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 HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By ProJenn - April 10 - 4:03 am

  I love my HHR. I love the design and the comfort. It is very easy for my 4 year old to get in and out and do her own seat belt, which was important. For a small car I was happy to find not only a booster seat but a full size car seat fit comfortably in the back seat. The window controls could have been put in a better place and I feel like I am sitting up high. Overall I am very happy with my HHR. Gas mileage is great. Only one cup holder in the back. That kinda stinks.

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  Good ol Plain Jane Crew Cab - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By drwooly - April 10 - 12:26 am

  Bought this truck because they FINALLY made the 1500 Crew Cab. I think we did it right. Fit, finish, performance is very good. ( Cmon people, its a truck! Anything better than 16-18 mpg, and drag strip performance, youll have to build yourself! ) I have put on dual exhaust, and an air intake system, and increased mileage, but its good enough to start with! The only thing I would change is getting the long-bed. Also, after-market/dealer-installed tonneau cover is a joke! But overall, a very good, competent truck. LT pkg. makes it even better than some cars.

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  My Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dave - April 9 - 10:25 pm

  I love my Avalanche. My wife was not sure but she loves every thing about it now. I had a Chevy that would get 35 mpg on the highway but I traded mpg for how I feel after a long trip. To maximize fuel economy it shows when you are in V8 mode or V4 mode and it will show you how much mpg you are getting. By watching my "mode" I can get 21 mpg on the highway or 18 with the E85 fuel. Plus after driving from Iowa to Texas and back again I felt like I drove accross town. I wish I could afford one today for my wife.

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  Great car - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By TAL28 - April 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a very well built car, with a engine known for its reliability. We looked at almost all other vehicles in this price range from other manufacturers and have to say it was pretty obvious that chevys build qulity is top notch. Not only under the hood but the Impala on the interior just (for lack of a better word) feels so much better. The other cars in this price range from Dodge and Ford really use alot of cheap plastic giving it a really cheap feel.

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  Generally happy with the Silverado - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By soulignymk - April 9 - 5:40 am

  I love the performance of this truck and its a pleasure driving on long trips. It pulls my 37 Carriage 5th wheel effortlessly and still gets 14 mpg while towing.

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  Pure Pleasure. - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By kaetc81 - April 8 - 12:06 pm

  I have enjoyed driving and owning this truck. It is comfortable for trips & long commutes, handles well in traffic and is most dependable. It works well for my personal hauling needs as well, great design features make it a handsome vehicle, one I am proud to own. The Onstar feature is great, the monthly report and diagnostics are an excellent tool for maintenance.

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  2003 avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By fishguy - April 8 - 2:00 am

  my only knocks, hard to see those tiny dots called "cars" behind you when backing up

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  Fantastic - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By R1Ryder - April 8 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is truly the king of the road. I use it to tow my two race bikes and for family trips. I love the bose system and onstar. I added my own dvd entertainment system with two 7" monitors in the headrest and one in the dash. A great suv for the buck.

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  So Far, So Good! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Nelle - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I have had my SUV for 13 months now and I have had only one problem so far. Shortly after I purchased my SUV, I started hearing this faint noise in the dash area. I took it to the dealership (Harbor Chevrolet, Long Beach, CA - EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!) and I was told that they would have to take the dash apart piece by piece to find the source of the noise. It turned out to be some wiring or cabling issue and they were able to fix. After 17k miles and venturing to Las Vegas, San Diego and Santa Maria, I have only 85% usage on my brakes! Y E S!!!!

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  I will only buy Chevy now - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By only chevy for me no - April 7 - 4:00 pm

  I just wanted to let anyone out there thinking of buying one of these cars to do so. My daughter wrecked mine into a pole head on, the airbags went off, and she didnt have a scratch on her, she walked away unhurt.. This car was built sound and tough and my daughter is living proof. I want another just like it.