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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  Chevy 2009 - Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ivan83 - December 22 - 4:52 pm

  I just got my first Chevy Sedan after owning a Chevy truck for six years. The car is great. The look from outside is amazing. I get lots of compliments. It gives the look of a really nice high end car with out the high price.

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  Great Car AVEO 5 - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bill - December 22 - 11:45 am

  The only problem I have with this car is some of sensors blink on when it gets really cold. Otherwise I would suggest this ride for anyone. Much roomier than what it looks like from the outside. Thanks Chevy for putting out a great car.

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  Good Solid Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BlueDevil05 - December 22 - 10:00 am

  The power in the new Silverados is what made me pick it above the competition. The new look is great too. It rides quite comfortably and handles very well for a full-size pickup. With the biggest tires available stock from Chevy, the lowest point to the ground besides the tire is approximately 9.5 inches off the ground which is exceptional ground clearance for a stock truck. With what I do to pickups, i need the kind of off-road performance that the Z71 off-road package delivers. This is a good truck.

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  C5 ragtop... a dream turned reality - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By aC5ragtopforEd - December 21 - 9:54 pm

  For years I drooled over Vettes and due to my height (68"), I could never fit in one. Then along came the C5 and changed all of that. There it was.. screaming my name out... torch red with oak interior, 6sp, Bose, the works. Ive never had a lick of trouble with the car, and its been impeccably maintained for the past 10yrs, never in the rain or snow. Still looks factory fresh. And my plates say it all: LUCKYME

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  Keeps going and going and going..... - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Eddie - December 21 - 3:27 pm

  I love my 1996 Suburban. I bought it with 154K in 2005 and now it has 201,000 and counting. I have never had a problem with the Burban. I drove it across the country twice. The truck just turned 200K about a month and a half or so and I just replaced the original thermostat, radiator, water pump and hoses. The originals took the truck to over 200K the upgraded units I installed should take her to an additional 200K. I wouldnt trade it for anything!!! The only complaint I might have is the location of the cup holder. It is right in front of the vent, if its cold and you put the heater on your cold drink will get warm. It has been a fantastic vehicle for my family. Highly recommend!!!

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  Beyond any other in its class - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Michael Morrison - December 21 - 7:58 am

  The 2017 Camero beats every other sports car in its class. Excellent power, speed, handeling. The 50th aniversary is the way to go!

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  nice truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dereko - December 20 - 3:20 am

  nice quiet ride. very smooth. we take the truck for family outings, while the suv sit in the garage. ive learned to drive easy to maximize mileage using afm, but would like it to stay in 4cyl at higher speeds/rpm. average is 17.1 on computer. had one problem with pass lock not locking/unlocking. it was fixed under warranty.

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  Sweet Ride - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Ange - December 19 - 11:56 am

  My husband sold his Harley this summer and he decided to buy a suburban... or as he calls it a burban! I thought I was going to hate it all big and trucky... but turns out I LOVE IT! I love driving it (people really move out of the way when they see the brush guard!) It is reliable and our family of 5(3 teenage Boys) and one pitbull could not live with out this addition to our family!

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  Great comfortable ride - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Jana - December 18 - 9:53 pm

  This was the first brand new car I have purchased. I love it! It gets great gas milage for the long trips. But doesnt fair so well when traveling the gravel roads. I tend to put about 20,000 miles per year on a car and I havent had any problems with mine untill this spring when our road became a mud road (instead of gravel). It sits to low to the ground and scraped bottom several times causing some minor problems with the traction control and ABS.

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  Happy Happy Happy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Donelle - December 18 - 10:00 am

  I have bought many vechicles in my lifetime searching for the right one. I as a mother of 5 children feel absolutely comfortable driving this SUV. Its been several months since I bought my first trailblazer and I can already tell you that from here on out when its time for me to purchase another vechicle it will be this exact same SUV.