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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  My Grandpas Chevy - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By john c - August 9 - 3:40 pm

  Auto doorlocks pinch your arm if you forget to move. The Impala is far superior to Chevys of the past. Great comfort and a thrill to drive. This aint your Grandpas chevy.

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  its ok - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By marknrhonda - August 9 - 10:00 am

  We like it and the dealer was very easy to work with. Great entry level car, and reasonable to insure, cost wise.

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  Awesome - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By vetteguy - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Chevy has a real winner with the new Vette. Ive had about 7 of them and this one just proves they are getting their act together even more. The C5s were superb, this one is better yet!! You can pay WAY more for a car but why bother, this one will blow the doors off of everything else until you get into the $150K range and those barely exceed this car. Nice job Chevy, starting with the C5s, the Vette is back in style!!!

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  Arrived at Destination - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By WooHoo - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Come on, its a Corvette, What else does one want for? Fuel mileage is right where it should be. Even after 40 years, it still turns heads.

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  Awesome! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By S900C903 - August 9 - 10:00 am

  Awesome SUV! Handles great, a couple of blind spots, but you have the mirrors to look at. Comfortable, but not crazy about the fabric of the seats. Doesnt seem to be really "kid" friendly fabric. The car itself easily fits 2 full size car seats with plenty of room to spare. Can fit 2 adults and a car seat in the middle, in the back seat. Very roomy interior, smaller cargo space in the back, but having the moving back seat makes up for it. I love this car! Highly recommend!!

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  I Love It. - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By 33Staci - August 9 - 10:00 am

  I have had my HD for about 6 months and love it. I enjoy driving it, and all the attention. I use it to reposses vehciles, and it works perfectly. I wouldnt trade it for any other vehicle.Its perfect....comfortable, clean, fun, and unique.

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  big bang for the bucks - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By singleshot - August 9 - 2:00 am

  I came from the grand jeep limited by way of a honda crv to my tracker and am very happy i did. i get a solid 24 mpg on the highway and 19 around town (i check numbers on every tank). it rides and handles very well but has an intermitant rattle that deives me nuts. lots of after market parts to set it up.

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  Hope I made the right chioce - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mekr - August 9 - 2:00 am

  I recently purchased a Malibu LS and have owned it a week and Im off to a rocky start. When driving on the highway for the first time at about 50-55 mph I pressed the brake pedal and felt a slight pulsing and rumble in the pedal.The dealer fixed the problem by rounding the roters. Second brake problem a week later was a loud thumbing sound toward the end of a brake. Brought it back to the dealer and hope they fixed it by removing rust on the diameter. What is rust doing on a new car. I also discovered that after washing the car for the first time, the roters turned a rust color.

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  My Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Salvador Lopez - August 9 - 2:00 am

  i love everything about this vehicle. i counldnt have made a better choice than purchasing my avalanche. its a great truck, comfortable and it s just perfect. Greatest model ever made.

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  Pretty good truck - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By oitskev - August 9 - 2:00 am

  I like this truck. It fits me well. Im 64" and I have more than enough room. Not the fastest thing around or the greatest at slowing down. The Avalanche hauls enough for a little trip to the home supply store. Good turning radius for such a big truck. Nice and quiet going down the road. Drives straight with no drift on the highway. It does seem to be affected by high side winds. I havent driven a high profile vehicle in awhile so maybe its just me.