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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  Days Of Thunder - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Florida Girl - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. My wife likes it but is having seperation anxiety from the Tahoe we turned in. She feels like its to small now. LOL. Overall though we love it. Once she gets used to it I plan on spending many nights on the beach staring at the stars through the awesome sun roof. AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++

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  Great Car! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cdorrell1 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased my 2004 cavalier 08/15/03. I love this car!! I highly suggest the 5 speed transmission as it is way cool and very fun to drive. This car gets great gas mileage and is a true gem to drive!

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  BEST TRUCK - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By SR7 - October 9 - 10:00 am

  CAN HAUL AN 18 FOOT XMAS TREE

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  My Impala LS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By MarinesVixen - October 9 - 10:00 am

  There is nothing more to life than having a car that is fun to drive. Plus, it looks great just drinving to the local supermarket or mall. It a very under estimated family sedan. Awsome for long trips, because of the great gas mileage. We can get from Washington DC to Wheeling WV and still have a quarter of a tank left!

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  I love it,... - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Chevy Hater (ex-) - October 8 - 11:06 pm

  I love it, wish it got a bit better mileage, but on a truck this big you cant really do much about it. It has more than enough horse power for most any job. I love the way it looks. I think I might upgrade mine to a 2500 though.

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  Great Car Until the End - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By thatboyt - October 8 - 5:48 pm

  Love the car overall until the end. Great gas mileage also spacious. But ended up blowing a piston. Would own another.

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  HHR the best compact wagon/suv - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By asian_chevyfan - October 8 - 12:27 pm

  I did an extensive research for the best wagon/suv that has 2.4L engine before buying our HHR. RAV4, Sportage, CRV, XB, Element, and Tucson beat the HHR in cargo capacity. But HHR beats them all in engine power, fuel mileage, and price. And HHR is also one of the CRs "Consumer Recommended" car. A loaded HHR for $22K like ours is a price that is hard to beat!

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By MikeO - October 7 - 11:20 pm

  Fun to drive. Great handling! Packs a little bit of punch for a 2.4. Great on turns. Gas mileage is very good.

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  Fun, Fun, Fun - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By simbadb - October 7 - 2:05 pm

  The last and the best of the C4. The 1996 LT4 engine is a real sleeper and conservatively rated at 330hp. If you can find a fine condition LT4, Buy It!, as this engine option particularly in Collector Edition badging should maintain its value over the coming years.

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  Surburban to 300k - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By AC - October 7 - 1:53 pm

  Bought at 80k 4 yrs old. Now 10 yrs at 180k...still running strong. One year with $2500 in repairs, but standard maintenance every other year. Replaced serpentine as much as tires, but not sure why. Other than that perfect vehicle. 42 gallon tank...goes the distance. Garage 4 years, in the elements for 6...paint in great condition after 10 years and seldom waxing.