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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  Love my Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Bush - December 14 - 5:42 pm

  I never thought Id like the smaller bed but not once has it ever been an issue. I love the locking rear tailgate and hard cover. I go camping in the truck and simply lay down the back seat and put my pillow behind the front seats and feet out in the bed. Its secure and comfortable. I recommend the Avalanche to anyone looking for something different without giving up their truck. Believe it or not the locking boxes on the side are pretty cool too. I go boating and I also trailer motorcycles to the trails and its a good place to store my straps and hitch. The lock too so my stuff is safe. Plenty of room for the family and plenty of power to pull my 4,500 pound boat through the hills.

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  My First Car - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By THE BEAST - December 14 - 2:40 pm

  it a beast to drive with the horsepower and tuning i did to it. the flowmasters super 40s mufflurs sound like a couger all my friends love to ride in it cause it super roomie. the backseats wont work good with small children seats but im a kid in college so big. it a piece of history cause they stop making them in 2007 which is sad but they made room for the new 2010 camaro which well be my next car for sure. my monte well be in garage with my new camaro SS someday and i well keep my monte for years to come cause it great for road trips. hopefully she will always be in my garage so we well never have to part. i would suggust this car for first time drivers there perfect cars and safe&fun

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  First SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By OPRF Dooper - December 13 - 11:08 pm

  Just turned 5,000 miles. Close to zero defects. TB is fun to drive compared to our minivan. Front seating is comfortable and the ride is good, but it really rolls a lot when hitting bumpy corners. Maybe all SUVs do that. Havent tried the 4WD yet. Nice to be able to pull into a parking space and not scrape on the barrier or curb. Definitely like better than a passenger car. Mileage running about 17 mpg as advertised in the city, but at least that weight provides some safety (as do the side airbags).

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  Silver Nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By hkycoldrct - December 13 - 9:56 pm

  Overall a good vehicle. Very comfortable on long trips with an excellent lumbar control and drivers side seat with many positions to choose from. Actual mileage averages 18.5 mpg with 14,000 miles on the vehicle. The motor is fairly strong and responsive. There is ample room if youre going to haul a lot around. The rear seat movement is simply awsome. With the rear seat folded down there is more room than you would imagine for a vehicle this size. I would purchase this car again if I had too.

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  Great truck for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ivan rubin - December 13 - 12:55 am

  I have had it for two months, absolutely satisfied in every way - thanks Chevy.

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  Second Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By charlied - December 12 - 9:44 pm

  This is the second Impala I have owned. The other was a 2001. Needs redesign but this has been an excellent value. I used my GM card rebate to save $2,200 after I made the deal. (You must not carry a monthly balance on your card to save any money). Looking forward to my third. The first Impala had a leaking seal on the front after 10,000 miles. The current Impala has 12,000 miles and has not been back to the dealer except for oil changes

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  2002 trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Wayne Baker - December 12 - 3:08 pm

  We bought our trailblazer new in July, 2001. We were attracted by the size (not too big) and design. We occasionally pull an 18 foot boat and the towing ability is excellent. Also, it is very comfortable for trips and safe for my wife to drive around town. Our LTZ came with all of the "bells and whistles" availabe when they first came out. We had a choice between a DVD player or sunroof, and chose the roof.

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  Chevy Suburban 1500 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Karen - December 12 - 11:31 am

  This truck is the ultimate in performance and comfort. Its great for long road trips, being able to accommodate passengers comfortably and carry a huge amount of cargo. The optional 4WD allows you to go virtually anywhere. The dash board is set up for easy use and it includes creature comforts such as CD player and cassette player. Leather seats make for easy clean up in case of spills. The head room and leg room are generous, allowing even the tallest person to sit in the second row without being cramped. Rear A/C controls let everyone be comfortable. The ride is smooth and the truck is easy to drive on the open road.

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  Fun Road Tripper - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Tony from Atlanta - December 12 - 5:46 am

  I think you either love or hate the design of this car. I love it. Funky, weird, retro. I thought it was unique until I bought one, now I see them everywhere! Economical and seemingly well built. Bought the car and put 3K miles on it in two weeks! Took it from GA to FL on a roadtrip. Fun, comfortable, great gas mileage. I was impressed with the AC too I havent had it long, but I did a lot of homework and it seems like a very good car compared to its peers, for features and functions. I am glad to be able to buy an American car again.

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  Tell me again why GM discontinued these? - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Z28_Sedan - December 12 - 2:03 am

  I have the 5.7L LT1 engine in mine. Its a very fast car with smooth-as- silk ride. The odd thing is that it gets 25 mpg even with the performance axle ratio (thats the EPA highway rating too). I know other owners getting 27 mpg. Its funny that Chryslers new Hemi (same size as the LT1: 5.7L) in the 300C/Magnum (a similar curb weight according to Edmunds) is rated at the same gas mileage (25 mpg highway) even though the Hemi is 10 years newer in design and even uses cylinder deactivation.