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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  SS - MOST FUN IN YEARS - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Scott - January 9 - 3:26 am

  It was like a mid-life crisis buy and definitely dont regret it! Absolute blast to drive. Comfortable even for my 63" height. Put on performance exhaust and sounds amazing. DOD actually works.

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  Best and dependable! - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By jadunb - January 8 - 12:41 pm

  This has been a wonderful car. There is little maintenance and it is perfect for our business and family. We can haul just about anything but load the family also.

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  2010 Chevy Silverado 5.3 crew z71 44x4 - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By brentsmith36 - January 8 - 10:32 am

  I love the truck except for one thing..it has a clunking noise in the transmission/ rear end. I took it to the dealership and all they did was lubricate the rear end. The noise is still there! This is very frustrating so I can not recommend this vehicle. If I could get a refund--I would. The transmission mechanic said that it was something I would have to live with!

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  My 1st new car and I love it! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jose V. - January 7 - 9:16 pm

  I got this car on June 1st of this year, I saw it in an auto show in FL and I had to get it, I finally did and I am so happy!, I made it part of the family and even gave it a name...Wheelie. I have yet to go on long outings with Wheelie but I will soon, the 3 weeks Wheelie has been with me no has been wonderful. I had people approach me and say what a cute car it is.(Although I say Wheelie is a truck) I am a handicap and Wheelies cargo space is excellent for my wheelchair. by the way, I ordered Wheelie with auto trans., 172 HP engine, and chrome tip, Thats all I need, but a wheelchair lift would be great for me. Overall, Wheelie is a fantastic little vehicle, and I love him dearly.

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  Happy with the car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By snowbird - January 7 - 7:25 pm

  This is my second Cavalier. The first one was a lemon. This one has been great. I have 204,900 miles and it is still going strong. The only maintenance is oil, tires and plugs. The mileage is great 29-31 mpg. The only problem with the car is a wind noise that comes through the windshield at high speeds with the right wind direction and high wind speed.

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  Not Bad for the Price - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CheesyEagle - January 7 - 9:06 am

  Sharp exterior styling, responsive handling, and a strong engine make this an enjoyable car to drive. The poor build quality, ugly interior (especially the steering wheel) and relatively low level of refinement always leave you wanting more. Overall the bargain basement price makes this package worthwhile, but Chevy still has a long way to go in order to compete with the "imports" (loosely termed).

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  Better then I thought - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Thomas - January 7 - 4:30 am

  I set out to by a f-150 crew cab or a nissan crew cab. Chevy was last on my list because of its physical appearance. However, after driving all three the chevy felt smoother and more comfortable. Ill take comfort and handling over exterior appearance any day.

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  Love my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By deacon1 - January 6 - 7:13 pm

  Turns on a dime. Excellent interior workmanship. Good visibility, good cargo area. No leaks. Great stereo. Have a 4dr LT upgraded HHR with limited color edition. Best seating of any car I have owned, and I have owned foreign and domestic cars. Mid-life crisis dream and great for your ego

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  Klunk Bump Slosh Bang Slam - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Paul - January 6 - 5:43 pm

  I decided to give GM one more chance as well and like review I read on a similar GMC recently. GM has forgotten who they are building trucks for, I am 6 ft and 230 lb, the seats are horrible soft sinking material after 1k miles. The drive train clunks at stop, the fuel tank sloshes, thumps, hard downshifting after driving for awhile. brake squeal, there more slams, bangs, thumps, clunks sloshes squeals on this truck, not to mention too low a roof line and too low a windshield. What a piece of crap

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  Tahoe, Americas Reflection of Greatness - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dngorham - January 6 - 3:49 pm

  Ive owned this Tahoe for a month and I have to say that the handling and 4X4 Autotrack is exceptional. All I do is just step on the gas when in AUTO mode and it senses the wheel slippage and 4wheel drive kicks in without even feeling anything. I had just bought a 2004 Ford F350 of which I only had 7000 miles on when I traded in. I had trouble with the 4wheel drive system and it was a monster to steer when in 4X4. Nothing, smooth there at all or dependable. Especially when you are getting on in years. Chevy workers my hats off to you and the American worker. If we can make a vehicle like this. No reason why we cant accomplish anything.