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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  update on a great truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jpr - July 28 - 10:16 am

  I posted here previously, and now have 2 years on the truck. Only problem was a rattle in exhaust that happened in cold weather. GM replaced the converter and back tailpipe, the best warranty experience I have had. Leer canopy did not increase mileage, but still getting around 20 mpg highway, 18 town. General Ameritrac tires are poor at best. Drove truck on Alcan highway with full load, and it performed great. Love the steering and suspension even on a full load with 55mph tundra waves. Need posi-traction on slick surfaces such as snow, rain or loose gravel. Get it on the 2WD. Overall, this is the best truck I have owned. A great value.

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  perfect vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jasuv - July 28 - 2:00 am

  The Suburban is perfect for a family of five or more. Plenty of room for all the kids, dog, sporting equipment and carpool. Handles better than most cars while offering the safety of a truck. Auto 4 option is perfect for rain slick roads.

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  Better than expected - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mattb - July 28 - 2:00 am

  Our Avalanche exceeded most of our expectations. It is smooth, comfortable and powerful. It is both pleasant to drive and pleasant as a front or back seat passenger - in fact it has become our trip car of choice. I never expected to be so happy with the purchase of a "truck", however I have not looked back since or regretted my choice. Outstanding vehicle.

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  BEST SPORTS CAR you can get for $55K!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By LPC - July 28 - 12:13 am

  Ive owned the C6 for 3 months now and I love the car! I did consider other cars like the BMW & Mercedes, but the Vette is just way much better looking. The C6 is the fastest car Ive driven and its fairly comfortable even with the Z51. I expected my ride to be stiffer with the Z51, but its actually great. I did wish that the top wouldnt rattle when I exit a high driveway or a bump. To be fair, the interior materials are nice, but I think they could still improve it more. Make those plastics and the leather feel more like a 55K car. I dont see anything wrong with its height, considering that it is a sports car after all. The brakes, power, handling & speed are just stunning!

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  Chevy beats Honda - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By sl - July 27 - 9:10 pm

  Owning a CR-V for 2 years and finding it an excellent car, had some concerns about the Chevy but in terms of ride, a quiet cabin, fuel economy, and fit and finish it seems to be not only equal to, but better than. The Hondas 5 speed transmission seems to shift smarter, and steering is quicker. The 6 speed GM transmission, even on the 4 cylinder is however smooth, and quiet. All in all you get better MPG - quieter ride - greater leg room, Bluetooth, power rear hatch, better seat heating, in a car that anyone will like to drive. Chevy wins this one.

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  Recommedation for Astro van - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By ntm - July 27 - 2:00 am

  The Astro van has been a great vehicle for our family. I would highly recommend it for anyone with children. Our current van has taken us just over 205,000 miles in 9 years. It has finally served its usefulness and we are shopping for our second Astro van. Our primary issues had been with the rear A/C malfunctioning twice & had to be replaced twice (the extended warranty paid for itself). It has been exceptionally reliable for us through the years. Thank you, Chevrolet.

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  Chevy Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Sostenes - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I must say that my 2004 Chevy Suburban is probably the best SUV I´ve ever owned, concerning reliabilty, performance and cost-benefit ratio. I´ve also owned a couple of Explorers, one Range Rover which used to perform poorly on highways and off-road conditions and several european cars. Nevertheless, my Suburban is a truly quality vehicle. Never had mechanical problems with it.

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  excellent - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By greyandhairy - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This is my 6th Corvette in the past 45 years and by far and away is the best one made so far.

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  Forget Toyota, Nissan, Honda this is it - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Semyon - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This car drives like a dream. I have had 0 complaints about it. bought it for 11,500 with 32k on it and it drives beautifully. brakes are a little stiff but i think the pads need to be replaced and the rotors resurfaced, thats about it. this isnt even the ls or ss and it accelerates like a sports car. the interior is spacious and i can look at the exterior of this car for hours and still not get bored. very reliable car as all impalas are. not to mention the fact that this car costs less than a camry, maxima, altima and accord with more room and a better engine. save ur money and buy gm.

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  Bad 2 the Bone car! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By rubbutter - July 27 - 2:00 am

  This is wonderful car. Great car to get in and out of! Great stereo, seats are comfortable. I feel safe in this car. I get more head turns in this car then my grand prix gt2.