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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  Tims big Red Tahoe - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tim - July 16 - 1:43 pm

  This my first Chevy SUV, which is all Ive have been talking about getting for 5 years. I love my Tahoe. Its big enough for our family, plus keeping all my work gear in the back. Our son cant wait to turn on the DVD player. I, on the other hand, cant wait to use the GPS system on our first road trip to somewhere that we have never been before. My wife loves its roomieness plus the fact our son can watch his DVDs and we can still listen to the XM radio. I will buy another Tahoe down the road.

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  Great Car - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Trinton - July 16 - 10:16 am

  I have really enjoyed the Impala. The seats are great and it is a lot of fun to drive. It sticks to the road well in the turns and has a responsive engine and transmission. I think the up coming sports package will help the exterior look a more stylish. Great sedan.

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  Chevy Venture 2005 LT - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Michelle Dodge - July 16 - 3:28 am

  Going from driving a smaller 4-door sedan for 6 years, and trying to fit my 3 children in that one back seat, to driving in my Venture is like rediscovering the joy of driving! I have to admit, driving a van is very different than driving a smaller car. The van itself rides very smoothly, very comfortable and the model we have has many of the options, which add to the overall comfort. I did find that it feels a bit top heavy when turning, and needs considerably more stopping time. Not being an expert, I assume this is just the weight and size factor. The sound quality in the stereo could use improvement, I think that more speakers throughout are needed in something as long as a minivan.

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  great car for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By walkan666 - July 15 - 11:50 pm

  didnt have lots of cash and needed a car real quick the gas milage is not what they say it is but it never is. other wise its fun it handles great and with my bad back its easy to get in and out of I am 5 ft 11 in and weight 250lbs and its still very comfortable with pleanty of head room more than the impala I was really surprised if you dont have lots of cash and need a reliabe car to zip around in this is it

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  I love my Collector Edition - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Terrence - July 15 - 8:31 pm

  This is a very fun car. The performance is great, the suspension is nice, and the brakes are adequate. What I like most about it, is the cockpit feeling of the interior, and the C4 body styling.

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  Still a great truck - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Bullwinkle - July 13 - 12:12 am

  I bought used with 114,000 miles. Only major repair was the transmission replaced at no cost (previous owner had replaced it shortly before.) I drive it about 12,000 miles/year and its very cheap to drive. I fix a few things on it each year, but its much cheaper than my other cars (used Hondas which I finally gave up on.) Gas mileage is about 14 mpg which is great considering its mostly around town. Still get 17-18 mpg on long trips, even with 199,000 miles on it, and it runs great. Im 65" tall and can stretch my legs fully out while driving. Its like driving my couch. Finally with a 43 gallon tank, the range is incredible. My best is 720 miles on one tank (Jacksonville, FL to northern VA)

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  Good truck - 1990 Chevrolet S-10
  By sb - July 11 - 1:51 am

  Man, this is one of the best trucks ever. I have 367,000 miles on the original motor and transmission - great power.

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  drivers seat uncomfortable - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By deaconbluz@sbcglobal.net - July 10 - 10:18 pm

  There is no adjustment for lumbar support. I got such a good deal on the car, I convinced myself the seat would be good enough, but with any extended drive I Notice the lack of lumbar support. Also , in the position I am most comfortable, the steering wheel blocks the digital readout for speed, so I have no idea how fast I am going. Visibility is poor in all directions. The ride is smooth and quiet, acceleration is decent, and I love not using gas.I ordered a small inflatable pillow for my back, hope that solves the comfort problem. I take my dog to the beach a lot, so I like having a hatchback and folding the rear seats down.

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  Disappointing Mileage for 3.4L - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By retsoor - July 10 - 3:28 pm

  Overall this 04 Impala is great! Its a good solid car and comfy to drive. Disappointed with fuel mileage. Top mileage for this 3.4L has only been 27.3 MPG. Besides everyday use, I use it to haul kayaks and bicycles . Had spoiler and alloy wheels installed. It has never let me down, though. Had a 2001 base Impala that was horrible. It spent more time in service department than on the road. Feel 04 Impala was overpriced but got a $4000 rebate and good price on trade-in. Yes, I would buy another base Impala. No car is perfect.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By OMAR - July 10 - 12:30 pm

  I work as a salesman at a Chevy dealer. I get to drive all the new cars. When I looked at this car, I was like "nice". I drove and and was impressed. So I ended up buying it. I drive about 70 miles a day so good gas mileage is important. Which this car is getting 25 MPG in country roads. Ive owned it for a year now and am satisfied.