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 Wife loves it - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mjhollins - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I purcahsed this vehicle for my wife and she loves it. So does my 24 year old daughter. So much so that she is going to buy one too. We love everything about this vehicle. Gas mileage is about you should expect for a vehicle this size. It really turns heads everywhere we go, including mine, I cant stop looking at it. If anyone is thinking of buying a full size crew cab truck, I would strongly suggest taking a look at this vehicle.

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  Fifty years old and never better. - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Elliotac - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I had first thought about getting a fiftieth edition corvette when I realized that the anniversary coincided with my fiftieth birthday. I eschewed the convertible for the quieter ride of the hatchback but made up for it with the Plexiglas roof panel. The six-speed manual gives the driver complete control and is an integral part of driving a car with the soul of a corvette. I have only caused the Active handling system to activate a few times but it did steady the ride.

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  Love my Vette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By GARYJ - August 26 - 2:00 am

  This is the 15th corvette I have owned and the first brand new vett. It is the best yet. Much more refined and fast, quiet, and a beauty to look at. Love the HUD, and Magnetic suspension!

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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By johnC - August 26 - 2:00 am

  It was everything I always wanted in a Corvette. I even went to the plant and watched my corvette come off the assembly line. A few weeks later I picked it up at the Corvette musuem.

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  2quik4most! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Shoecop - August 26 - 2:00 am

  Mil. Yellow and 405+HP! What a thrill! I was concerned about NOT having a disc changer HA! All I want to hear is the wind of that LS6! I was lost in the "oldies" (SS454 etc) untill I laid on this baby! Better not turn traction control off till your 120+mph.

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  An Amazing Car - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Chiller - August 26 - 2:00 am

  It is just amazing. I love to drive it. The Corvette Z06 is fast, sleek, and beautiful. What more could you want?

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  The Best - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Greg1949 - August 26 - 2:00 am

  This is a car I have wanted all my life. Finally this year I purchased the 50th anniversary car. we just took a road trip to Minnesota, the comfortable was unbelieveable, my wife and I are in our early 50s and usually we are stiff after a long drive, not with the vette. We felt like everyone just moved out of our way on the highways (we are not going real fast. It is a feeling that you cannot imagine if you have not experienced it...HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS CAR !!!!!!

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  Not very good off road - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By sft - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I work at a university and we have used suburbans as field research vehicles so we really need good, stock 4X4 trucks. Old (1980s) suburbans were very good off road, lots of clearance, tough, simple. Our 2002 suburban is very comfortable but not very good off road. It has about 1/2 the ground clearance of our old suburban and it has way too many bells and gadgets that wont hold up to off road use. Its a big station wagon that is built as a highway cruiser.

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  Great Heavy Duty - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By DJ - August 25 - 9:20 pm

  I have 4000 miles on the truck, I get 14.4 MPG, haul a 250 gallon water tank in the back and dont even know its there when completely full. The suspension is tight but gives a decent ride. I use the 4WD when going up a steep bumpy dirt road to my cabin in the Black Hills, even with the 250 gallon tank in the back it handles with no problem. The interior has multiple small storage compartments. Even my wife loves the comfort of the interior. Overall I am very pleased with the Truck.

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  Love this 2006 malibu ss - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By technomaster - August 25 - 3:18 pm

  I really do love this malibu ss and it drives so smooth and fast. I get a lot of compliments about this car. It has a lot of truck room and seating is perfect for me. this is a car to get for sure. This car is so much better then hatchbacks out there and thats a fact.