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 Take after 2,000 miles - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By madisong - September 19 - 5:26 am

  I took delivery of my red Cruze LTZ in the brutality of our Minnesota Winter (12/15/11 - and Im very pleased to say this car is performing flawlessly. The torque in the 20 - 50 MPH range is surprisingly strong for the 1.4 liter Turbo. The 6 speed auto tranny probably has something to do with that as well. The remote start is a big plus, especially now to warm it up and also probably later in the summer to cool it down. The only disappointment is the tighter than desirable suspension system. Could be the winter but Im guessing the low profile tires on the larger wheels could be the reason.

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  Transfer Case - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By jrmcmaster - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Transfer case totally shot at 70,000 miles. Started malfunctioning within first year. Chevy did not back it. $2850 to replace.

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  2 years and running! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TH - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this truck for 2 years now and overall, Im satisfied. Never really been a Chevy guy, Ive always bought imports. My truck before this one was a 06 Titan Crew 4x4. I love the rear doors opening to 170 degrees and the electric side windows. The ride comfort is the best Ive experienced in a 4x4 truck. The exterior styling is great. I was expecting better fuel mileage from this truck. The best Ive got is 17 MPG. I heard that some people are getting well over 20 MPG. Mines is equipped with the 20" wheel package which may or may not be contributing to my poor fuel mileage. The 4 speed transmission took some getting used to coming from the 5 speed tranny in the Titan.

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  Great Truck for the Money - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cwosimon - September 18 - 11:26 am

  Great truck, have the 4.8 V-8, well equiped w/ trailer pkg. Very good power, handles well, good gas mileage. Not as fun as my Dodge Dakota SLT, but close and 40% better mileage. It is our trip vehicle, pulls our two jets skis, all our gear and the three of us with no problem. At 25,000 miles nothing other than normal maintenance. Well laid out interior and both front and back seat are comfortable. Will buy another is 4 or 5 years.

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  Best Value on the Market - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By crichie - September 18 - 5:43 am

  Ive had my Laguna special edition Stingray for about a week now and all I can say is WOW!! GM really got it right with this one. Ive owned a Porsche 911 Turbo S, Lamborghini Gallardo, and I still own a Mclaren MP4 and with the exception of the McLaren I would take the Corvette over all of them. The performance for what will end up being the base Stingray is amazing. Throttle response is phenomenal and handling is as sharp as one of the super cars I mention above. What really surprised me was the interior...the interior on my car is done really well in brown leather and suede. The dash is brown leather and the doors are covered in suede and leather. Simply put it is an amazing car!

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  good buy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By blazer - September 17 - 5:50 am

  I love this car. Traded in a 1997 4runner. The Trailblazer rides better, handles better, and has more power than the new Explorer and 4runner. I highly recommend the LT package. The automatic climate control is awesome. The locking rear differential is a good deal for only $300 dollars extra.

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  Fun to Drive.. Buy it! - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Tadd La Duke - September 16 - 2:03 pm

  This is the third Monte I have owned. I still have my 2004 Monte SS. This 2006 is head and shoulders above the previous years of Montes. It is quiet, smooth riding and responsive. It appears to have much more quality than the previous models. It turns a lot of heads. The styling reflects NASCAR inspiration and excitement.

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  ss baby - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By djg1173 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  best car i have ever owned

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  I like my new car dispite Edmonds views - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kimmiey - September 16 - 2:00 am

  I like this vehicle.The design this year is changed in some ways.It looks sporty for a 4 door sedan.It runs good. One down fall that I have had though is that there is a cable for the heating vent adjuster that has malfuntioned and from what I am told is a recall. Also, I dont care so much for the ETS system on the brakes, that had failed at 9,000 miles. Something snapped??? The car will run just fine without that. To me, it is an $800.00 mistake. I do not regret buying a Chevy Cavalier and will be sad to see it taken off the market next year. I currently own 2 Cavaliers. My other is a 1999.

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  CAVALIER 2 - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By L2 - September 16 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS REALY ABOUT MY 1992 CAVALIER THAT I BOUGHT NEW 12 YRS AGO I LVED THAT LITTLE RED CAR BUT AFTER 169,000 MILES AND ALL THE GOOD DEALS ON NEW CAVALIERS I DECIDED TO GET A NEW AND IF THIS CAVALIER IS AS DEPENABLE AS MY 92( I HAD ONE MINOR ELECTRIAL PROBLEM IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT ALL I DID WAS MAINTANCE(OIL, FILTERS,TIRES,ECT.) NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEM FOR HER LIFE TIME SHE STILL HAD GET UP AND GO WHEN I TRADED BUT YOU COULD TELL SHE WAS STARTING TO FEAL HER MILES MY NEW LITTLE BLACK BEAUTY HAS BEEN GREAT SO FAR LOVE THE RADIO HATE THE DASH CANT USE THE SPACE I HOPE I HAVE 12 MORE GOOD YEARS WITH THIS CAR