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:

• 

  Best car Ive ever had - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Dpmerkel - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I used to have a Pontiac Conv. Firebird, I love this car so much better. I am disapointed in the review that was given on it.

• 

  Fun little truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chevy buyer - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I first looked at the truck in the new truck line catalog. I liked what I saw as my daughter wanted her own window and door to open. It is the perfect little truck for small home improvment jobs as well as anything else.

• 

  corvette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By pirate - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Great Car, I love it. Thrill to drive, beautiful

• 

  The Best - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Starace - November 13 - 2:00 am

  This car is second to none, power,looks,performance! The looks you get when driving say it all!

• 

  Spend a lot of time in this car. - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ChrisM - November 13 - 2:00 am

  Pacing about 45K miles per year and avg. 15.8 mpg city / 16.7 mpg hwy. Plenty of interior room, both as occupant and storage. Good sound system.

• 

  The ultimate utility vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mikey1234 - November 12 - 10:59 am

  This is a great truck. It will do anything you want it to. Take the kids to church or the movies, haul supplies from the Home Depot or Menards, take your toys to the lake or out in the wilderness, you name it. The ride is super smooth and handling is excellent. Go out and buy one and ENJOY!

• 

  Red Hot Monte - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By sadler6 - November 12 - 10:00 am

  A+ Red Hot Monte. Always gets me anywhere I want to on time.

• 

  2002 Trailblazer LS - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By L. Porter - November 12 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle at an affordable price. Lots of extras, fun to drive, plenty of power, nice extras on the 1SB package.

• 

  Lots of miles in the first month - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By canoe - November 12 - 10:00 am

  I just returned to Chicago from a road trip to Texas. I bought my Trailblazer a month ago and have almost 5000 miles on it. It has been a comfortable, fun and reliable ride. After test driving virtually every mid sized SUV available, I selected the Trailblazer. Its comfort (great drivers seat leg room) and interior layout and space sold me. Im not disappointed. Im also pleased with the engines performance. The gas mileage matched the window sticker and it ran smmothly. Great car so far.

• 

  One fine machine! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Harun Ar-Rasheed - November 12 - 9:36 am

  The 06 Impala SS is a masterpiece in quality and beauty. It was an intoxicating experience from the moment I turned the ignition on for a test drive. This Chevrolet exhumes 100 percent luxury and unimaginable power.