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:

• 

  Tahoe Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Larry - June 8 - 1:05 pm

  I own a loaded Z71 Tahoe. Im a very tall male who wanted not to feel cramped in my vehicle. This truck is exceptionally comfortable. Its a little hard on gas, but lacking nowhere else. I wanted an American truck, and Im very satisfied.

• 

  Ive had worse - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tcrews - June 8 - 12:16 pm

  My wife had this car when we got married. Weve had to do some motor work (2.4 ltr.), but it has 197,000 miles. What gets me are the comments from mechanics when I take it in. Every mechanic that sees it says, "Oh great!" and tries to pawn it off on one of the other mechanics to work on. They tell me the motors a pain to work on and was known for overheating. I drive it 150 miles a day bare minimum. Still getting 28 miles to the gallon. Very uncomfortable. Best fix for the road and motor noise is a louder stereo. Was going to trade it in for a different car but nobody wanted it.

• 

  Good decision - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kris - June 8 - 4:36 am

  I test drove several cars and SUVs for my birthday last year. My friend noticed that the only one that I truly seemed comfortable driving was the Equinox. I have taken my car on several long trips and always feel energetic instead of tired when I arrive. I enjoy sitting higher and still feeling like Im driving a car. Lots of people have commented on the color and like the look of my car. I get about the same gas mileage as my old car that had a 4 cylinder in it but I have more passing power now.

• 

  This thing flies! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Black 07 SS - June 8 - 4:23 am

  This car is extremely fun to drive. The LDS helps keep the torque steer under control and the bolstered leather seats adorned with embroidered "SS" logos hold you firmly in place while accelerating. Driver be warned...you will quickly climb the RPM band with this supercharged power plant! The throws are short and the gears engage with ease, beware of the sportingly short clutch...not a bad thing! The car handles incredible through both the curvies and the straight aways. Not to mention, the gas mileage has been incredible...especially for a supercharged engine! Id definitely pit the "SS S/C" against the imports any day!

• 

  Joes Review - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Joe - June 8 - 2:06 am

  This is the 2nd Beretta GT I have owned. The car is quick and nimble, and sounds like a baby muscle car. It is very low to the ground, and a bit harder to get out of than a regular car. It is/was an affordable sports car. Handling is awesome. The dashboard on most Berettas warps over time. I dont know why. My 1st Beretta was OK, but this one I bought with the dash already warped. Only the passenger side. You cant put anything on it, but it remains fully functional. Once the dash warps, the metal strip over the air vent next to the windshield becomes loose. I had to stick a folded up business card in so it wouldnt make noise. The car has 122,000 miles on it and no major problem

• 

  So So - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Impala7 - June 7 - 9:51 pm

  My thoughts on this car after having it for 4 years is its so so. The brake/rotor system is cheesy. Maybe it was built for the Cavalier. The car is noisy on accelerating. Not inpressed with the flooring under the carpet. Theres not much pickup when entering a highway or passing. The radio antenna in the window makes for lousy reception on stations 50 miles away. The opening of the trunk for putting things in is too small.

• 

  Practical and inexpensive - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Hibiscus - June 7 - 5:35 pm

  I purchased this car with 9 miles on it and have put almost 17,000 miles on it since May 2003. It has great mileage, its very reliable and seats our family of five in comfort. Ive had squeaky brakes, but my mechanic says these Cavaliers come with brakes that have a high metallic content. They work fine, but make a funny sound sometimes. This model has had three recalls for small items: a computer chip was reprogrammed, rear lights were replaced and an emissions sticker was added later. This is an inexpensive car thats great to drive and has a terrific sound system. This is the third Cavalier Ive had and theyve all been very reliable since I got my first in 1986. Im very happy with it!

• 

  Clean Lines - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By powertrainUAW - June 7 - 4:43 pm

  One of the most solid cars I have driven. Could have done without the XM radio. CDs sound great, 6 disk is the ticket. Added chrome exhaust tips from dealer, which finishes the back end nicely.

• 

  Great Truck/SUV/ - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bbear - June 7 - 12:50 pm

  Ive had my Avalanche for a year now. Great ride and comfort. Buttons for most things are fairly easy to find. Better ride than my old Tahoe was, and I put 175K on that one. 4WD works great in the mud and the sand. Tows like it doesnt have anything hooked on behind it. Great acceleration, and better brakes than my old Tahoe as well. Gas mileage is about what one could expect. Im averaging about 17-18 MPG on the highway and less in town. Large fuel tank is a definite plus. Thinking of trading for a newer one, just to get a different color and some other options. Sound system is very nice.

• 

  What a great little car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Cactus - June 7 - 4:23 am

  Ive had my Aveo LS about 3 months now and all I can say is WOW! What a great little car. Handles beautifully, quiet, comfortable, and suprisingly quick. Its an aqua color, and it really stands out. I get looks and questions about it all the time. Living in rural Iowa, people come up to me and their first question is usually, "what is that?" I love it GM! Keep up the good work.