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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  My beautiful SSR - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Pat Yanish - May 18 - 8:25 am

  This vehicle is awesome. I have wanted this SSR for six years and it was worth waiting for. It gives me a smooth ride and I feel great driving it.

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  Amazing Car - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By drmdicarlo - May 17 - 1:08 am

  This is easily the finest car I have ever owned. Much better overall than my previous Porsche 911 or my Acura NSX. I absolutely cannot imagine another car being any more invigorating to drive. I am tall and I fit inside this car much better than the others as well. My only complaint is the lack of 6 way adjustable seats (I like more lumbar support).

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  Love it - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sgemrald5 - May 16 - 1:23 pm

  I have never owned an american made car before this one. I love this thing! it rides great, so quiet, has given me up to the 50s in mpg on highway. displays everything on a screen that i would ever want to know. I got it with 32,000 miles on it and havent had any problems. Its a breeze. Fun to drive, reliable, great on gas. highly suggest it for the commuting college student or worker, its great.

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  Great Deal - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Lee - May 16 - 3:06 am

  I got this XFE with the LT interior. The seats are very comfortable. My gas mileage is double that of my minivan. The transition was a little stiff new, but 2000 miles later is OK. Great deal for the money.

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  Very Happy - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Kaptain Kool - May 15 - 3:18 pm

  I bought a silver with black stripe 2010 Camaro 2LT with the RS package. I had wanted this car ever since I saw it. The V6 has plenty of power (I cant imagine the V8). I rarely get to hit 6th gear. The car is very cool. It is a little hard to see over the hood - especially if your trying to park within the lines of an empty parking lot. Also the cup holders are in the worst place ever. Other than that this is a great car.

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  Great SUV for single guy. - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By J.POWERS - May 15 - 2:15 pm

  I bought this Blazer in April, 2009 with 56,000 miles. Now it has 81,000 miles on it. Have no complaints. I love the 4.3 L vortec v6 and 4-spd. At with od. The body & interior are great. I dont have many riders in back seats, so I flip them down for excellent cargo space. I live at the beach, but travel to the n. C. Mountains frequently. My Blazer does everything I need and more. All accessories work great, and the ride is good. I love the ride height, the acceleration, the ease of parking, etc. For a person looking for an average SUV without the high price tag and high insurance rate, this is a good choice. There is nothing bad I can say about my Blazer. I am very pleased with it.

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  Good Truck - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By TFA - May 14 - 7:23 pm

  Truck has been very dependable and has done very well hauling loads and the family on long trips.

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  First empressions - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By flyby991@gmail.com - May 14 - 4:11 am

  Chevy got it right for once, a quality car and not a cheap knock off. I first drove the new mustang and it felt like my arms were too short, with the Camaro you dont have reach for the wheel. the power is incredible, it may be a bit tall geared but the motor makes up for that. The low end torque is good but the motor really wakes up from 4k on. It has the feel of the old muscle cars, which I thought the government too away long ago. American iron is back!

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  Great value! - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By ME - May 13 - 5:51 pm

  I just traded my sport truck off for the vehicle for reliability and for the three kids, I am impressed with it a lot better than the $30k Uplander that GM bought back from us last year because of major problems! The Traverse handles good, lots of power, rides like a truck with the 18s and sets high for pride ha,ha gas mileage is not what I expected we get about 20 mpg avg I think it will be better when I put synthetics in the engine after first oil change. And I wish we would of got the LT2 with entertainment package and the 2nd row captains chairs for the kids but all in all its a great replacement for a minivan, for people like me with pride, no more guys doing the minivan walk of shame!

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  I love my car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By socalqt - May 13 - 2:14 pm

  My 1997 Chevy Cavalier was my very first car, and I havent looked back. Its sporty, small, and gets AMAZING gas mileage. A friend and I drove to San Francisco from Los Angeles on one tank of gas and it only costs $40.00 to fill the tank! I bought it at 72,000 miles and Im up to 103,000+ with little to no problems. No serious mechanical issues so far, the interior kind of fell apart (mostly the previous owners fault). Im so happy with my car, shes my baby. Shes been so good to be and I couldnt be happier!