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:

• 

  Still on the post - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Cathy W - July 31 - 7:21 pm

  Purchased this car for the hubby to drive and from work. 110 miles roundtrip everyday. He decided he would continue to drive his truck (I drove it for 2 years to my job round trip ,12 miles) because gas is down. So I got the car against my wishes. This car is not comfortable at all to me. To many buttons to figure it out. Be prepared to read the manual if urnot techno savy... Which I am not!! I feel like I am in a fishbowl or all to see.Keep in mind I did not get in or test drive the car. Hubby did only. But I drive oit.go figure. I am a plus size babe, n this car is tight. Good thing I am not plus plus or it would be like a can of canned fish stuffed in. Had the car for a month now and it s slowly expanding with me. Tinted ALL the widows made a world of difference .so, that said, I would give this car 4 star rating. VERY compact not to roomy, back seat to tight, Windows look c!assy though n I give them a10+++++. Handle s curves like a charm n fast little booger to 0 to 60 in 45 sec and its a 4 Cylinder. Go figure its a classy one to.

• 

  Best I Have Ever Owned - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By 07SSOhio - July 31 - 6:26 pm

  I cant say enough good things about this car. Absolutely amazing, no problems, great mileage, super fun.

• 

  A delight to drive - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By MClean - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This is a delightful car to drive. For a small four cylinder it has excellent exceleration(pulling hills or merging into traffic) on the highway. The gas mileage is also a big plus. I got 30mpg in the city and 38mpg on the highway. And that is with a automatic transmission. The seats are comfortable and there is ample room for four passengers. The hatchback has a small storage space in the rear, but if you need more room the rear seats fold down. The only thing that I did not like was the cup holder in the front dash. When you use it, any thing you have in it blocks access to the ac/heater controls. But for less than 14K this car is excellent.

• 

  Excellent Drive - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By adclarke - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I did not expect the Malibu to have as smooth a ride as it does. It is a comfortable, reliable car with a classy style all its own. Recommended buy!

• 

  I Love It!!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By wilma B - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This Car has been nothing but great! We would buy it again! There is nothing I dont like about it. I would recomend it to my best friend.we compaired it to other cars in the same class and I am so glad we chose the monte carlo. We have the yellow and people are allways telling me how pretty it is. My other car is a eldorado and I would rather drive the monte carlo! I Love It!!!!

• 

  wrong foot - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By chippox - July 31 - 10:00 am

  The only problem I have encountered is the location of the door locks. They tend to be easily activated while exiting the vehicle on both the passenger and drivers side. There is an alarm when they are activated but Im sure I will be locked sooner or later.

• 

  Best thing I have ever owned - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By hoosier daddy - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Great to tow the boat and a beautiful day or just driving to work.

• 

  A happy owner - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Richard Wantz - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Simply the best truck with a design that is unequalled within the truck and SUV industry.

• 

  great for tall drivers - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By nice truck - July 31 - 10:00 am

  im 65" tall, can sit up straight and see out winshield without ducking, have saved $ and actually eliminated chiropractor visits.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Lance Kellow - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Best sports car for the price! Great bang for your buck!