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:

• 

  A Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Marvin Thompson - March 20 - 10:00 am

  First this truck has a great ride for a 3/4 ton vehicle,along with a very strong 350 horse engine. This is the best vehicle i have had opportunity to own.

• 

  i love this truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sean Stark - March 20 - 10:00 am

  has plenty of power

• 

  TRANSMISSION NOISE - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By S NEVILLE - March 20 - 10:00 am

  I LIKE THE INTERIOR ROOM,COMFORT,LOOKS, RIDE AND ACTUALLY EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS TRUCK WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GRINDING NOISE THE TRANSMISSION MAKES WHEN THE TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES FROM LOCKUP AT AROUND 42 MPH.THIS DID IT THE DAY I TOOK DELIVERY,AND HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND GM FACTORY REP AS "CHARACTERISTIC" OR "ASPECT" OF VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSFER CASES,WITH NO REPAIR POSSIBLE OR FORTHCOMING. I AM DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR EXPLAINATION AND HANDLING OF THIS DEFECT TO THIS POINT AND AM STILL AWAITING A SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION

• 

  21 visits to the dealership - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Barnes - March 20 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive the car when it is running. That said, I have been back to the dealership on 21 occasions with a variety of bugs. The dealer sent me to Chevy who said that if I dont qualify for the lemon law, (same issue each time) they dont have to do anything. Good Luck if you buy a 2006 Impala.

• 

  What a cool roadster - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By Rusty Fishel - March 20 - 9:33 am

  Truly a unique vehicle. It will truly set you apart from the crowd. Although its usefulness is limited if you are looking for a truck, it really doesnt fall into that category. The lines and the throaty music of its V8 will surely inspire you. If you are looking for a classic mode of transportation, this car will surely be noted in classic car history.

• 

  2004 IMPALA SS "INDY" - ALMOST PERFECT - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Edward Dudek - March 20 - 1:59 am

  2 "Indy SSs arrived at "my" dealership & I shot over with my driving gloves. I gave a salesman a "serious" 1 hr road test. After the test he said that my reputation had preceeded me & he knew he was in for it when I got behind the wheel. I didnt disappoint him & I bought the "Indy" that day. Im prejudiced toward Implalas having owned a 01 LS. It was problem free, fun to drive & got a lot of compliments. The 04 "Indy", 240HP supercharged is better. Steering & suspension are tight. Terrific engine response-smooth shifts & the engine wants to pull forever! Beautiful 17" diamond-cut aluminum wheels. The P235/55R17 "W" Goodyear Eagles & large discs haul it down quickly. It has few negatives.

• 

  I love my AV - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By adpinc - March 20 - 1:08 am

  This is a great vehicle. I bought a used 2002 K2500 series and loved it, but didnt realize how poor the gas mileage was. So I sold it and bought a brand new 05. The AV is so versatile. There is no other vehicle like it on the market.

• 

  Good looking, but made way too cheap - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Heidi - March 19 - 4:26 pm

  All my family works for GM, so of course thats what we all drive. I loved the way the Equinox looked when it first came out, but after I bought it Ive had nothing but problems. Ive had to take it in 4 different times to replace the stereo, the AC broke after only having it a couple of months and the dealership said it wasnt covered under warranty, plus my headlights went out at the same time. A brand new car should not have this many problems. American cars are being made way too cheap these days and my next car will be a Toyota or Nissan, since foreign cars are the only ones reliable anymore.

• 

  HHR Sales Will Soar - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By JV - March 19 - 2:56 pm

  Great vehicle in every aspect. Best of all, gas mileage. I went from a V-8 Tahoe getting 17 Hwy, I now get 31 Hwy! Cant go wrong!! Very, very stylish. Almost bought a PT Cruiser before I saw the HHR in a showroom. I snatched the second of only two HHRs on the lot! What a tremendous value for the price! I didnt have to sacrifice looks, performance, gas mileage or quality! Of course its smaller than my Tahoe, but its pretty roomy for what I need. Good luck getting one. I think theyll sell like hotcakes! Hats off to you GM! You made my year in these times of the terrible gas price hike!

• 

  I love my Chevy Venture - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By skoolmoma - March 19 - 11:51 am

  I love my Chevy Venture. I look forward to driving it everyday. Sometimes I even make up excuses to drive it!! My daughter loves all of the room inside and I love the many features it came with. I love the rear park aid and the homelink system that allows me to open my garage door with my van! No garage door opener! This is an excellent vehicle and so family friendly!