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 gas sipping money saver - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cher - March 15 - 4:49 pm

  I love the gas millage this car gets. I have had it a year and it still gets 37mpg highway and 26-27 city. I do 65mph on the highway, not 55. However, to keep the gas mileage great you must change the oil and filter once every 3,000 miles, not 6,000 miles like the dealership tells you to. THIS IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO A HYBRID CAR. I couldnt afford a hybrid so I bought this car and it really does get the gas millage Chevy advertises. Not to mention its a lot better looking than a Toyoda Prius. The lock cylinder on the car did go at 16,000 miles but my warranty covered that.

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  old cop car - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By don - March 15 - 1:54 pm

  I bought this car with 162,000 kms on it. It now has pushing 300,000 kms. This car corners like a sports car, brakes as good or better than most on the road. And you got remember it was used and abused by the ont Canada o. P. P. This car will bury the speedo with no hesitation. Its been to Florida with me 3 times from Ontario. Ive put a battery and 2 front wheel bearings, and a set of control arm bushing in it. I change the tranny oil and filter every spring. I probly drive it harder the the police did! I love it even tho its a plain Jane. From the lights this car surprise

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  Love it more every time I drive it - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Chick - March 14 - 10:16 pm

  I waited 50 years for my Corvette. Found this one with only 10K miles on it. Virtually a brand-new 15 year old car but drives and rides like a true GT. Mine has the sport seats and the glass roof so its always entertaining, feels like an F-16 on takeoff. If youre seriously considering a Corvette, any Corvette, buy it. Fast, smooth, and beautiful - these cars are a screaming bargain. You will not be disappointed. The C5 is probably a better car and the C6 my neighbor owns is like your own personal amusement park, but my C4 does everything I want. I bought this car thinking Id keep it for 6 months to a year. Now I think Ill keep it forever.

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  The Best of The Best - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By One Lucky Tiger - March 14 - 1:30 pm

  Im exceptionally a lucky Vette lover to presently own both the ZO6 and a new 2010 ZR1. Both have there own personality, but, the ZR1 is everything...and even more then what you have read about. It is so amazingly fast, responsive and still rides so smoothly and very pleasant and gentile in city traffic. While you read so much criticism about the inferiority of the interior compared to other “supercars”, you still have to keep in mind that the extra 75K$ to 100K$ difference buys another Z06 (which I did). That’s a lot of money difference for an extra fancy interior. I don’t think fancy interiors is as important as all around performance of a “supercar”. No one can argue about the perfo

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  Impressed - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By J - March 13 - 9:02 pm

  Ive really enjoyed my Impala both my wife and I enjoy it more than her Maxima. Ive had no problems until recently which include the cruise control turning itself off and at the same time interior fan will stop for a brief moment. Ive enjoyed the car so much Ive considered trading my wifes Maxima in on a another Impala (her Maxima has surprisingly a number of problems). Mine is the LS w/o leather or the sunroof.

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  Dream car! - 1992 Chevrolet Corvette
  By DempseyG - March 13 - 8:43 pm

  This is my second Vette. The first was an 82 Collector Edition. It was a good car and a lot of fun but had major problems. This car Easily gets 30mpg On the highway if I use "cruise". The car was sold new in Germany to a military person and shipped back here in 97. Its in great shape uses NO fluids of any type and ahs had to have no repairs since I bought it. Red w/black int. its a real eye catcher and a lot of fun that costs me near nothing! I would only trade it for a newer one. Im totally sold on Corvettes! Dollar for dollar, the best sports car in the world!

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  Solid built van, nice ride. - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Jim - March 13 - 3:40 pm

  pretty nice van built more solidly than foreign, safety of my family was a high priority. Very decent cruising for long trips, good on gas considering its size, DVD player good for kids.

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  I would buy another one - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lt9599 - March 13 - 9:44 am

  I am very happy with my purchase. This vehicle drives well in the snow and rain. I love the AWD, and the wide wheel base. The chrome package makes it look cooler than the the standard LT models.

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  Quality Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By RacinJason - March 13 - 8:07 am

  Owned for a year. Previous owner took care of the truck and kept it clean and serviced. I am doing the same. It runs well and am impressed by the quality of engineering. The ride is excellent, especially for a truck. As long as I keep it serviced on time I have seen no indication of any service issues either in person or in the internet.

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  Happy so far - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jj - March 13 - 7:47 am

  Purchased this car after having two Chrysler 300s. Was impressed with the drive and interior features/appointments the Malibu offered. Biggest issue is getting used to less interior room compared to the 300, but this car offered more with the satellite radio, hands free Bluetooth, etc. Primary issue Im having is the steering tends to want to drift right. I already had this in the dealer and they made an adjustment and it still does it. A bit frustrating. Also the steering when turning doesnt appear overly smooth, but getting used to it. Also dont really care for the location of the manual shifting levers on the steering wheel. Mileage is decent and overall I am satisfied.