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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  C6 Is a Great Corvette - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jeff - April 3 - 8:10 pm

  No surprise, you are buying an engine. They have just done a great job with the LS2. Performance-wise, the C6 is about as close to an engine stand with wheels as you can get. What will surprise you is how liveable the C6 is day to day. Driving it all most too much at the moment, but cant seem to get myself back into the other car. The other surprise is value. For the price, there really is nothing else. The options will undo this quickly, so just get what you need.

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  More than I expected - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By shobe - April 3 - 5:15 pm

  This is our second minivan. It has plenty of power. I bought because of a back injury and the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle. I used to be a Chrysler man but with the service I get from my local Chevy dealer, I will not switch back. Service is very important to me with all the miles I drive.

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  ROBNTER SS - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Rob - April 3 - 3:16 pm

  The Monte Carlo is a great car. It is very comfortable for our 90 mile daily commute. It has plenty of power with the 3800 series 2 V6. The gas mileage is excellent for a larger car. Average 27.6 mpg city and freeway. The stereo is awesome sounding and the acoustics inside are excellent. Drivers controls are very ergonomically correct. The car rides very smooth on all surfaces and handles well for its size.

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  Simply Wonderful, Great Chevy - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Sanjay - April 3 - 2:51 pm

  I purchased my Avalanche about a month ago and absolutely love it. If anyone out there thinks GM is in trouble, please do a test, drive a Toyota, Nissan, Honda and then youll know what I am talking about. I used to drive Toyotas all the time, until I bought my GMC Sierra in 2000. This convinced me that GM trucks are the best. I bought my Avalanche a month ago and its a beauty. It rides like a Lexus, it does not have any wind noise like the Tundra or Ridgeline. GM has come a long way building trucks and this simply shows how well they can build it. Again when in doubt, do drive others and youll come back to the Avalanche. Excellent, ride, comfort, convenice, etc etc etc.

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  Great alternative to the mini-van - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By KAD - April 3 - 2:22 pm

  We bought the Tahoe to replace the mini- van that finally broke beyond repair. We are a family of 7 and everyone loves the room, ride, and comfort of the Tahoe. Im getting better gas mileage than anybody I talk to with an equivalent type vehicle.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bgfmc - April 3 - 1:13 pm

  I spend 6 hrs a day driving my Nox and I love it. Only one small issue fixed by my dealer immediately (clunking Lift gate support)-I am very happy with this car- I traded a few year old Grand Cherokee and for what I save in gas almost pays for my Nox

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  Awesome Chevy! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Khalid - April 3 - 11:49 am

  This car was last on my list of cars that I would buy till I test drove it. Loved every aspect of this car from the very start. Its aluminum frame, beefy 3.8 L engine and sport package with leather seats, four wheel independent suspension made this a great car for the price. I would buy another Impala in a heartbeat.

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  Get the V8! - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Vroom Vroom!! - April 3 - 8:12 am

  I acquired about a camaro 2SS through email and Donna Lee from Chevy Phillips in lansing, il was there every step of the way. She was delight to work with when I got to the dealership and I couldnt ask for a better salesman. This is my second car purchase this year from Donna and she will always be my go to person. Always a pleasure. The V8 is the engine to get. the rumble from the car when you start it up will put a smile on your face. It drives effortless pass other vehicles. It lighter and hugs the road and the car is built solid and tight. I am never the person to worry about a backseat in a sport car. If Im driving Im not worry about who in back seat they need to get there own if they cant fit :)

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  Good Midsize Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By adamp*diddy - April 3 - 8:07 am

  I was looking for a decent midsize truck when I stumbled across my Colorado. I had not seen one before and mine had just rolled off the tractor trailer. I test drove it with the plastic still on the seat. I have had almost no issues with it at all. It handles all the work I throw at it. Dont let the 5 cylinder put you off. It has get up and go. Good truck I would buy another one.

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  My Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By AMANDA - April 3 - 7:34 am

  I just bought my Trailblazer a couple months ago. My Trailblazer does not have a ashtray and cruise. They do make them with cruise and a ashtray, mine just happen to be one of the ones that did not come with them. Other than that it has everything else a person could hope for. We haven’t owned it long enough to know if it is dependable or not, but so far hasn’t given any trouble. I love to take long trips and sleep while Im riding so comfort is a big deal to me. These seats are awesome to sit on or sleep while on a trip. They have great support. I have found my Trailblazer has a lot of power.