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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  Awesome! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Roslynn Eaton - September 22 - 8:20 pm

  This is a replacement vehicle for a 2000 Tahoe. Needless to say I was not real sure I wanted to get rid of the Tahoe, as it was also a very awesome rig. Not too great on fuel tho. But this HHR has surpassed all my expectations by leaps and bounds. I am 67 yrs young, Tahoe had purple flames and so naturally, this HHR had to have purple flames also. I love the vehicle. I cant say enough about it. The handling ability is so great and it really gets up and goes. I think it would have beat the Tahoe!! GM has done it again.

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  love the ecotech engine - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By silverbroomstx - September 22 - 2:00 am

  We got ours in june 2003, we love it, I never have purchased an automatic, until this one, it is great for the money! black with after market rims from the dealer, no ground effects no pin stripes it really is hot looking! and really quick too!

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  CHEVY MALIBU AN AMERICAN CONTENDER - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rebmulpjr - September 22 - 2:00 am

  finally a fun american built car to compete with foreign mid size cars. no need to keep buying foreign cars of this class when we have this great new american sedan. fun to drive and good looking. where does edmunds find lack of power? maybe they should try driving the v6 model and leave the 4 banger at the dealership.

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  THIS is a CHEVY?!?!?! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Randall - September 22 - 2:00 am

  What a pleasant surprise this was! I thought, OH its a malibu BIG deal... I was shocked and amazed by its quality, solid structure, and comfort. More personality than the Accord or Camry. It reminds you of a european sedan with its outward visibility and interior layout. Very nice.

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  corvette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By slim - September 22 - 2:00 am

  after driving several other corvettes it just seems to get better.it is hard to beleive this car can be improved.

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  the truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chip - September 22 - 2:00 am

  i love my truck

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  good power - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By LarryB - September 22 - 2:00 am

  the 2004 chevy v-6 has really good power and the truck looks really great

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  Poor Quality Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By joewee - September 22 - 1:23 am

  Unlike most of the forgien manufacture, GM firmly believes you get what you pay for and that phlosophy is refected in this vehicle. Its just simply of poor quality and GM has a long line of excuses to explain its poor quality away. Excuses they are justifiable, they are not. After owning 12 General Motor vehicles, I have come to the conclusion that any GM vehicle outside of their trucks and SUV are just disposable. It truthfully saddens me to see a car manufacturer I once loved produce such garbage and then justify its short comings through excuses that they expect the dealerships to pass along.

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  Yellow SS - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By tripled - September 21 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my SS for two weeks now, and love it to death. Coming from my 1999 Honda Accord, this car has more pickup, and better handling. It is also very roomy inside for a coupe. The trunk is spacious enough for me to add my subs, and still have access to the spare tire.

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  its a friday car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Angry man - September 21 - 10:00 am

  The car has already had some problems after a week of owning it. I had paint bumps on the trunk that I need to get fixed they are willing to do this but they canÂ’t get me in until next week. The gears are really close together so I feel like I have to shift way to quickly, it wants me to go to fifth gear at about 32 mph. The preformace leaves something to be desired. I hope to add a K&N cold air system as soon as it comes out. Also the power window control pannel is comming out already.