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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  I Love My New Toy!! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MsTeacher - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I really love my new Trailblazer. It has all the luxuries and comfort of home!

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  bad bow-tie - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mac daddy - March 22 - 10:00 am

  This truck is built for fun. The lightning will not come out with 500 ponies, it will back to the 380-390hp or what ever it is. Supercharger on a chevy and see what the numbers say. The short wheel base model for next year with a supercharger will blow a lightning out of the water, just watch and see. The 500 ponies on the ford is a concept, and we all know how concepts work. Ford is scared to produce a truck with 500 ponies, watch and see, it will be back to the small 5.4 and that little supercharger.

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  Solid enjoyable driving experience. - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By sandman - March 21 - 2:56 pm

  I looked at lots of cars before chosing the Impala. Hondas and Toyotas dont stack up in the quality and solid feel when you close the doors. Auto insurance is also lower than buying foreign, I checked with insurance companies to help decide which car was the least expensive to own.

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  Very pleased - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Herb - March 21 - 1:06 pm

  Have had truck for 4 months. I love the thing. All reviews by "experts" are poor, but owner reviews tend to be very positive. I am glad I got it. Left over 08 listed for $28,600, I paid $21,000 with all discounts. On-Star is kind of cool. I just use the cell phone part which works very well ($.15 per minute is very high).Truck is great in snow with good ground clearance. 5 yr 100,000 mile drive train warranty is great. GM quality has come a long way. I hope they can stay in business.

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  Worth the Look - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By tat1739 - March 21 - 1:53 am

  Loyal Honda fan won over by Chevy! I have loved my car! Steering is responsive. Ride is nice and quiet especially for a small car. Lots of pep. Nicely appointed dash. Classy interior. Mileage has been running about 30 mpg - and this is with an average speed of about 37 mph. I typically drive more in-town. I expect to see upper 30s - 40 mpg on the highway. Yeah! Eager to get it on the road to stretch her legs. I was a "hard sell" customer - and looked at this car with a very critical eye. Drove and compared it to every comp car - just couldnt resist it, tho I surely tried. If you want a small sedan at reasonable price, this is the car for you!

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  Worth serious consideration - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By troutman - March 20 - 11:43 am

  Chevy did a real nice job of touching up this reliable performer, making it more sleek in design and improving both the appearance and functionality of interior controls. What sold me was a combination of the fuel economy and the flex fuel engine offered in the 3.5L V-6, which runs on both unleaded, as well as E85 fuel. Finally, the base engine, in addition to being very miserly on fuel, has a surprising amount of power and has the feel of a sports coupe. This vehicle is worth both a test drive and serious consideration against any other manufacturer.

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  Nice Little Fun Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Sean - March 19 - 11:06 pm

  General Motors is getting a bad rap about their cars. The engines in the Cobalt and HHR are tried and true Ecotech motors. I have owned this car since it was new. I have put on tires and a brake job. I love this car, not one problem at all. This will match up well against most small imported cars very well. I am thinking of trading in next year for the SS model. Great little car and really fun to drive.

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  Best bang for your buck - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Colene Myers - March 19 - 10:49 pm

  I bought this car in 2008. My Granddaughter had an accident and totaled it... The police office said that the car was well made or the passengers would not have walked away. Along with the excellent mileage that I received that says it all. Now am looking for a replacement.

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  We luv our bus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By David&Anesha Wossne - March 19 - 10:13 pm

  We had to get a bigger vehicle (I was pregnant)so we traded in our Jag Vand Plas for a used 2001 "Bus" with 117,000mls. We cant tell you how much we luv our "Bus" We added 3 TVS for the kids, Navigation for me. It is great for Soccer and other sport activities for the family,we travel a lot and it has great as mileage (16-18) We hardly drive our other vehicles except for work. When the engine falls out well get another used "Bus"

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  Im loving my new Chevrolet Impala - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By bigdiva78 - March 18 - 3:32 pm

  Although the interior is sort of cheesy, Im totally loving this car. I went from a 1999 Ford Contour to this vehicle and could not have made a better choice. It definitely serves the needs of my livelihood. Again, the interior design could use more work. For the most part, I am a satisfied buyer!