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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  the one they call....Montel Carlos - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By djkevinc - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Great car...love it. Very reliable and easy to maintain.

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  I LOVE IT! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BeckaRabbit - December 15 - 2:00 am

  Just got my new Cavalier and I just can not belive what I got for this price! The power is excellent, great stability, and great performance.... am I doing 80?? and I paid how much for this baby??....Lots of attention on the road. Great looks and very comfortable. I love it! I love it! I love it!.

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  A Real Pleasure - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By TCVICKIE - December 15 - 2:00 am

  We traded in our 1997 Chevy Silverado Ext Cab for a 2003 Chevy Tahoe and it has been such a pleasure to steer a truck with this much ease! The Silverado was a bear to turn, park or just manuever through a parking lot. The Tahoe redesigned steering is a hot item. I handles better than our BMW! We are really pleased with its smooth ride and handling.

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  Great vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Hornzfan - December 15 - 2:00 am

  I love it! It hauls the kids and sometimes the in-laws. It pulls out tree stumps. Its easy to manuver, It pulls a jet-ski. It will hold 40 bags of mulch. If it was stolen today Id buy another one in the morning!

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  2005 Chevy Work Truck 5 speed Manual - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim - December 14 - 1:06 am

  A review 3 years down the road for my 2005 Silverado. The old warrior has done great 24-25 MPG highway. Dependable. Comfortable. I drove this truck on 2 500 mile trips non stop with no driver fatigue. This truck was the bottom end 13206 price leader back in 05 when they couldnt give them away (like now) It had 3 issues- the steering shaft- finally got fixed free at 60000 miles/ the heater control assembly, at 36000 miles, and the recirc emissions valve on top of the gas tank at 36000 miles. The truck still has its original tires , brakes and shocks, all in good working order. Clutch works fine. Now its trade in time. Again, Silverado

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  Awesome!!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mitchell - December 13 - 5:41 pm

  Purchased vehicle in October of 2006, and I love it. This is my first SUV. Was looking at a Ford Explorer and other SUVs, but no other stacked up against the Trailblazer. We have had no major problems with it. No major check-ups. Drives great and looks great. A lot of room inside for the family. Runs smoothly and has a lot of power. Very reliable and I would highly recommend the Trailblazer to anyone who would ask!

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  Value received - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By John - December 12 - 4:28 pm

  For the price (under $23,000) out the door and every option in the book sans sunroof, how can it be better. 16,000 miles later I have averaged 27+ MPG. With back seats down it carries a prodigious amount of stuff. With the back seats up it will still carry a lot of stuff and 4 TALL passengers with ease. I had an 04 PT Cruiser and it would do neither.

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  Youd Be Surprised! - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rcarter20 - December 11 - 4:19 pm

  I purchased my Vette used, with 25K miles. For a driving machine you would have to spend a lot more to better this car. Fast, great handling, reliable all what you expect. But what surprised me was that on long highway road trips I got 30 MPG averaging 75 MPH. My wifes 1.8L turbo VW Jetta doesnt get that. But then my BMW 540 beat her car in road mileage. I average 22 MPG with 50/50 intown/highway around Atlanta. This vehicle is great! The number of vehicles that are faster you can count on your fingers and cost twice the Vettes new retail!

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  Neck Snapping Fast - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 1st Corvette - December 11 - 2:39 pm

  I have only owned sports cars, and this is the fastest car I have ever owned. Had several Mustangs, Porsches, and now my first Chevrolet. The 6.2 litre is has more horsepower than most will be able to handle. This car could break the tires loose in 4th gear. I almost didnt purchase the car because I thought the interior was kind of cheap looking. But I have adjusted. Car sounds good! Who doesnt like an American V8. Had some issues with heated seats, headlight, and stereo is subpar.

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  Girls want to have fun too! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Nikki from Chicago - December 11 - 1:50 pm

  I love this car! My husband suggested I buy the car (I believe he wanted the car :) Now he cant keep me out of the it. I have to behave. Ive already received 2 speeding tickets. Overall the car is everything I wanted. The drive is smooth, the look is sporty, the sound system is crystal clear, the power is there when you need it. I would buy another one.