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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  Bets Corvette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill - June 10 - 4:36 pm

  We have only had this vehicle for a period of 3 mos. It now has 2500 miles on it, and has been the most exciting car to drive. Very comfortable with awsome power.

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  Goose Bumps - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Al - June 10 - 10:18 am

  WOW! Do not test drive this beauty unless youre ready to buy it! One spin down the road & youre hooked BIG TIME! Most fun Ive had since flying Cobras in the Army & thats saying something...its a little hard to get used to the stares & double-takes from other drivers on the road...a stop for gas can last 20 minutes because people want to look & talk about the 05 Vette. Its a gas to drive & has more than sufficient zip to get your heart pumping at upper triple digits. Pure enjoyment to drive - drivers seat is not comfortable, but who cares...its a kick in the pants to drive. Gas mileage is better than I ever dreamed. Get one & you will not be disappointed...best deal for the money too.

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  Mini-Van Never More - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By jbowen81 - June 10 - 10:00 am

  We have three kids and have historically been a mini-van family. Well the toddlers have turned into teens and the space needed to haul all there stuff has grown. The Trailblazer is just what we needed. Lots of comfort and room for the three kids , their friends and all their stuff. And with the 275 horses -- never a concern with getting up and going on the highway. We bought the DVD system which makes longer trips more fun for all. And for when we are all together, I bought a Thule roof carrier that gives us the ability to carry lots and stay comfortable. The mileage has been surprisngly good -- not much different from the vans we had. We love it!

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  Allens Review - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By BAM - June 10 - 10:00 am

  This is a great inexpensive car and is very reliable. It has plenty of leg room,head room and room for storage. The 4 door Sedan comes loaded, and it is a very sharp car!

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  C6 Convertible in Pittsburgh - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By nysteeler - June 10 - 9:59 am

  Incredible power and handling. Take a curve at 60mph off the freeway and it is like you are standing still. When the top is up (not often) I am amazed at how quiet the interior is. The power top is a must. Radio/CD is good , not great. Overall very happy. Not my daily ride. The trunk is small but fits a full set of golf clubs.

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  Great Car - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chuck - June 10 - 3:54 am

  Purchased from the original owner one year ago. Car has been great. Nice to drive, gets good gas mileage on a trip. Its nice and roomy. Have had no problems. Would consider purchasing another one in the future. Only thing I replaced so far is tires!!

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  SSR is Awesome - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By Debbie - June 9 - 11:24 pm

  The SSR is an awesome car. My daughter and I take off in it on the weekends and we get more people stopping us to see the car. It handles great, you hardly ever see them being driven on the road. We actually bought this car to use only on the weekends I know it sounds weird, but its a car that you want to keep special.

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  Amazing - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Gene Condreras - June 9 - 8:08 am

  Although the fit and finish on this incredible vehicle’s interior is not yet up to that of many foreign cars of its class, the comfort level, ride, and features are comparable to that of a Lexus while providing performance levels equal to that of a Porsche! For the money and love of driving, you just can’t beat the all new Corvette!

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  Wind noise - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jsten - June 9 - 5:44 am

  This is my first Vette and I love it. Everyone turns and looks when you go by (magnetic red rocks) and gives you the thumbs up. I love the car but only get to use it on the weekends. My only complaint is the wind noise when the roof panel is off and everything in back blows all over. You can hardly hear the radio unless you crank it up. Im looking forward to my first road trip to the mountains in 2 months.

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  New model blues - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Hank - June 9 - 2:52 am

  Though I enjoy driving this car, it has its problems. There is the dead battery gremlin, almost every owner I have spoken to, or read in a Corvette forum site has complained about this. There is the turn signal/running lite burn out with less the 5000 miles on the car. There are messages from the DIC (driver Information Center) that make the car spend the night at the dealers so the proper reset codes can be gotten from GM. There are mechanical problems with that are more severe that other owners have complained about. GM has repaired my cars problems at no cost to me. In retrospect, I should have waited a year for these bugs to be worked out.