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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  Fun drive - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Silver Bullet - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive. You can throw it around. You wont beat too many in a 1/4 mile race, but the highway driving experience is a blast.

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  First, But Not The Last... - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By justplainoleme - June 2 - 2:00 am

  This is our first Suburban, but Im sure it will not be our last, I dont really see us driving anything else in the future, if we ever trade it in it will just be on a newer model...

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  Luv my Subby - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By BruceG - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Our third Subby. Traded a 99 1500 LT for this new 04 also 1500 LT. A WORLD of difference. Rides much smoother and VERY MUCH quieter. This car gets up and GOES! Stops on a dime, too. No complaints about anything. 2nd Row buckets are great for the kids, keeps footprints off the seats and with three kids involved in all kinds of sports THAT is a good thing and well worth the money. And did I mention kids? They LOVE the DVD, even watch it for short rides.

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  HHR For Me - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By mrlrd - June 1 - 9:40 am

  Car is very stylish. I bought the least expensive model, yet it runs with the most expensive model. About $5,000 difference.

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  First GM car ever. - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Dr. Ray - June 1 - 3:03 am

  I knew it was slow, but I have gotten used to simply pushing it a little. I love the exterior styling, but wish GM had used better quality sheet metal (dings with ease) and interior parts. Cup holder placement is useless, and it needs better storage. That said, I love the retro look, the ease of ingress and egress, the hauling capacity witht the seats down and the $50 a month drop in insurance over my 2001 4Runner. This car needs 25 more horses for this enthusiast. I intend to install a cold air induction to make it sound and move a little better. Too many PT Cruisers out there. 5 more miles per gallon would be good too.

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  I am truly impressed - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By LaKetha - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I am truly impressed with this vehicle. After shopping between several vehicles like the GMC Envoy, Isuzu Ascender, and the Dodge Durango. I found the Trailblazer to be the most spacious, confortable, and bascially more bang for my buck. I enjoy the Free On-Star and complete power control from the steering wheel. Never Doubt "THE ROCK" Very pleased, LaKetha Prioleau

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  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MC10 - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Have owned a 2003 Monte Carlo SS for 9 months. It is a fantastic car. Excellent quality and fun to drive. Has surprising power for a V6 with excellent gas mileage. Averaging about 25 MPG. Took it on a 1400 mile trip and averaged 31.5 MPG.

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  I am very pleased with my new car. - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By littlebitofn - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I too was a faithful Honda fan. (My last 5 cars being Hondas.) I was very displeased with the customer service at my local Honda dealership and thought maybe it was time to shop around. I am glad I did. I am very happy with my Cavalier and do not regret trading my Honda in...

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  Best car yet! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jeff Taylor - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Our 6-passenger 2003 Impala with the standard 3.4L engine gives up no noticeable accelleration power whether Im alone in the car or when my family of 5 went on vacation with the trunk fully loaded. Very quick. We had no problems on the Pittsbugh winter roads last year. The 4-wheel disk brakes are very responsive, and steering is crisp. After 11 months of owning the car, we havent had one problem with it. This was our 3rd new car (full size) purchase since 2000 and by far the best. My wife is a short 51" and has no visibilty problems driving (as evidenced by no "parking lot bruises"!)

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  SS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bigdaddy - June 1 - 2:00 am

  peppy and stylish. options not expensive.