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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  Great Small Car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By maroguy1 - December 16 - 7:24 pm

  I bought this car as a winter/mileage maker instead of driving my 05 GTO. I average 35 mpg on country road driving. The price and warranty were excellent. I paid under 8k with incentives. If you are looking for a cheap reliable car with 100k mile warranty this is it!

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  Great Car! - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jger - December 16 - 1:11 am

  I have owned Impalas for 10 years now and love them. I prefer a larger car with some room to move over compacts and this car delivers that. The cars interior is much more refined then my 2005 was. I think the luxury package, is a great addition and I really appreciate the upgraded interior. The extra engine power in the latest model is nice and the car never lacks pickup when its needed. The car handles well in town and on the highway and delivers respectable mileage, especially considering the size of the car. I have had this car for 6 months and have not experienced any issues with quality or reliability from my experience with Impala I wouldnt expect to.

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  04 SS Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By AZNeil04SS - December 15 - 10:00 am

  I love this car.

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  The car Ive always wanted - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Harry Lawrence - December 15 - 10:00 am

  The Chevy Tahoe is a car that Ive always wanted since the revision of the car in 2000. I was able to purchase a used 2003 after being in service for only 10 months and with low milage. My wife and I absolutely love the Tahoe and it has been very dependable and lots of fun to drive. It is also very roomy and delivers fair gas milagae for such a large vehicle

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  A fantastic Value - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Bob Thomas - December 14 - 2:19 pm

  When I bought this vehicle, I was looking for a Buick. But I saw the Uplander just off the truck and I was impressed with the look and price! The Uplander ride is smooth like a quality car, not like a truck. I recently replaced tires and other than routein maintaince, I have had no issues. Lots of cargo room. Seven can ride very comfortably. Uplander is a great value, no doubt!

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  Third Major Repair in Two Years - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Will - December 13 - 4:37 pm

  Where should I start? Overall, the 2000 S-10 is a strong workhorse and looks good. Heres my dilemma since purchasing the truck with 100,000 miles on it. Last year, the transmission went out at 160k miles, next the third door handle broke ($140 repair and still feels like its gonna break again), the alternator died this summer, radiator broke, and the starter died as well. Not knowing what the previous owner did as far as maintenence, but for a 6 year old truck it has left me stranded again...blown engine as a result of the heater core fizzin out!! Oh, did I mention the $2600 transmission rebuild last year also? I love GM cars, but Im having second thoughts!

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  A Great American Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By jgrein - December 12 - 7:00 pm

  I love my Impala. I have driven to Lincoln, NE and back and got 31.6666 miles to the gallon. Its very reliable. I do wish it had cushier seats, but, other than that, I really do love it. Thanks Chevrolet, for making a great car.

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  Many improvements - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill48 - December 12 - 10:55 am

  I had a 2005 Coupe and had a lot of trouble with it, mostly electronic. I also was not impressed with the noise when driving. The 09 has taken care of all these issues. It rides better and so much quieter that I can hear the radio at highway speed.

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  My 1st Chevy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Houston - December 12 - 1:40 am

  I was looking to replace my Mazda6 with something more grown-up, safer, quieter, roomier, that had some heft to the controls. I like the more solid feeling structure the Impala provides compared to my Mazda and most Japanese cars, I dont need nor want feather weight doors that close at the slightest blowing of the wind or overbearing road noise, you the kind you only learn about from taking a roadtrip.

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  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By SDK-ASK - December 11 - 9:03 pm

  Bought as a GM certified car. It had 29k on it. The price was decent, the equipment level is great. Plenty of power, plenty of amenities. I got to drive it for 3 weeks before my wife borrowed it, she fell in love with it, and has been drving it since. (oh well, gotta keep her happy I guess) I got a new truck, but still enjoy driving this car. Even with 60k-plus miles, it still has plenty of power. Turn off the trction control, and spinning the tires is not a problem. The response from others is still very positive. If you are looking for a 2- door, but are concerned about space for backseat passengers, look no further. This car has plenty. Drive one, youll love it.