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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  Best ride in town - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By josephous - May 11 - 12:34 pm

  Ive never ridden in a truck more comfortable than this. its apleasure to drive, forgiving. I drove on road trip to Austin from Mississippi, not tiring, and the dvd to boot. Thanks Chevy. A real winner

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  I love my Suburban - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jett1 - May 11 - 10:38 am

  Gas mileage is what you would expect for size and capacity. In short, extremely reliable, 5.7 4wd it has taken care of my wife and 3 kids very well. Been in 2 accidents. The truck has over 170k on it now Im getting concerned about the transmission but it hasnt given me a reason yet. I plan on keeping it till they ban gas or it rusts out.

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  mil yellow - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By guysair11 - May 11 - 10:00 am

  This is my third vette and my first new one Ive previosly owned a 96 black and a 00 in sebring silver this one is millenium yellow and I love it I cant wait to drive it between the performance and the drivability this car is great the fun factor is a 10 I got a great deal and saved over $9000 off invoice the dealership was also excellent. overall a great car thats a blast to own and drive. G.P.

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  great vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ronald schell - May 11 - 10:00 am

  this is the best vehicle in existance

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  A great little car for the money! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By ClockMan - May 9 - 4:37 pm

  Had no intention of purchasing a new vehicle but the warranty and price pushed me over the edge. After spending thousands on used vehicles over the past 3 years, I wised up and purchased this little hatchback. I am 62" and a little over 250 pounds and I have no trouble getting in or out of the car. I am amazed at the amount of room. My only suggestion would be change the cup holders, but for the price how can I complain. The car has great fit and finish and the room inside is amazing. I even get people telling me how much they like my car when I am in town.

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  Best Vehicle on the Planet - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jim from Ohio - May 9 - 10:21 am

  Spent a fair amount of time researching new vehicles and came to only one conclusion - 2007 Suburban. No regrets or second thoughts. This is by far the smoothest vehicle on the market, truck or car. GM leaps ahead of the competition in build quality and creature comforts. This is a machine you have to drive to appreciate.

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  Love my Suburban - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By John DeBoo - May 9 - 10:00 am

  I have never in my life owned a better vehicle than my 2002 LT 4x4 Suburban. It is the most comfortable vehicle Ive ever driven. There is no way Ill ever own anything but a Suburban again, but then I expect to drive this one for quite a few years. I cant find anything about it I dont like. Perhaps the fuel mileage could be a bit better (13 in town, 18+ on the road) but then youre pulling around 5500#s too. My wife is 5 tall and loves driving it. Overall I seriously rate the vehicle a 10.

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  5 Years now - Still Best SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ben I - May 8 - 8:33 am

  It has been 5 years now owning this TrailBlazer. I have to say I still will not trade it for anything else that’s on the market. It has not let me down, ever. Whether it was heavy rain, sleet, or snow, I always feel safe in this SUV. It still has a very smooth drive, as if you are in a limo. Great looking SUV, elegant with a touch of a muscle look. I have to admit, I do cater to this car, keeping up with all its scheduled maintenance, and boy has it ever returned its dividends. I have been a Chevy fan since the beginning. I have no reason to buy anything else.

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  2 door monsters - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Fish - May 7 - 9:58 pm

  I have a 2 door Tahoe that has been the best vehicle I have every owned. This SUV has seen a lot of road and dirt. With 175000 miles on it I have put this truck through hell and back. I have put very little money into this truck.with no leaks, no smoke, great handling, this still a very reliable monster. The only disappointment is that Chevy does not make a 2 door Tahoe any more.

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  Great Value - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By azdiva - May 7 - 10:23 am

  Perfect car for Arizona driving. Good at 85mph. Quiet, good defensive car on city freeways. Brakes, handling, and power A/C very good in stopped traffic at 115F. Good engineering. Read up and do your research. If Toyota made the worst car in the world, people would stand up to buy them. Cobalt SS is underated by far. The 2.4 ecotec is state of technology excellence