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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  Long haul - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By xyzbill - January 4 - 8:24 pm

  This is a great vehicle - It is small enough to use as a daily driver - is easy to drive around town - easy to park and rides and handles good. Where this SUV really shines is on a long trip - just came back from a 2,480 mile vacation - my family including 2 dogs (a 7 # Chihuahua & 90 # Golden) 12 large bags, cooler and other misc. stuff all fit inside the vehicle. I guess the weight of passengers / cargo etc. was over 1,000 pounds - set the cruise on 77 MPH and got 19.2 MPG. Handled the drive through Denver / Loveland pass (close to 12,000 ft above sea level) and never even broke a sweat. From 85 degree heat in Houston to -12 in Keystone, CO the HVAC always kept the cabin the right temp.

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  Wow - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Sean Jonas - January 4 - 5:23 pm

  I have driven literally hundreds of cars, and this Cobalt has the quietest interior of all. Combine that with the MUST HAVE pioneer stereo system, the electronic assist steering and the constant looks with the Blue Granite paint, what you get is the best car in the price range period. Fantastic cornering, is one feature North American cars have been lacking but not in the Cobalt. Fun Fun Fun

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  Theres nothing wrong with car - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By occasional renter - January 4 - 5:16 pm

  Ive seen various reviewers trash the cavalier over the years. I am driving the 2005 and it is a very nice car. it is not as smooth as the Hyndai Elantra, but the Cavalier has a good feel to it. I enjoy driving it. The interior plastic is cheap. It is perfectly acceptable for an economy car.

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  2008 Malibu, a Great American Car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TWCHAMBERS - January 4 - 11:50 am

  A great American Car, I own a feed store in Cullman, Al. This is my first new Chevy purchase, I looked at Pontiac, Ford, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, as a buyer this was the most bang for the buck. What a great car for the money. It is stylish and fun to drive and gets better fuel economy than that big ole 1996 Cadillac I traded in. Chevy and GM got this one right. Good value for your dollar!

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  Great Family Truckster - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By sub-lover - January 3 - 11:15 pm

  Great car for the family. Good power. My wife thought it would be hard to drive, but quickly fell in love with it. She really doesnt have any trouble parking or driving it. Tows my boat very well too!

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  The most unreliable vehicle... - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By whitt - January 3 - 9:28 pm

  I have owned many General Motors vehicles in the past and have had better than average results. I purchased the Suburban for the seating capacity and the towing capability. It is a very comfortable vehicle and pulls very well. Thats the good part. To make a long story short, this truck has been in the shop 12 times in less than 2 years for various items. Some examples are 3x for replacment of steering linkage, 4x for air conditioner repair, and the latest (for which GM will lose my lifetime business) the rearend differential went out. For those not familiar with trucks, this is a part that just doesnt break. (The dealer even said so) Still GM refused to fix. Im now looking at Nissan.

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  my new used Tahoe - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jimmie - January 3 - 1:50 pm

  I just bought the truck from a 1 owner who kept great care of the car. It has two security systems and only 37000 miles I couldnt be happier. Love the memory seats and great performance.

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  My Review - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Al Martin - January 3 - 2:13 am

  It looks good and people ask you a lot of guestions about (mostly} likes and dislikes. One guy said it look like a PT on steroids. Which was a good thing he said. All who have rode in it like the way it rides and its looks and a good sound system. Im getting good gas mileage also, 25 to 28 mpg. All in all Im very pleased with this small vehicle.

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  Great Car for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LP - January 2 - 6:49 pm

  Took the SUV on a mountain road with lots of snow. We were the first ones on the road. It was awesome. The car climbed the steeps very well and did a u- turn with ease. One the way down, the car geared down low enough so we didnt even need to use our brakes. What a fun car.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jkm777 - January 2 - 4:46 pm

  Just bought my Cobalt LS on Aug. 30th and so far Im really inpressed with this cars build quality. Ive owed 3 Hondas in the past and this Chevy really says something about GMs desire to compete with the foreign cars. Great styling, good gas mileage, great acceleration. Fit and finish is second to none. Very quiet & smooth ride.