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:

• 

  Dale Jr SS - Smokin - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Happy as a Clam - April 25 - 12:10 pm

  I was skeptical at first. Now Im a believer! This ride has juice! A pleasure to drive, instant acceleration and great handling. Great fit-n- finish. A real solid ride. Turns heads everywhere we go. Insurance is higher than my SUV. I like it so much that I park it at the farthest point in the parking lot. If you havent tried one, get to your nearest Chevy dealer today!

• 

  Chevy Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By lari - April 25 - 10:00 am

  We absolutely love our Avalanche. The ride is so smooth and it has a roomy feeling. It takes bumps so well. We test drove an F150 4dr Super Crew and the seats werent as comfortable and the feel of the overall truck was not as solid nor luxurious.

• 

  Robbs review - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By cmccollegepark - April 25 - 10:00 am

  The Tahoe is like riding on a cushion of air. Its sporty enough for tailgating, classy enough for sunday services, and rugged enough to haul drywall, plywood, and alll my tools. With the flat folding second row and removable third row, I can haul plenty without a trailer. It is the perfect vehicle for family, work, and play.

• 

  Return Customer - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RRoeber - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I owned a 2001 regular cab silverado, but it did not have enough room, and it was under powered with the 6 cyl. I bought the 2002 extended cab Silverado with the biggest engine and it gets better gas mileage than the 6 cyl. The tires really make a lot of difference. With good tires, the truck drives great. With Goodyear tires, the truck is a safety hazard when its wet. The worst thing about the interior is the drink holder in the middle of the seat. I would cut it off if I could find a good aftermarket drink holder to take its place. The 2001 Chevy has a better interior design.

• 

  Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dscvrmn - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle. Chevrolet is definetely coming around. They will be tops in quality again in no time if they keep it up.

• 

  gmproductalert - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BD - April 25 - 10:00 am

  forward sprague gear failed at 54000mi,replaced transmision,$2280 cost.manufacturer refused financial assistance.this trans is too light for the vehichleit is in.GM has been aware of this for years and continues to use it.

• 

  Super safe car - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By L. J. - April 24 - 9:21 pm

  My mom had a Cruze also. She was T-boned by a city bus. Airbags deployed fully. At 86 years old my mom had broken bones but required no surgery. I bought my Cruze for just over $16,000. I can drive from Davenport, Iowa to Cincinnati, Ohio easily on a tank of gas. I get much better gas mileage than the automatics do. The shift is smooth and easy to use. I love everything about my car! The only negative is the idiot shift light is annoying. Ive only had one recall since I purchased it new in 2013. A big bonus for me is the trunk size and set up. With the back seats down, I can easily fit large items through the frame. Makes it a great car for hauling when you just need a few 4x4x8 for a fence. Im keeping this car. Its not ever going to be for sale. Still lovin my Cruze! Ive had my Cruze now for over 4 years. Still in love with it! Wont be trading it in ever! Car companies can keep their expensive gas guzzlers. Im keeping my Cruze! Ive kept up my maintence schedue,had several oil changes and rotate my tires every oil change. No issues mechanically at all. 12/2017 Struts had to be replaced but were covered under my warranty. Still the best car Ive ever owned!

• 

  HHR is a hit - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By welz - April 24 - 5:33 pm

  This car is great on gas and is a blast to drive on the the highway. The fit and finish is superb. The stereo sounds great. Interior is nicely done. I use it to go out on the town and to go to Home Depot to pick up all my stuff for around the house and yard. The running boards and the chrome package set it off.

• 

  Super-Sport Superb Fun - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By michael david - April 24 - 4:00 pm

  SS model equals superb fun! Just got all black SS model with chrome 18 inch wheels and the car is a looker! Performance exceeds my expectations, while appearance blows the competition away!

• 

  Best V8 Sedan for the money - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By tacoman - April 24 - 8:20 am

  Wonderful car. Fast, smooth, quiet. Excellent on long trips. Perfect cruiser. Blends in doesnt stick out. Roomy inside as well as in the trunk.