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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  Superior SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Philapino - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned several other SUV,s in the past but none compare to the new Tahoe. Superior ride, comfort and amenities. Solid as a rock with power to spare. Couldnt be happier.

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  Great Truck!! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dave Degear - June 1 - 2:00 am

  Picked up my 2004 LS Silerado 4-door extended cab last Saturday and I absolutely love my truck.

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  Fianl Decision!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bark - June 1 - 2:00 am

  After testing every truck in this cat., I finally got the LT 2wd. Surpasses all the others in comfort, power, ride, solid feel. I hope the Lim. slip and traction assist work almost as good as 4wd. with weight in the bed. Fingers crossed...everything else so far is great..

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  Excellent Value for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Sam - May 31 - 12:36 pm

  At 1 1/2 months old with 2,100 miles on my Aveo, Ive found I really enjoy driving this tight well built little compact with the big car room inside. Acceleration, handling, braking, ride quality, economy of operation, quietness while underway, and even the quality of the radio are first rate. My only niggling complaint is that the cover for the passenger air bag rattles, & Im sure this will be an easy fix for the dealer when I go in for the first oil-filter change.

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  Rock Star - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By bob2the2nd - May 31 - 4:36 am

  This car is like driving around a rock star. everyone looks at it.... everyone. People flash their lights, give thumbs up, take pictures. the car handles perfectly, the cabin is very quiet with the windows closed, but open you really hear the engine. performance WOW, even the V6 takes off.

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  6 Years this December 6th. Great!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By 007maxxtruck - May 31 - 2:44 am

  Ive had my 2006 malibu maxx LT V-6 For almost 6 years and it has been the best car I have ever owned. Its about at 93k and its still going strong. The quality, handling and performance, and everything about this car has been just GREAT!! Its pretty fast too!!

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  Time for a change - 1990 Chevrolet Celebrity
  By FocusWiz - May 31 - 2:00 am

  What a great car this has been. Fifteen years and no major problems with it. It had a reputation for reliability when I bought it (from fleet owners--not from CR) and it has lived up to that reputation. It is getting old now and things that last the life of the car are beginning to fail such as the driver door strike plate (repaired two years ago) and the turn signal return switch (still broken). However, after 185,000 miles, it still starts on the first try and takes me wherever I want to go. As I prepare to retire this champion, I am hopeful that its replacement will serve as well.

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  FUN DROP TOP - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By t. w. c. - May 31 - 2:00 am

  BACK IN THE DAY WHEN AMERICAN ALL OUT FUN SPORTS CARS WERE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN CHEVY CAMARO CONVERTIBLE LEADS THE WAY WITH CONCEPT CAR LOOKS AND DECENT PERFORMANCE, THUMBS UP CHEVROLET!!

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  chevy cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By imac34 - May 31 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle is cramped inside and when My wife and I get out it seems like the shocks cant handle our weight and makes an awful sound. I took it back to dealer they fixed something but it still makes an awful sound when exiting. It simply is to small a vehicle.

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  Disappointed - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Walkin Stick - May 31 - 2:00 am

  I liked the appearance, features, and ride (for an SUV) of this vehicle when I first bought it. Unfortunately, after two years (and 60K) of ownership, Im ready to dump it. I had problems with the air conditioner shortly after the purchase, the housing for the tail lights makes them a hazard (every time you close the hatch, you have to check the lights to see if theyve wiggled loose and need adjusting), the plastic cover on the drivers power-seat broke (and Im not that heavy!).