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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  Impala...What more could you want? - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rollin in the Impala - November 24 - 2:03 am

  OK, first of all...Id not even compare this car to anything else. I simply could never find anything I like as well as the Impala or the Monte Carlo. I have owned a 2000,2002,2003,& this 2005. I strayed away once, just once & came back to what I knew was an amazing car. Trouble free, fantastic gas mileage (have got 35mpg twice now on hwy), classic Chevy looks & comfort for tall people like me. Another thing is, I dont feel like a nerd driving it like I would a Camry, Accord or Jetta!

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  Beautiful - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Shanta - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Im very satisfied with my purchase. It rides smooths. I just need to replace it with a cd player. Overall the car looks great.

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  Really like this car - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By biokmst - November 24 - 2:00 am

  I really like this auto. I have had foreign, chevys, pontiac and GMCs. Wouldnt give a plug nickel for the foreign - soooooo expensive to maintain for the money. The pontiac was comfortable for the mid size and dependable. This Impala is a looker, great gas mileage, comfortable leather interior and lots of bells and whistles for the money. I bought it used and saved tons of money for a nice car.

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  trail blaser - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By gengeld - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The transmission went out in the first 400 miles. The engine has a ticking sound dealer said it was normal with this engine.The rear window washer had a kink in the hose and was told for it to work must keep reservior must be half full.Plus other problems. Worst car I ever owned.

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  My 2nd SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Super Chip - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Nice, smooth ride. Hauls a full load on the highway effortlessly (V-6). Seats six large men comfortably. Restricted visibility with the DVD player down obviously but the rear views handle the blind spots. Love the way the radio volume gently increases with the increase with interior db level. Theater seating is great!

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  Solid Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jjjjj - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Much better than the Dodge products I have owned. Powertrain out performs Fords.

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  Still not the perfect truck ... - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Baybo - November 24 - 2:00 am

  GM still needs to work the interior better .. The floor mats that come with the truck look cheap and dont cover the space on the ground thus sand gets under the mat. The interior still has too many rattles. The interior is much improved but still see too much cheap parts. THe exterior bumpers are getting some rust spots in the inside on the bumper. The truck rolls at 5 MPH when you are not stepping on the gas.

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  BEST 1/2 TON ON THE MARKET - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DAVE - November 24 - 2:00 am

  MOST COMFORTABLE QUICKEST TRUCK ON THE MARKET

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  best in the U.S. - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rwea1 - November 24 - 2:00 am

  This is better than ford, know matter what. It has the most hp. In other words it is best!!!

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  Solid Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JJJJJ - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Much better than the Dodge products I have owned. Powertrain out performs Fords.