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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  Cant complain - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Impala - December 27 - 6:14 pm

  I had a 98 Plymouth voyager that I traded in on my new Chevy. My wife divorced me and I wanted something for myself that I could depend on winter and summer for at least the next 10 to 15 years.

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  Best Car I Have Ever Owned - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By LINDA TRANBERG - December 27 - 4:55 pm

  This vehicle has been the most reliable vehicle Ive ever owned. It drives and handles wonderfully. I have a bad back and in this vehicle I am able to go long distances without any problems. Ive had this car 3 years and cant wait to buy another.

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  Engine light delayed and cost me a new engine - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By chaleena - December 27 - 11:42 am

  I was happy with my 2004 Monte Carlo. The back seat is a real pain getting in and out of though. My big complaint is I have 161K miles on it. Always maintained on schedule. Suddenly it started acting up and I made an appointment for my mechanics to check it out. A few days before the appointment the engine light went on and I took it in immediately! Well..engine light should have gone on several days prior when it was acting up. It did not! Now it needs a new engine! The engine light was lazy and it is costing me. This has ruined my belief in American made cars!

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  2005 SS - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By vince - December 27 - 9:16 am

  I had a black 2004 SS and now have a black 2005 SS. Do I need to say more. My list of things I like is way to long so I will mention the few negative things I find wrong. 1st is mileage. 95% of my driving is is town. I added a jet performance chip again and a jet air cleaner trying to increase mileage and maybe 1/2 gl increase. I average 10.3-10.9 in town. Now I went to the desert a couple of weeks ago and when I got off at my exit I was at exactly 20.0 miles per gl. No traffic w/cruise control the entire way. I know it is a heavy truck but I still think they could do more in the horsepower department. All the rain this year here in SoCal. All wheel drive has been great. 20" wheels=nothing but bite

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  Purchased new 2006 model - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MrsCFlowers - December 27 - 3:16 am

  We are very pleased with the quality and performance of our new vehicle. I havent seen the earlier models but we are pleased with the interior design and seats. I like the idea of heated seats for when its cold out, and I like the remote starting feature.

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  2002 Camaro Z28, LS1-6 Speed - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Tom Miller - December 27 - 1:56 am

  Having owned more than 20 cars over the past 30 years, I can say that my 2002 Z28 Camaro is the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Ive added some performance and handling bolt-ons, along with the Hypertech Power Programmer and the results are fantastic. 0-60mph in 4.5sec, 1/4 mile in 12.7sec, and Ive cruised at over 160mph. Normal driving I average 24.5- 28.4 highway and 14-16 city. I use only synthetic lubricants (engine, gearbox & rear axle) Mobil-1 for the engine with Z-Max additive. Soon, Ill be adding the GM Performance Parts LS1- to-LS6 conversion (heads & cam, 2002 Z06 Corvette) and a F.A.S.T. LSX Intake with a ZEX Nitrous setup. Love my 2002 Z28. Thanks Chevrolet!

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  Bad Tranny - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By john mattioli - December 27 - 1:30 am

  Had Tranny trouble with 7,800 miles dealer has car for 1 week says could not get part from G.M.. Called cusmter service for help got no help or return phone call.

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  05 Chevy Impala - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Paul R - December 26 - 11:04 pm

  It is a comfortable car that has room for five and a sixth with some discomfort in the middle front. The comfort for the sixth passenger could be better. I wanted the capacity for six people and this one of few cars that have it. The trunk had adequate capacity for six people for a week on a recent trip (one infant)where we made large pruchases at the Mall of America. It gets over 30 miles gallon on the road. It is a quite car with good handling and I have had no problems with it.

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  First and Last Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By trlinde - December 26 - 9:42 pm

  First off, the car driven before this was an SL1 Saturn which they stopped making, so Im comparing it with this. The Aveo is nothing more than a station wagon too short to be of use. Its uncomfortable, noisy, and feels like its going to tip over around every turn. It has no lumbar suoort and to add to the discomfort you cant adjust the angle of the steering wheel. The insturments are very hard to see the way they have then at the bottom of what looks like cup holders. The actual cupholders are unsafe in that you have to move your beverage to use the ashtray while you drive. Its perhaps the most unsafe car on the road. You cant even adjust the delay on the intermittent wipers.

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  Many Problems - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By freedom_tip - December 26 - 5:25 pm

  Overall I would have to say that I do enjoy the car when it isnt back at the dealership getting serviced. I have had problems with the brakes squeeking, rotors going bad, sunroof sticking, and as a result of the sunroof my headliner has been dripping water like crazy. Also the stereo fades in and out. Oh, and "6 speaker system", dont plan on finding the other 2 speakers, there is only 4. The performance isnt what I figured it would be for an SS, but hey cant get everything.