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 power - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By LarryB - September 22 - 2:00 am

  the 2004 chevy v-6 has really good power and the truck looks really great

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  Yellow SS - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By tripled - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my SS for two weeks now, and love it to death. Coming from my 1999 Honda Accord, this car has more pickup, and better handling. It is also very roomy inside for a coupe. The trunk is spacious enough for me to add my subs, and still have access to the spare tire.

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  Equinox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Denny - September 20 - 11:26 pm

  I have a great experience with the Equinox. I have driven everything else on the road and this has given me the best interior room and gas mileage is great too.

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  2005 Monte - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By sd74oklahoma - September 20 - 8:43 am

  Blue Ribbon treated me great! The car runs great- of course I take good care of her with regular oil changes and such... Minimal issues all expected with running a car. Very happy.

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  I fell in love! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By ladyangel - September 20 - 5:53 am

  I loved this car the moment that I saw it, in the purple. But due to my disabilities and other circumstances I had to get another one in silver. So far so good with operational peace and comfort.

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  Monte Carlo LS Rocks - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Bill Turner - September 20 - 2:00 am

  The 2002 Monte Carlo LS is not only fun to drive, but gets excellent gas mileage and because there are not a lot of them on the road, turns heads. Sleek, stylish and fun to drive. The controls are built for the driver, allowing ease of use. The separate passenger heat control eliminates any debate about the temperature and the stereo rocks!

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  Good - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DB - September 20 - 2:00 am

  My new Chevrolet 3rd Door LT 1500 is a great truck. I love everything about it

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  My Take after 2,000 miles - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By madisong - September 19 - 5:26 am

  I took delivery of my red Cruze LTZ in the brutality of our Minnesota Winter (12/15/11 - and Im very pleased to say this car is performing flawlessly. The torque in the 20 - 50 MPH range is surprisingly strong for the 1.4 liter Turbo. The 6 speed auto tranny probably has something to do with that as well. The remote start is a big plus, especially now to warm it up and also probably later in the summer to cool it down. The only disappointment is the tighter than desirable suspension system. Could be the winter but Im guessing the low profile tires on the larger wheels could be the reason.

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  Great Truck for the Money - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cwosimon - September 18 - 11:26 am

  Great truck, have the 4.8 V-8, well equiped w/ trailer pkg. Very good power, handles well, good gas mileage. Not as fun as my Dodge Dakota SLT, but close and 40% better mileage. It is our trip vehicle, pulls our two jets skis, all our gear and the three of us with no problem. At 25,000 miles nothing other than normal maintenance. Well laid out interior and both front and back seat are comfortable. Will buy another is 4 or 5 years.

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  Best Value on the Market - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By crichie - September 18 - 5:43 am

  Ive had my Laguna special edition Stingray for about a week now and all I can say is WOW!! GM really got it right with this one. Ive owned a Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Gallardo, and I still own a Mclaren MP4 and with the exception of the McLaren I would take the Corvette over all of them. The performance for what will end up being the base Stingray is amazing. Throttle response is phenomenal and handling is as sharp as one of the super cars I mention above. What really surprised me was the interior...the interior on my car is done really well in brown leather and suede. The dash is brown leather and the doors are covered in suede and leather. Simply put it is an amazing car!