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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  ss Monte - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By lmilone - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The SS Monte Carlo is superior all the way around. The handling, styling, comfort and performance is awesome. When you step on the accelerator you go without any hesitation and gas mileage is surprisingly good.

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  2000 Blazer 4WD LT - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By rmartelo - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The Blazer has been much like a car in its ability to fit into spaces and acts like a truck. It has 51,000 miles and never to the shop except for warranty work or recall. Mileage is 20MPG, original tires and brakes with very much life yet. 1st American car for a decade and plesantly suprised of its performance.

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  Engineering Masterpiece!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By JasonM - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The Z71 4X4 Avalanche is the best of both worlds with lots of toys! Its got the luxury and space of a loaded SUV with the hauling capacity of a full size pickup. I keep common tools (cordless drill/flashlight set, screwdrivers, etc) in one side of the locking compartments in the side of the bed and use the other side as a cooler for picnicing/camping or whatever.

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  The Av.... - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Nightshift - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Avalanche, the first was replaced by the dealership within the first week due to electrical problems. They volunteered to replace it! I love this truck! This is the Z66 version. Road trips with the cruise on = 20 mpg, not bad for a brick. City = 11 mpg. I have had no problems with this Avalanche, its versatile, takes about a minute to change it, unless you remove the hard cover. I have driven it in heavy downpours and have never had any leakage. All I can say, even though it took 2, Chevrolet got it right with the Avalanche, there is nothing else like it.

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  My hot car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kim - October 19 - 11:26 pm

  Overall I love it. I have a traveling job so I spend a lot of time in my car. My father is a mechanic and he typically is a "Ford guy", but he really liked the run of this model, which is a good sign to me! Due to my job, good gas mileage was the main reason for my choice with this car, its an added perk that it has so many other good qualities. One thing is for sure, my friends never turn down a chance to drive it!

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  Outstanding rating \ - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By paul bellitto - October 18 - 11:20 am

  I am very pleased with the performace, reliabilty, appearence. I have now 98000 miles and the gas mileage is great, and I repair most on the every day matainence such as brakes, oil change etc. I expect to get long many years from my truck in these trying years with the gas prices.

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  My 5th Vette. Beyond Comparison - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mike Zap - October 17 - 7:53 pm

  Bought in Texas. Awesome Drive home! This is the first Corvette I have ever been in that rides as good as it looks and goes. Excellent fit and finish, comfortable seats and of course 400 willing horsepower to punch a hole in the road. Creature comforts like heads up display, power heated seats, dual climate controls, 6 CD Bose sound system all coddle the occupants. Great steering, seat comfort and pedal placement make this car sooooo much fun. The nicest thing about this car is its a Chevy and can be serviced without waiting months for parts or an appointment. Besides all that what could be more American than driving a red Corvette with the top off and my wife sitting at my side?

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  2006 Silverado WT 4WD Reg Cab V8 6.5 bed - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By FE Coyle - October 17 - 1:33 pm

  I purchased this truck to replace my 37 year old GMC which I bought new in 1969. This is the perfect replacement. Its fun to drive ,very good manufacturing quality. I average 20 mpg on highway & 17 in town.I did a lot of research and am very satisfied with my choice.I average about 5000 miles a year on my truck. It is used mostly for pleasure, hunting, fishing etc.

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  No car comes close for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Nat04Z06 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car you can buy under $100,000. Other cars may be faster, others may get better fuel economy and some may look better. But nothing on the road does everything as well as the Corvette/Z06.

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  fun in the sun - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By patrick crowley - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is great for the ego, scary FUN to drive, predictable handling at the limit, the only downside is the 1st to 4th shift which is not always predictable.I do not understand the comments about cheap interior. To me its just great. Sure its not as luxuruous as a maserati or mecedes but then again its only a fraction of the price!