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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  love it so far - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tahoe owner - January 26 - 10:00 am

  still surprised by the comfortable, quiet ride, great steering and brakes, very good seats

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  I would buy another one - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Joe V - January 25 - 8:04 pm

  I purchased new almost 4 years ago. After 58,000 miles, I have not had one major repair. Changed oil and it goes. In nearly perfect condition, with original tires and brakes. Never a problem. The black plastic began to fade and the dealer refurbished it, under warranty without charge with an improved treatment. Every year me and 3 friends take it on our golf trip- 4 men, 4 sets of clubs and our luggage- and we usually take the clubs of the rest that fly down. Have hauled 10 foot sheets of drywall, skids of pavers and also trailered a huge camper approx 10,000 pounds. Reliable!

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  Wow - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By OptimusPrime - January 25 - 4:45 pm

  Bought the car last week. Wow! Cant even describe this car. It literally gets the heart pumping. It looks awesome. Gets a lot of attention. It sticks to the road like its on rails. Corners are a blast, no need to slow down with this one. It the best toy I have ever owned!

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  Corvette C5 to C6 Z06 - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Randy - January 25 - 10:36 am

  After 4 years of Corvette C5 coupe ownership I purchased a new 2008 Machine Silver Z06 based on pricing, performance and looks. Having owned the car less than two weeks I can say this is absolutely the best automobile I have owned. The performance and acceleration is superb. The looks are unmatched and pricing for this American supercar is right on. The Z06 is not an economy car but highway mileage in the mid 20s is not disappointing.

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  Great Small Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By meomalley - January 25 - 9:48 am

  I purchased a base model Cobalt LS 4- door sedan as a commuter car to go from home to work. I have the automatic transmission, upgraded radio, and the side curtain airbags and ABS as primary options. I chose the Cobalt in part because a relative visited me and rented a new LT model that I drove a few times. I was quite impressed by the car. The Cobalt is extremely comfortable for me. Im 61" and the seating and drivng position is idea. Plus, after sitting in the car for a few hours on bad traffic days, Im not sore or uncomfortable. The car handles very competently and has good pep for a small 2.2L four cylinder. The car was very inexpensive to buy.

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  Excellent truck but not perfect - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jocatch - January 25 - 8:36 am

  I owned a 1999 Tahoe and traded it in for the 2007. Although the new Tahoe is lightyears ahead of the 99, there are a few things that I would say are not quite as nice. The first thing are the engine gauges. In the 2007 they are alot smaller and harder to see. The gear shifter is very close to the stering wheel and I hit the wheel when I shift it. They radio will not play cassette tapes. However, the air conditioner in the 07 works alot better and you can aim the air where you want it. The Bose sound system sounds very good but doesnt seem to be as loud as the old radio. My truck came with Brigstone tires. I love the DIC. Sounds great when you get on it. I dont mind about the 3rd row seat.

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  An unrecognized gem of a car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jerry - January 25 - 6:11 am

  I did my research on this vehicle before I purchased, so I knew what to expect. Great value for the money. I love the car, its lots of fun to drive and I highly recommend it. In regards to fuel economy, oddly the DOT estimates rate this car as 34mpg/24mpg. I have gotten 37 mpg highway and 33 mpg in mixed driving with the 5 speed manual transmission during the winter. I expect to get even better gas mileage during the warmer months. To maximize fuel economy, I would suggest to keep the tachometer at around 1,200-1,500 rpms when shifting gears, and accelerate smoothly, no jack rabbit starts. During highway driving, try to keep the speed between 55 and 60 mph and the tach around 2500 rpms.

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  Simply Amazed - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By VEGASDUDE - January 24 - 9:33 am

  After a lifetime of fast sports cars, I just totaled one, ouch!Decided Id get a bare bones econobox for cheap insurance, to tide me over til the new Camaro debuts. After looking at all the others I picked the Cobalt. I love this car! Fun to drive, decent power and mileage, plus it looks great in Victory Red. Love the tail lights! Lowered it with Eibach SportLines, bigger rims/BFG T/A KDWs, spoiler, full tint, sheepskins. Im gonna keep her as my daily driver after I get the Camaro. Highly recommended. Big bang for the buck ! Chevy, You won me back!

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike B - January 23 - 9:16 pm

  I absolutely love this SUV. It is a comfortable as any I test drove. The only real draw back is the fact that the third row seat does not fold back, but that is not a huge problem for me. Other than that, this is an extremely fun SUV to drive, and is great in the city for such a big vehicle.

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  My family loves it - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Love it - January 23 - 7:19 pm

  We bought this truck for trips and moderate city driving. It has been great with a family of three and two large labs. My wife loves to drive it even though it seems like a very large vehicle. This is the best experience Ive had with a Chevy. I plan on driving it until the wheels fall off. We have had good luck with maintance. Currently it has 89000 miles.