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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  Happy - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mike/Lisa - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I finaly found a vehicle that fits all my wants and needs.We use it as a truck a car,a rec vehicle,that fits my family

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  I love my 2 Corvettes - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Robert Behers - October 24 - 10:00 am

  I have a Convertible and a 2002 Z06. The Convertible is a great car to drive. We have assembled a large group of friends that we get together with every weekend, put down the tops, find a new windy 2 lane route, go out and attack the curves, and then return on an interstate and push the envelope. This car never dissappoints. The Z06 is reserved for visits to a local track and some occasional mischief at other locations. This car is amazing, and the only negative is that the car requires a better driver than me. Acceleration os ausome, handling is awesome, breaking is awesome, and the car is still very comfortable.

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  best veh I have ever had - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Lew Wilson - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Very quiet on the road like driving a luxury car. Interior quality is great. Moved my daughter from michigan to florida last summer. Rented a U-haul tandam trailer in fla and pulled up and back. Veh pulled trailer like nothing behind and I averaged 18.3 mpg and didnt baby the veh.

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  Love my new 07 Av - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Zooks - October 23 - 9:06 pm

  Hadnt even planned to look at Chevy in my quest for a new SUV. Drove by a dealer and figured "what the heck Ill take a quick look". Drove out in a new 2007 Avalanche :-)! Packed with options inside, love the 20" factory rims and new body style outside. Very quiet and smooth ride. Great towing capacity!

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  15 years of happiness - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Larry Marina - October 23 - 3:24 am

  I bought mine new in 2002.It was stolen last week. I feel like I lost a member of my family. Of course I am being screwed by my insurance company.

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  Treated me well - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Chimike - October 22 - 10:00 am

  The A/C got noisy around 30,000 miles, but it was fixed under the warranty. A few other minor problems, but I was pretty happy with the purchase overall.

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  A great 2 door coupe - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By LoriG - October 22 - 10:00 am

  I love my Monte Carlo. Its fun, fast and it gets great gas mileage. Im glad that its sporty yet safe enough that I bought it as a "family" car. Although it has one of the ugliest "butts" on the road, its still a hot looking car.

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  Make the midgate an option! - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ca - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Good ride if you like the suburban. The truck begs to be moded so get ready to spend some money. MPG is fair about 16 for real. Bed area is not water tight and never will be. Area around the wheel wells need protection and better chip resistent paint is needed on the hood. GM could do a lot better job with customer satisfaction. This truck is going to be one of those trucks that ten years down the road needs floor boards that have rusted out form leaking midgate. If you plan on keeping this truck for ever keep it as dry as possible.

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  Exceeded all expectations - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By chris p - October 22 - 10:00 am

  Having never owned a corvette before, I expected all of the stereotypes to be true, such as a cramped interior, lousy build quality and so forth. None of these having proven to be true. The performance is truly exceptional, it is easy to drive long distances, and nothing has broken or begun to rattle, even with trips to the drag strip and a few road courses. In fact, I frequently choose this over my mercedes sl to drive to work, which surprised even me.

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  Best SUV on the planet bar none - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Snooty357 - October 22 - 10:00 am

  For comfort,room and ride not much comes close. Blows Ford SUVs right out the water. Chevy Burb LT w/autoride suspension drives as good as most cars never mind trucks.If you dont believe me just test drive one yourself. P.S. Built to last a life time I highly recommend "the Burb"