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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  A lot of brakes - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By moms car - April 7 - 11:20 pm

  Not a great track record 4 sets of brakes, idle arm replacements, 4 sets of tires, the water pump and now the catalytic converter plus there is no A/C in the back and the kids roast in the summer. Bad gas mileage and an expensive car to maintain. Door handles have broken and the passenger side no longer locks. No more Astros for this mom.

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  Excellent Family Value - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Kevin - April 7 - 10:58 am

  This has to be the best Family value out there. It has everything we need. Gas mileage is bad but the rest of the truck makes up for that. Most importantly is the safety and comfort. I have the 8.1L engine and the truck feels like a race car. I tow a camper and a boat so the engine is a plus. Would have been a good idea to put a diesel in it.

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  Tailgate or Lack of Tailgate! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DWB - April 7 - 9:33 am

  The tailgate has about 2 inches near the top on each side where it is gapped and lets in snow, slop and salt. Very poor design. Also, cab leaves little room behind the seats for storage. Front suspension is noisy and causes a flutter when driving. Had it back two times and dealership cannot solve the problem. Appears the front suspension system leaves alot to be desired. Nowhere close to the quality of my 1997 Chevrolet K1500 4x4. Rather disappointed with the quality for a General Motors product. 17 inch tires made by Goodyear are not as smooth as my previous truck 16 inch Dunlop tires. Bench seat was much better since the center seat is too far forward for an adult to sit comfortably.

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  Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By John Quellos - April 7 - 1:44 am

  I bought my Avalanche because I liked its looks. The power is definitly there when you need it and the comfort level is up with the best. I love the control I have when driving on the old dirt roads where I live. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who asks.

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  An Excellent Car and An Excellent Value - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By West Coast Pat - April 7 - 1:12 am

  My wife and I bought our 2004 Chevrolet Impala LS on the last day of 2004 and weve been extremely pleased with our purchase. Our other car is a Toyota Corolla so we visited the Chevy dealership with reservations but were quite impressed with the build quality we saw there. Our car has perfectly-aligned, narrow panel gaps, high-quality materials and a very comfortable interior. The 3.8 liter V6 is quiet and strong and provides great gas mileage. My wife loves the heated seats. No other car offers so many features and value for your car-buying dollar and the Camry and Accord cant even come close. You pay for the name with those cars and you pay for a great car with the Impala.

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  Dream Car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By John - April 6 - 11:27 pm

  Unbelievable fun. The 2004 Corvette convertible is an uncompromising combination of power, handling, comfort, sound, and looks. The build quality is exceptional surpassing any Japanese or European model. This car is built for speed and handling but there is an added bonus of unquestionable good looks. There is a great deal of thought in this last version of the C5 with minor improvements throughout. You cant buy a better car for the money. Unlike other cars in its class the corvette can be used as a daily driver. The ride quality with the selective magnetic ride control makes a big difference over earlier models. The interior is basic sports car and it should be! Its a Corvette.

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  Best Auto Ive Had - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By magzum - April 6 - 5:58 pm

  I went from a Chevy Venture to the Uplander.....trust me they are not the same. The Uplander is so much nicer and drives better. I highly recommend that if you are in the market for a mini-van, check out the Chevy Uplander and you wont be disappointed.

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  Good All Around Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Chevy Guy - April 6 - 1:24 pm

  I have owned this car for 3 years now and it has been a completely reliable vehicle. I purchased this car based on two other reliable experiences with the same make/model. I commute every day from suburbs to city in all kinds of weather (including snow - i use snow tires too) and this car performs very well. Car gets very good gas mileage and decent performance with 4cyl/auto combination. No major mechanical/quality problems. Only problems of any kind has been an ABS sensor that failed and sticky power door locks (both warranty repairs). There are not many cars that have this value for the money.

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  Love it ! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Teresa - April 6 - 11:28 am

  I bought the Avalanche used with 12,000 miles in excellent condition and have not been dissapointed a bit. It does not get great gas mileage but I have driven a sport utility in the past, and it is about the same. The comfort of the ride and the usefullness of the Avalanche has made me very satisfied.

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  Good Astro - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By John - April 6 - 10:42 am

  This is my 4th Astro but my first AWD. Even though the gas mileage is less with AWD, I find it holds the road better, especially wet roads. I would purchase another.