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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  Bang for your buck - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By demonspeed - April 4 - 12:52 pm

  This is my 3rd Camaro. I bought the car used with 12k miles and I have put it through its paces. It is a daily driver that has seen a lot of track time. It has held up very well for the amount of abuse it has seen over the past 16k miles of ownership. With VERY minimal modifications, the car went from 13.6@106, to 13.1@110. I do not hesitate to take this car on any trips, nor fear the increasing gas prices and it sees close to 30mpg on the highway, and close 20mpg around town. For the price of these used LS1 cars, the performance/dollar ratio is top notch. With 303hp at the wheels STOCK, the car is really making more than its advertised 320hp (appx 350 crank - like a base Corvette).

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  Just Bought this! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Tracy - April 4 - 8:00 am

  I like the way the car handles, not like the Cavalier that I traded. It rides more like a Ford, than a Chevy. The backseat (backrest) is hard, but the seats are fairly comfortable - I would not recommend this for long road trips. The tilt wheel doesnt allow the wheel to go all the way out of the way. The keyless entry is a dream and so are the power windows. I enjoy driving my new car and will recommend it. I rated 9s because its too new to tell really what is excellent. The information center is nice. 2 Negs:The fuel gauge stops at 3/4 of a tank and you have to manually put more in to fill up. Its one minor annoyance. Also, the automatic lights do not go on when it rains during the day

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  SUV with an edge - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jj - April 3 - 3:33 pm

  After one year with my Trailblazer. I still look outside and admire its styling. When this SUV came out in 2002. It looked like a vehicle that was capable off road as well as a sporty cruiser around town. My family of 4 fits well in the Blazer. But, for me its a family vehicle that looks youthful and sport. Outside styling Great Inside Styling Functional

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  A great concept - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Me_Likee2 - April 3 - 3:50 am

  I have truly enjoyed this truck. I have owned Chevy 1500s and 2500s for years. I like the road feel of a Chevy. I think the interior is well conceived. I wasnt a fan of the plastic exterior in the beginning, but the look grew on me. Then GM offered the "Without Body Hardware" option. This removes the lower plastic panels. That did the trick for me.

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  Awesome SUV!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Kathy - April 2 - 5:56 pm

  This is the 3rd Tahoe our family has owned and we love them. We have had a 2002 LT, a 2004 Z71, and our current purchase of 2005 Z71. Excellent comfort and ride. Love the DVD system for our 2 small children. Although it is a large SUV, ease of children in and out is great. Nothing "cheap" feeling about this car. Have look at many other competitors and certain interior features have been skimped on by manufacturer. Gas mileage is average and what to be expected from a V8 vehicle. Love this SUV and woud highly recommend to anyone-family or individual:)

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  Great Farm Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By GREG LAROCHE - April 2 - 3:17 pm

  The Z71 has it all. Rubber floor mats. 4 wheel drive. Aluminum 17 in. wheels. 4-door. 5 seats. Large enough for a 4 wheeler or my 425 John Deere mower, yet it doesn’t look like a long school bus. The sun and sound package is great too. Power moon roof and Bose. Almost 300hp is great for the tow package. The OnStar and XM radio are nice to have too. The best part is the car-like ride that I dont normally get with our farm trucks.

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  A Rocket - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Keith - April 2 - 2:27 pm

  The Cavalier is sporty and fast for a 4 cylinder and getting over 30 mpg with the price of gas doesnt hurt either. With the manual transmission, it shifts smooth and makes it easy to merge on the highway. So far there havent been any squeeks or rattles. Over all I give this car a 10! Hats off to Chevy.

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  I love it! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By elou8271 - April 2 - 1:49 pm

  I love my Chevy Cavalier. I dont look at other cars anymore and wish I had them! I am 400% completely satisfied with my purchase and if this one should ever run down...many many years from now...I know that Ill be purchasing another Cavalier to replace it!

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  Teens First Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sk8mom5am - April 2 - 10:27 am

  We bought our daughter this car because the price with the all the great features far outweighed a late model used car. It is a very loaded car (satellite radio, tail fin, alloy wheels) so it looks updated and she loves it! It has been extremely reliable and we have been very pleased. I will caution that for an adult it may feel a bit tiny, but it gives a solid, peppy drive.

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  Great Little Car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cc732 - April 2 - 7:40 am

  I am still very pleased with this cars performance and reliability. It now has nearly 80,000 miles (128,000 kms)and has only needed a right power steering hose replaced. I had the radiator flushed and replaced the transmission fluid at 65,000 mi. (recommended maitenence in Owners Manual). The original Goodyear tires were replaced at 62,000 mi.(100,000 kms) because the traction in snow and ice was going away. Decent discount tires were purchased and are satisfactory for handling and performance in city and highway driving. The paint and accessories are all still good. A trim piece under the windshield on the dash has developed a minor crack.