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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  Great Car for Little Money - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Terence Yee - March 30 - 11:44 am

  Weve owned our Prizm for five years, now, and it is extremely dependable. With a 5-Speed, it also is surprisingly zippy. This year, we added the performance Michelins from Costco, and it actually handles quite well, too.

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  40th wedding anniversary gift to my wife - 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bill - March 30 - 10:59 am

  She loves the gas mileage, sporty drive and feel, sound system, its her new baby

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  Awesome car! - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Alex Stevenson - March 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car as a Certified Used Vehicle from Lithia in Alaska. From the sticker in the trunk and how it got shipped around, with a lack of winterization, I determined it was a rental until its 27000 miles, then was sent around to be sold. Its currently at 58000 miles. The car is great. I love how it doesnt feel cheaply built, I love how the doors are heavy, as with the rest of the car. It sticks to pavement with the greatest of ease. I bought Triple Tread tires for it, and it gets around well in the winters with ice, but Im sure with Blizzaks it would be a tank. However, its not really a winter car in that respect. The power on the LS isnt that great, and the LS cant be chipped.

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  Love This Car! - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By xt109 - March 30 - 1:26 am

  I am so glad we to Chevy to try out an Impala. Wed been test-driving Toyota Camrys and Nissan Altimas. But we finally went to Chevy, and we really liked the Impala. So we bought the Chevy Impala, and for less than a base Camry! Now I realize how flimsy the Camry and Altima were. The quality of the Chevy Impala is far superior. And with the 3.5L V6 weve attained 26 MPG in the city and 33 on the highway, far better than the window sticker said. Im glad I didnt fall for the Japanese foriegn car hype. If you dont believe it, go test drive an Impala and compare. There are plenty of old Chevys and Fords driving around, and they are easier and cheaper to fix. Most cars last with care.

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  Hot & Cold Tahoe - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 1stTimeChevy - March 29 - 9:47 pm

  Picked up loaded Z71 on 02/17/05. We love the interior room and the smooth ride. Interior plastic is too cheap for a $40K+ vehicle - shame on GM! Gas mileage could be better but 16-17 isnt too bad for this size truck. Used 4x4 once and it seemed okay. Climate control makes a loud thump when energized - dealer says this is normal? Passenger side has a buzzing noise at 40-45 mph that cant be isolated - maybe wind noise? Had a major water leak on the rear hatch. Dealer claimed it was a faulty wiring harness compromising the gasket - well see if they were right. Overall still skeptical about truck - within 30 days of ownership its been in the shop 7 days.

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  To all of you Camaro Haters: - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Z28Muscle - March 29 - 8:40 pm

  Go out and drive one, instead of getting getting a view view of Camaro tailights as usual!! Jealousy wont get you anywhere. If you cant beat em, join em!

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  Excellent Bang for the buck - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By j - March 29 - 4:17 pm

  There is simply no better performance value than this car. It has the performance of cars costing more than twice its price. It has a fairly basic interior but thats okay because it keeps the price down and allows you to focus on the fun part, driving!

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  Im lovin it! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dfdfirefighter412 - March 29 - 3:53 pm

  I was going to buy a new Silverado in 2006 and my salesman suggested I wait for the newly redesigned model. I couldnt be happier that I waited. The redesign is great all the way around. Interior is much more comfortable, exterior is a lot more eye catching and the trucks capabilities are more than ever. Ultimatly, the wait was worth my while and I would recommend anyone checking out the Silverado before looking at other options.

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  My Bu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JL - March 29 - 2:24 pm

  The quality of this car is a major step up from Chevy cars of the past. Other than being on my 3rd set of brakes, Ive had no major mechanical problems. I wouldnt have one without leather, a sunroof, and a spoiler because they really improve the look. I wish the leather seats were a little more comfortable. I have back pain during long rides. The resale on American cars is still poor. Im trading mine in soon and after 5 years it will bring 1/10 of its original sticker price. I think this car has held its value better than that because mechanically its very sound.

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  Hot SS - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bob James - March 28 - 8:23 pm

  I special ordered my Impalla SS and took delivery on July 25. This car drives like a dream and the handling is great. It will give a Camaro Z28 a real hard time. I traded a 02 Camaro Z28 and a 03 Chevtolet Impalla. This car gives me the best of both worlds. The preformance of the Z28 and the comfort of my Impalla. Thanks Chevrolet.