Z71 package, it came in really handy in about 14 inches of surface slop during the 05 whitetail season. Its a great truck overall, I cannot complain.

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  Great Product, GM is doing it right! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Joe M - March 3 - 6:23 am

  My Maxx is a great car. Smooth ride, comfortable, and quick with great mileage, Much better than the imports I drove. Why would any one consider a forigen car? This car is really a winner. I drive 75 miles each day to and from work, and I enjoy the drive.