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 New SS Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Elliot Dulberger - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Have only had it a week or so but since it is Chevys newest Impala wanted to share my views on it. Traded a 02 LS Impala with only 7800 miles that I truly enjoyed but had to have the newest model. I like the heavier feel to the SS and altho I am not a lead foot I can tell it has power to spare compared to the 02. The concept of the SS has always been performance and I think this car will give this to those who desire it.

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  it hits the spot - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By easimonei - November 3 - 10:00 am

  this vehicle has great pulling power and is great for family. for a v8 gass millage is about 5 dollars different then a v6 and to me thats great

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  One Tough SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Lancelot - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Love the design and handling characteristics. Has many useful features and is solidly built. Interior is equal to or better than most of the SUVs I drove. Controls are easy to access and it rides great for a truck. On Star is a must for the safety conscious. Looks much better than the the crossover stationwagons. Looks like a true SUV.

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  love it - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By fruitfly - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This is a great family truck. Great for trips. Very comfortable. This truck has great features.

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  Reliable Commuter Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mike O - November 3 - 12:35 am

  My Cobalt LS 4-door has been a great purchase and a terrific commuter car. I bought the car new for a very good price which included a rebate, dealer discount and GM Card credits. Out the door with a 100K mile warranty set me back $12.8K. The car has 15,000 miles on it and it has not needed any repairs thus far. The car is very reliable and runs flawlessly. I do the maintenance myself, which is very simple. Im pretty tall and I find the driver seat very comfortable. drive about 60 miles/day, so Im in the car about 2- 1/2 hrs/day. The car gets >30 mpg and has plenty of pep. The car handles pretty well for a small car.

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  What a great pickup truck, made for work - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RickThompson - November 2 - 11:16 pm

  I bought this truck in April 2005 with 6,850 miles on it and broke 50,000 miles this October. No problem other than a brake light. I change the oil and it runs. I only have the 4.3L but it can still haul the loads. I get about 17-19 in town and 19-23 on the highway with the air on. The truck has great passing power, and the limited slip is nice when offroad even though its just a 2wd. Bulletproof drivetrain.

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  Excellent car/suv - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By joe7978 - November 2 - 6:13 pm

  This is a great car with lots of uses. I bought mine back in November and I love it. It gets decent fuel economy, and the driver information center is great for knowing whats going on with the rest of the car. I actually was able to fold the front passenger seat all the way down put a lap top on top of it plug the lap top into the i pod jack and watch movies it was like having a mobile theater! As far as the tan interior goes I would recommend putting a little scotch guard down to help with mess prevention. All in all a great car, you will not be disapointed!

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  Beautiful Car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By erk - November 1 - 10:19 am

  Have owned the Malibu for 10 months and 12,000 miles and have loved almost every minute. Very comfortable ride, very good mileage, excellent interior and awesome deluxe sound system. Truly the best car that I have ever purchased. Only concern is the electric power steering, which started jerking and acting eratic at about 10,000 miles while on an extended 2,500 mile trip. It took 2 trips to dealer to get steering problem corrected. Hopefully this is an isolated problem and not a reoccuring problem similar to earlier Malibus with electric steering problems.

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  My 2005 Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Robin - November 1 - 4:33 am

  After 8 months of driving my Equinox I am having as much fun as I did when I purchased it! I love the ride and handling and style! I do wish the gas mileage was a bit better (hint, hint Chevrolet), but I am perfectly happy with everything else. This is my first SUV and I can assure you as long as they make the Equinox, I will have one!

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  What a Fun Car! - 2016 Chevrolet SS
  By KSB - October 31 - 3:08 pm

  I was searching for something that would meet up to my old car. I had a 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo - SS SC with all the bells and whistles, comforts and get up and go that I wanted in a car. I test drove 8 different vehicles within the price range I was willing to pay. Although the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 both came close - you see those cars at every turn - everyone owns one. I wanted something different than the rest on the road. I also had great luck with the Chevrolet, so decided to go back to the Chevrolet dealer to see what else they might have comparable to the Monte Carlo. I test drove an Impala - too big and not enough take off. I test drove a Cadillac - it was comfortable enough, had pretty good take off - but to get heated seats - it was going to cost approximately another $10,000 - not worth it. I had already test drove a Camaro - awesome power - but my gosh that thing was so cramped and uncomfortable to ride in - it was all about the engine and the great looking outside. So I decided I would try the Chevy SS - and am I glad I did - Oh what Fun!! The one I test drove was a manual and it was great, however, I have gotten lazy over the years, was used to an automatic and didnt want to shift gears anymore - besides it was an unattractive blue. If it had been that beautiful dark navy blue Ive seen in the Dodge - I might have considered it. However, I am partial to a black car. Since the closest dealer with a black automatic SS was an hour away in hell traffic, I bit the bullet to go and test drive one. It was worth the drive - although I didnt like the price they offered and left the dealership. But I couldnt stop thinking about that car. It took a couple of days for the dealership to call me and ask what I didnt like about the car. I explained that I liked the car but here is how I work - I offer them a price, they dont add on all of their extras that I dont want and then I will decide what I need to put down and borrow for a loan. I gave them an offer. They didnt take what I offered, but came back with a price I was willing to pay. No, there is nothing fancy about the car, it doesnt have the distinct look of a bad boy Camaro - yes, everyone thinks at first that its an Impala, but I dont mind. Its a tad smaller than my Monte Carlo, which I wanted. Yes, its a gas hog, but thats to be expected - I am hoping it will get better once I decide I am done testing its power. You might think it is a grandma car (and I am a grandma) however, when I go blasting passed them on the highway, they know by the sound and the speed that its not your ordinary grandma car. I was actually sad leaving my Monte Carlo at the dealership - but after two days - my SS and I are doing just fine!