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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  2001 Suburban Review - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bjd - August 1 - 2:00 am

  Very nice and fun to drive and has a lot of room

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  from texas to colorado!! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ray from San Antonio - August 1 - 2:00 am

  This is the best vehicle that I have owned. Tough, fun, and looks good while working hard. Quick enough and responds quickly(speeding up or slowing down). perfect for both city and rual drives.

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  Love this car, more room than expected - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By epgirl - July 31 - 8:50 pm

  Im really enjoying my Aveo. Its fun to drive and gets great mileage. We drive all aroung town with 4 people in it all the time. Thats two adults and two teenagers, and were comfortable. The only problem weve had is a bad oil pump at 5000 miles. It was fixed with no problem.

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  I love my Tahoe! - 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SLDLMD - July 31 - 8:47 am

  Our 2008 Tahoe was delivered just a few days ago. I absolutely love it. The interior is beautiful and designed well for families. We have the rear entertainment package with the DVD player and I love just flipping the screen down and popping in the movie. No cords or wires to mess with! The split bench seats are genius-- increases cargo space without losing an entire row of seating. It performs well and it is interesting to watch it switch from V8 to V4 on the highway. My average fuel economy thus far is around 18, and that includes a 200 mile highway trip and around town driving.

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  Surprising Quality and Fun! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By George P - July 31 - 3:10 am

  Ive never owned a GM car before and I bought this car because the price was right after my GM card earnings. After 2 weeks, I am impressed with interior design and how quiet the car is. Manual shifting and acceleration are quick and smooth. Gas mileage is good, 30+ in mixed driving, but GM needs to offer higher mileage vehicles to compete with Japanese manufacturers. Overall, a very good car at a competetitive price. I would like more options to be made available, not necessarily packaged.

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  Love My Bu! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kelli Rosey - July 31 - 12:53 am

  One of the most surprising things to me after having several 4-cylinder cars is the amazing gas mileage I get with my Bu (I just had to give it a name!). The first major trip we took was a 2,000 mile round-trip excursion to Florida two weeks after buying the car. Wwe got over 31 MPG for that trip! Later, it made the same trip and got 33.6 MPG for the round-trip! This is better even than the VW Beetle we traded in. I love the way my Bu handles and her stunning good-looks. Classy, but still sexy in an understated way, without screaming "write me a ticket, please!." The remote starter is the most awesome feature Ive ever had on a car, cant live without it! I love my Bu!

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  Thumbs Up to Uplander! - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Superbill01 - July 31 - 12:37 am

  I have owned this 2007 Chevrolet for a month, and have driven in the mountains and city driving all have been a pleasureable experience. The Uplander is roomy, convenient, economical, comfortable and handles like a dream. Average 23 mpg with both air running on hot days. Small issue of no arm rest on second row seat and small arm rests on front seat for large persons. Made new arm rest that slips over old ones out of foam and plastic sheet. I would reccomend this vehicle to anyone with children. DVD keeps them entertained while you drive.

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  Best performing Corvette ever - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Matt815 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  This is by far the best looking, feeling, and funnest to drve Corvette ever manufactured. Great job Chevy!

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  Awesome Car. - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Matt - July 29 - 2:15 am

  I traded in an 89 S10 Baja for this car and I have to say it was an excellent trade. This is a truly memorable car and if I ever get the chance to purchase another, I will do it. I never had any repairs except a power steering pump which was only 40 bucks. I bought the car shortly after I graduated high school, and I kept it for over 2 years. Then I traded it to a 97 Grand Cherokee limited, but I missed it so much i had to purchase the car back from the dealer. I truly enjoyed this car. It has plenty of HP. I highly suggest if you see one of these for sale to buy it. You will not be dissapointed.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By mary ann moody - July 28 - 1:20 pm

  This car is great for the family. It will comfortably seat five. OnStar is a real bonus and very reasuring when driving.