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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  05 C6 Corvette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By gbw1972 - March 19 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this 2005 millenium yellow Corvette for 2 years now with very few complaints. The XM satelite radio is the biggest disappointment with lower quality sound than regular FM radio. As for the drive, the occasional bump in the road will jolt the steering wheel a bit, enough to make me anxious if my speed is excessive. 400hp really is more than enough. The exhaust sound is less than adequate but is easily fixed with an after-market replacement. My MPG is over 20. The acceleration is incredible. As far as sports cars go, there isnt a smarter buy around, anywhere.

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  Built by proud designers - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Lynn Johnson - March 18 - 8:11 pm

  My second Corvette (1991, Ive had a great deal of fun with both the "01 and the 99. After reading "all Corvettes are red", I realized the 99 must be an unusually fine automobile and I believe it is. I drive it the speed limits, and when I brought it back from buying it in Austin, Texas (some 1000 plus miles) my average mpg was 36. However everyone wont be able to get 36 mpg, because the car just asks to be driven hard.

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  Fun-tastic! - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By New Vette Owner - March 17 - 10:01 pm

  This is my first Corvette and Im very impressed. I looked at several cars and the Corvette, in my opinion, is the best value for the money. Its fun to drive and reliable. Impressive acceleration, surprisingly smooth ride, comfortable/roomy interior, and great design. I strongly recommend this car.

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  Really neat car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By skistler - March 17 - 6:19 pm

  I have owned over 50 cars and I can say that my 06 SS is one of the neatest cars I have ever owned. It is a blast to drive and having grown up in the late 60s, I can say this is the whole package for handling, power, and comfort in an affordable car.

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  What an improvement - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By nuerburgring - March 16 - 9:37 pm

  I owned a 2002 Avalanche which was flawless and a great vehicle. It is hard to believe that the 2007 is even better in every respect. The heated leather seats now have two stages, seat cushion and seat back. Nice touch. The two tone seats in the Z71 are awesome. The truck negotiates curves very well, no longer as top heavy as the 2002. It seems to hug the road -- no easy feat for such a big vehicle. The seat to steering wheel ratio is now perfect for a 6.4 person. The tailgate is now much lighter and it locks automatically. The 6 changer with MP3 is great as well. The speakers are in the wrong place and do provide a stereo sound when the seat is all the way back.

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  I recommend Cruze - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Chris Wilson - March 16 - 9:01 pm

  This car performs well in reliability, good ride, low cost, safety and efficiency.

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  This Truck is the Greatest - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By CHEVY FOR LIFE - March 16 - 8:32 pm

  Havent had truck that long, had a few simple fixes (blinkers, rear windsheild wiper motor) and engine has a high idle when at operating temp. Other than that I love that little truck and it packs a lot more power than Explorers. They have no power whatsoever. My Dad has a 93 with 280,000 and tranny just began to slip in overdrive. Amazing trucks

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  I Love My Aveo - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bruce - March 16 - 5:37 am

  I have 14,000 miles on my vehicle and I love it. The passenger compartment is roomy and extremely comfortable.All features and additions all have worked perfectly from day one. The heater and airconditioning are more than adequet. The car rides and handles well along with the suprising sound deadening insulation. You can actually hear your radio at high speeds. The mileage Ive gotten was also impressive, 28mpg cobination (city & highway), 33mpg highway (thats at 70mph to 75mph). Went on a trip within three days of purchase and found the trunk is more than large enough for its size. Im totally pleased with my Aveo.

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  2003 Monte Carlo - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Bobcat - March 15 - 2:00 am

  The Chevrolet Monte Carlo is very nice. From its sporty body style to its interior. Its 16 inch wheel base makes this car handle very well. This car has some excellent safety features. It gets very good gas mileage.

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  Dont Hate, Appreciate! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By CHINGON - March 15 - 2:00 am

  The 03 SS is a great over all TRUCK as far as working, towing, going out with the family or simply cruising. It also has a Six Disk C.D. Bose System, XM Radio, and On Star System. On safety the SS has AWD system and upgraded breaks, 20" Al. wheels, and a throghty sounding exhaust system. That you cant say about Ford, all you got is a two seater with an engine and the bed is just for looks because you cant load it. If you want competition I suggest you wait for the upcoming Regular Cab SS with an upgraded 6.0L V8 putting out about 495HP and over 500 torque. This power is being generated with out a super charger unlike the Lightning.