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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  silverado - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rar111 - August 3 - 2:00 am

  Great vehicle!! Line-x Bed Liner ($500.00 value) Wheel Flares ($300.00 value ) Door Chip Guard ($100.00 value)

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  Real Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By f41driver - August 3 - 2:00 am

  This truck is awesome! I didnt really like the new front-end at first, but on a Z71 with the black fender flares it looks good. It gets great mileage for what it is, Ive got the 4.10 gears in it and I get 18mpg, 70% highway 30% city. The power is amazing! It tows like a freight train. The ride is good thanks to the electronically adjustable shocks, Im glad I ordered them. I have Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs on it and this thing will go wherever I point it. Snow is a laughing matter, even for a snow novice like myself.

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  still faster than a 2010 mustang ! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By joe - August 2 - 2:06 pm

  I have driven my 2002 z28 auto as HARD as possible, for the last 7 years! With over 50 dragstrip passes (13.1s @ 109mph) at bradenton dragstrip and never one single problem! You cant kill the almighty LS1 engine. 17 mpg with a heavy right foot! Handling, braking, and acceleration easily scares anybody in the passenger seat! Critics should have bought a camary. A Z28 is for incredible thrills everyday, for over seven years I still smile every morning!

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  great ride - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By louis - August 2 - 1:15 am

  I have the ss model which is great. Plenty of room Nice seats and this car drives real Nice and handles the road as expected if not better. As for gas its good but you dont buy the ss model for gas mileage right. I really enjoy driving again. Oh and I drive all day at work. If you buy an impala get the ss you wont be disappointed.

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  Better than a Cavalier - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sean - August 1 - 10:00 pm

  I ordered this car after combing through the entire STL region looking for a blue 2.4 ss with sunroof and airbags. Car came and was surprided to find xm was standard. I really didnt care for it but now after listening i cant live w/o it! Also FM and AM reception with antenna is poor. Gas mileage is tricky. In order to get 34 mpg you have to drive like 55 mph on the highway. At 65mph Im already at 2.5 K in 5th gear, could definitely use another gear for more gas saving. Overall I average 29mpg with 70/30 highway/city driving. Handling is sport like, but it was easily be pushed over its limits with body roll. Ride quality is very nice however, very smooth. Im looking forward to modding it

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  90000k - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By madman350 - August 1 - 2:06 pm

  This truck still has 1/4" brake shoes left (f+r), which includes towing tandem trailer daily for 1 1/2 yrs. No one I work with owns a more reliable truck even those that cost 40-50K$. I peg the tach almost every day, uses nearly no oil, mpg avgs. 16+ city with AC; 17-19 hwy; 10-12 towing. Interior is very comfortable and no pickup has a colder AC. Here in FL I never have to run the fan past "3" for more than a minute to chase out 100+heat. The x- cab still has a 66" bed, Dodge has 63" which isnt enough. Much better ride than Dodge, and way better interior instrumentation than XLT Ford. Engine compartment is roomy, allowing ease of maintenance. The bed is low allowing easy loading of very heavy items.

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  Nice Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By canesfans27 - August 1 - 10:14 am

  I bought it brand new with less than 10 miles on it. Now it has 123,000 miles and still drives great. I have replaced the tires twice and replaced the water pump which the dealer misdiagnosed the first time I went in with it but no engine damage at all. I definitely would buy another car since it has never failed to start on me. I use regular oil and change it every 7500 miles or so and right now only have an issue with the rear window defrost is very slow if working at all.

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  2008 Chevy Malibu LS is a great car! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jack - August 1 - 6:59 am

  This is the best car I have ever had! I selected it for safety, reliability, and overall economy without even driving it. I was shocked how beautiful the interior is and how well it drives. Way better than Camry or Accord!

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  A Real SUV with great safety! - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Leon - July 31 - 8:51 am

  Z71 4WD that uses E85 consistently. I put a K&N air system, not just the filter into the engine and the performance increased remarkably. I use synthetic oil from first oil change and have not had the oil loss that others claim, but I do change my own oil. There have been several computer upgrades that this truck needs or else trans light come on for transfer case,etc.. Once this is taken care of have not had any problems. We use this for our long distance travel and I use it for heavy construction equipment repair offroad, sometimes WAY off road and it has always amazed me and others on scene with it ability to do what custom lifted vehicles can do in factory standard mode.

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  Love My Chevy Equinox!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jlhlacey - July 30 - 12:49 am

  I was in the process of selling my car and got a few calls on the reviews they read on here. I had to come check it out myself as I couldn’t believe it… I bought my SUV in 2005 used. I have loved it since the day I bought it. It has been an outstanding vehicle for me. It gets great gas mileage for an SUV, it’s roomy and I love how it tells me when I need to put on the traction control. The car is beautiful inside and out. My car now has 50,000 miles and I have replaced the brakes and the tires it has been a great car. I am actually having a hard time letting it go….Very roomy, great ride and handling and has been reliable. I love my chevy!!