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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  Disappointed in C6 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Thomas - October 27 - 11:23 pm

  The build quality of this car is still not up to par. many interior noises and an incredibly noisy roof. Body panels have inconsistant gaps. Needing to leave the car in reverse so battery doesnt go dead is annoying. So disappointed I sold the car after only 8000 miles.

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  Better off buying a BRICK - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Charles - October 27 - 8:36 pm

  Unfortunately I decided to buy this truck not too long ago, this thing drives like a Brick floating on water.. interier is CHEAP, plastic, no design, fit for nobody really, i wouldnt want to be caught dead in this thing. i suggest to anybody looking to buy a truck, look into something else. its way over priced, and there has been no improvements comparing to past models. I guess GM is going broke for a reason!

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  King of the road - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By harry - October 27 - 6:51 pm

  This truck drives very nicely in highway crusing. My family loves it, especially for long distance travel. DVD makes trip a lot short. The size makes it feel like the king of the road. Money-cant-buy confidence knowing that my family will be safer than most other people riding in many other types of cars.

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  Best car I ever owned - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jack - October 27 - 5:28 pm

  This car drives like a sports car--hugs the road like magic, takes our curvy mountain roads like they are interstates, accelerates rapidly at any speed. The gas mileage is not believable: 27-28 city, 32-34 highway at 70 mph. And its quiet and comfortable even on the 800 mile, one-day trips we commonly take.

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  2005 Chevy Malibu - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Hokie - October 27 - 3:53 pm

  Ive had my new Malibu 2 months. After driving a pick-up for years I would say I am very pleased with my purchase. The car has excellent pick up when needed and a very smooth ride. The gas mileage has been great. So far 26 to 28 in the city and up to 36 on the highway (65 to 75mph)

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  Not so good - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Vic - October 27 - 2:18 pm

  I bought the 05 Aveo in July and the care is OK. Im not sure why people are raving about the gas mileage as I only get 23mpg in the city with automatic. Besides the gas complaint, my headlights went out after 2 months and my suspension needed to be tightened and still does every so often. For the price of this car, it is hard to beat if your planning to keep it a very long time.

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  C5 to C6 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By john c - October 27 - 2:16 pm

  I had a 1999 Chev c5 vett and now own the new 2005 C6. This new Vette is an amazing vehicle and is packed with great features and technology. I have been impressed with the changes made in the new car and they include better performance, ride, handling and it is much quiter than the c5 model. I also opted for the 6-speed manual and it really makes this car fun to drive. The new Corvette attracts a lot of attention and I often find people hovering aroung the vehicle whether it is at a car show or the gas station. I have owned a lot of sports cars and you will not find another one out there that provides the level of performance and amenities for the money. Up next for me, the 2006 Z06

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  I love my Trailblazer EXT! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By klb - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I just took a long road trip with my family and was really enjoyed my Trailblazer. Not only was it roomy when we visited others, the handling with lots of stuff in it was great. I also really like the sporty look of the vehicle and get compliments on it.

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  New Chev Maxx - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By meg/joe - October 27 - 10:00 am

  I was going to buy a Chevrolet Impala but after seeing the Malibu Maxx I changed my mind. I had previously owned a Chev Tahoe and wanted to get something smaller. When I saw the Malibu Maxx it was what I wanted. With the hatchback/wagon style of the Maxx it gives me all the room I need, especially with the folding front and rear seats.

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  love it - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Doubledarell2 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  i think the cavalier is the best car ever made