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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  C5 the Greatest! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By OStanley - September 21 - 1:02 pm

  My Corvette convertible has been an absolute pleasure to own and drive.We are both 60 and purchased it as a "getaway" vehicle. Boy have we gotton away and in style, reasonable comfort and believe it or not, pretty good gas mileage.The cars trip computer gives us an average of almost 22mpg over the 20K+ miles we have driven since new.Chevy has a grand slam" in the Corvette C5, no doubt.Own one and youll agree! Its performance and build quality is exceptional.The car is tight and rattle free even in the convertible configuration, thanks in large measure to the C5 redesign.Corvette engineering did a great job! Ownership has been a 9.8 experience and I dont anticipate any change in that!

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  I Own One - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By fredolivo - September 20 - 2:09 pm

  The first time I drove my ZO6 Corvette i could not get over the extreme acceleration, braking and handling the ZO6 produces. The comfort and beauty of this precision machine is definetely and finally considered in my book a super sports car. Way to go Chevy!

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  The ulitmate sports car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Termac - September 20 - 1:26 pm

  This car will make you believe in American sports cars. As you get on to the highway shifting into second the back slips just a little and you look down doing seventy-five, and the sheer adrenaline cause your to fling it into third and push the hammer all the way down. Next thing you know your in sixth gear and didnt realize it. Seriously though the handling on this car is unreal add that with the huge powerplant and 400 hundred horsepower. I have driven a Z06, Viper SRT10, and a Masserati gransport - this car is only beaten by the Z06. If you have the extra 20K get the Z06 but if not this is an unreal mid-life crisis.

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  Excellent 3.8L - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 1st time owner - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Very glad I purchased one. Wanted an import sports coupe but the Camaro was too tempting. Bought one and no regrets at all. Im just driving around until the "break in" is reached and then Ill really test this car!

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  wonderful car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sexy cav - September 20 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car used, and there is nothing better then an cavalier, i love the look and the style! Its an hot car, i will be driving one for years to come!

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  WOW! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By SPatter - September 19 - 5:23 pm

  We call ours the Black Beauty! Beautiful on the outside, even better on the inside. XM radio is addicting. Love all the features and very kid friendly. You dont feel like you have to "climb up" like in most SUVs. The redesign is going to help GM sell this like hotcakes! Dealers are having a hard time keeping them on the lots. Classier than an Expedition and cheaper than those foreign makes. If you are shopping, YOU MUST TRY THIS CAR OUT! You will feel like a Queen/King.

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  Best in class - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chevy Chase - September 19 - 1:25 pm

  Having owned my 1998 Tahoe for ten years now, and continuously working it every day, I would have expectd it to break down around 100000 miles. Now Im pushing 200,000, and the only thing that ever went wrong with it was a radiator leak at 193,000 miles. Im still riding on the same shocks I did when I drove it out of the dealer ten years ago. The exterior has held up under the toughest conditions: from the Arizona desert heat to the humidity of Atlanta, Florida, and St. Louis. I have no reason to complain whatsoever.

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  Must Have a MONTE! - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By LOVE MONTE SS - September 18 - 7:06 pm

  Every Monte Carlo SS I own I get looks! I bought it used with about 62K and am now at about 114K. I have a lead foot! I havent yet had any problems with my brake system. I did have my 4th gear (overdrive) go out on me. Ive had to replace the Cat. Converter twice. Am being told by a family member that Chevy didnt build the exhaust system big enough for the bigger engines (and the way I drive). But if I blow one a year they are still covered under warranty! My fog lights dont work, never had a problem with seats, window motor was replaced, normal maintenance stuff done, oh leather pulled away from side air bag.

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  Best Weve Ever Had - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By American Beauty - September 18 - 12:48 pm

  4DR K2500 4WD is what sold me plus the 454 power. Not afaid to pull anything {within its ranges}. Purchaced mi. of 169K didnt bother my choice. I figured it was just broke in good. Its 300K+ mi.capable in my opinion. GM has a good line here, wished Id started driving them sooner. We get comments still about how good it looks.

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  So far so good - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wise1 - September 18 - 7:36 am

  Got this about 4 weeks ago and have put 1200 miles on it. Pleased with it so far. Very good power although a little bit of a bump when you hit the accelerator and the transmission first engages. Leaps when you ask it to. Chevy interior is basic but at the price still good value. Excellent radio system in the LT model.