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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  Bumblebee V6 with a 6-speed manual - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By swfcpilot - February 13 - 4:00 pm

  Ive owned higher performance cars in the past, but for a good compromise of comfort and performance, my Camaro is a good fit. We didnt want nor need the performance of the big V8, and liked the good gas mileage of the V6 models. We opted for the standard equipment manual transmission just because... The car is simply a blast. With the 19-inch wheels the car will take a corner pretty flat, but it doesnt rattle the fillings out of your teeth over bumps in the road either. Add the yellow paint and black stripes and it just simply looks sharp. Comfort is good with excellent seats even without adjustable lumbar. Visibility isnt perfect but like any other car you learn the blind spots.

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  2005 Trailblazer - Good Vehicle. - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By twright - February 13 - 2:23 am

  Days after buying this vehicle, we took it on a long trip over 2000 miles. It handled very well and was very comfortable. We got all the toys (GPS, DVD, XM Radio, etc) and glad we did. I am disappointed that you lose the use of the CD player when using the GPS, but the XM radio was a savior here. Gas mileage on the trip was 21 highway to and from vacation and 18 MPG during the week of city & highway. In the city alone, with a lot of hills, I am getting 14 - 15 MPG. Good engine performance. Could use a little more storage space near the front seats. Overall, I feel this is an excellent SUV and believe I will be happy with it for years to come.

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  American truck - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Bob T. - February 12 - 6:29 pm

  I bought this truck over a year ago, i could not resist. I had a an Avalanche before which I used for both construction and leisure made over 70,000 miles, and let me tell you I new I could depend on Chevy. After having a baby and with the anticipation for the new Chevy model I purchased Suburban and I would not change for anything else. The possibilities with this truck are endless. Its a safe, smooth ride, love the space.

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  Love my Lumina - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Judith Lloyd - February 12 - 12:00 am

  My Lumina has been driven by me only and has given me excellent service. My Lumina has 31,550 actual miles and still has the same tires that came with it brand new. I only drive it work and church which are both less than 5 miles from my home.

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  Impressive Truck - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kovich14 - February 10 - 1:29 pm

  This is my first Silverado and it exceeds all of my expectations. The ride and handling is far superior to the mid-size pickup I traded in on it. The interior is comfortable and very roomy- I can fit six adults easily. Power with the 5.3L and 6 speed is plentiful and makes this truck fun to drive. It gets identical fuel mileage to my former mid-size too. The frequent shifting of the 6 speed took some getting used to but the shifts are mostly unnoticeable and power is always on tap. The autotrac 4wd is fantastic in the snow. Overall Im very impressed with the truck.

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  Great Truck Tows Beautifully - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By MichaelB - February 10 - 1:48 am

  I opted for the Colorado because of the MPG and for the tow rating. Tows 3500 lbs like a dream! Could not be happier, except that the seat upgrade would have been a wise choice!

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  Best Car Yet - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Joey D - February 9 - 9:10 pm

  This car is an incongruous value and a delight to own. They have started out with great basics - a hydroformed version of the Epsilon chassis (rock solid and ultra low resonance), the drivetrain right out of the Caddy CTS (the GM High Feature V6 can run without coolant, like the Northstar). They built on this with no shortage of great features and amenities, in a package with style and grace. Minute details such as the door position stops, the trunk lid mechanism, the tiny lamps inside the door handles, tiny Chevy logos in the lights, all add up to a car that delights like no other. Love the suspension and handling as well.

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  Awesome Value - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By roxy4877 - February 9 - 8:06 pm

  I just picked mine up today. I love the ride it gives! I bought the base model because of my tight budget. $17,888! Nothing else came close. And as for the interior, finally the Americans outdid the imports.

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  Vette - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Vette - February 9 - 2:50 pm

  I woke up one day and decided it was time to treat myself to a sports car. I went to the dealer and walked out with the Vette 1 hour later. This is by far the nicest car I ever drove. I was never a Vette person until I got behind the wheel and drove it.

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  My Ezmerelda - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By BIG R - February 9 - 1:15 pm

  Only way to feel trans shifting is to watch tachometer. Has more get up and go than I figured when I bought the vehicle. The cars paint and finish are great. Used to own Fords, but this baby is hot. Put on fender flaps, a must to keep side panels dry.