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:

• 

  Awesome ride - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Lloyd Bratton - February 10 - 1:16 am

  The car is in excellent condition.

• 

  smooth ride - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kristi Stanley - February 9 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle that i purchased on nov. 24 in the year of 2003 has been one of the best rides i have ever had the chance to experience. My car glides with the road. Making my ride an ejoyable experience, in which makes me want to drive even more. Its the standard package of this make, but well worth its cost. This time this make of car has lived up to the test.

• 

  Perfect for me - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By WScottCross - February 9 - 2:00 am

  This truck is perfect for me. I was hesitant to give up the room of a sedan but with this I didnt have to.

• 

  Excellent Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By zikj - February 9 - 2:00 am

  Dont make them any better.

• 

  2003 Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bryan32 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  This is my third Tahoe and each one just keeps getting better.

• 

  2008 Chevy Malibu - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ed Keppel - February 8 - 8:10 pm

  My 2008 LTZ is fun to drive, I am getting almost 29 miles to the gallon on the highway. Handles like a sports car, a lot of car for the money. All of my friends and relatives think its a great looking car. The interior is very quiet, this is why I chose the Malibu over the new Accord.

• 

  The Princess Loves It!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By notthatkindofdoc - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Weve had this truck for 5 months now, and have just turned over 11,000 miles. So far, the trailblazer is everything to love and little to complain about. The big 6 cylinder engine is fabulous (my wifes words) and the styling is great to look at. Ive been hesitant to buy a Detroit sport-ute, but this was clearly a good decision, especially with the incentives.

• 

  Thoughts from a new owner - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By canoe - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had this car for about 3 weeks but have over 2000 miles on it. I am happy with the whole experience. I looked at all of the other mid sized SUVs and found this one to be an excellent blend of features. So far, so good. I have another 3000 miles to drive in the next 2 weeks. Time will tell whether Im still happy.

• 

  Just as good as the imports - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Brian - February 8 - 4:26 am

  Got my 3.9 Impala in July and have had nothing but rave compliments about the interior. My best friend has a 2006 Camry and tells me every time hes in my ride that I have a better looking interior. I love that next gen 3.9L and think if it isnt the best six out there it ranks in the top five. If they slap in that new 6 speed this would be a perfect drive train matching anything foriegn or domestic.

• 

  First Vette and not the last - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dbl Vet - February 7 - 7:56 am

  Awe-inspiring baby!! First time Vette owner and I am impressed that there is finally an American made car that performs at or above its foreign counterparts in a category. It is a pure pleasure to drive. The combination power of the 400 bhp combined with 400 lbs/ft of torque is astounding. The looks and complements from the public keep on pouring in. Nice job GMC. Now take this success and apply it to your other lines to save Americas auto industry.