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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  TOW WITH YOU TAHOE - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ENGINEER20001 - November 9 - 6:48 pm

  I HAVE TOWED A 24 ENCLOSED CAR HAULER WITH CAR WITH THE TAHOE AND AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE. THE TRAILER WITH CAR EXCEEDS 7000 POUNDS

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  Excellent Vehicle With Lots of Utility - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By PilotGuy - November 9 - 4:28 pm

  Extremely solid vehicle with engine performance that exceeds expectations. It handles well, especially on tight corners. The interior design is very user friendly and the BOSE sound system is far superior to any factory installed system I have ever heard.

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  For the money, you cant beat it - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By aveonut - November 9 - 12:20 pm

  I had been living in cities like New York where I didnt need a car, and after moving to a place where I did need one, I couldnt get my head around spending so much money for transportation. So I bought an Aveo, and I am LOVING it. No, its not the best quality of car out there. But its 10K. Ive put about 4000 miles on it in 6 weeks (I drive A LOT) and it always does well. It does have a strange rattle in the back now, which I think is somehow connected to the muffler (according to my boyfriend) so Im taking it back to the dealer in a few days to check it out. Great on the highway, great in the city, great fuel efficiency, fun to drive, spacious, big trunk, comfy, etc.

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  Still goin strong - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By T.C. Hertweck - November 9 - 4:26 am

  Im currently driving my daughters red 1999 2 door LS Blazer. She bought a new X-Terra stick shift and the Blazer has been so reliable we didnt want to trade it. It has 186,000 miles on it, runs and drives great ( a little weak going upgrade, but then so am I... old age ). Anyway, I like this Blazer and well keep it in the shop for a runabout as it still looks nearly new.

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  love it - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By bostond - November 9 - 3:49 am

  I love this car..after searching high and low for the right car, I went back and bought the impala. you wont go wrong with this one

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  Wow - Get one - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Ourhhr - November 9 - 3:00 am

  Stop looking any further- youll only be going back to the HHR and may find it was sold. We were shopping at 2 stores and then at some "foreign" places. The HHR is more functional and a better value. The are selling fast- we lost one because we wanted to shop around then had to wait a week for another to come in. We got one with the bigger engine and love it. Peppy, quiet, safe, sturdy, super mileage!

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  My Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By lacey miller - November 8 - 10:20 pm

  I drive 45 minutes to and from work everyday and I love driving my Cobalt. I love my XM satellite radio and my Pioneer sound system.

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  Chevy trucks rule! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Devil - November 8 - 7:56 pm

  I use my trucks for landscaping and snow plowing. I have owned Fords in the past, but Chevys trucks are by far the best in every category, not to mention, they have the most standard hp of them all. The locking differential and 4:20 gears are all optional on Fords trucks. My Chevy also will beat any 5.4 orv-10 in pick up off the line stock. Buy Chevy hd trucks, you cant go wrong.

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  Chevy Rocks - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By T M M - November 8 - 3:50 pm

  This Malibu has even more power than the old model. Tight, quiet, turns like a champ and the new electric driven steering module is better. The mileage is as advertised and thats at 75mph on the highway. I love the suspension, the quiet ride, the XM radio. I got it loaded other than the OnStar. The engine is a champ. Plenty of power in all conditions. Smooth with plenty of torque .

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  Excellent Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Brooks, M. - November 8 - 11:24 am

  I have had my Impala for four months and I think it is a very fun and reliable car, so far. It is so comfortable. My family loves it, especially my son. It is great on gas and handles well. I look forward to the future with my car.