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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  GM got it right - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By LG - December 26 - 5:36 pm

  Love the redesign. I love the ride. Decided on Chevy versus the Sequoia and am glad I did.

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  2007 LTZ 4X4 - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By gdahl - December 25 - 10:51 pm

  Absolutely love it. Purchased with every option except the power- retractable (BRS) running boards. Used it the first week to haul shelving with 8 particle boards. Interior fit and finish is superb and is really beyond anything Chevy has had to date. Backup camera is a great option. Havent needed the heated windshield washer yet, but the side mirror defrosters have come in handy. The locking storage wells on the bed sides are a great idea and very pratical. The bed cover is easy to remove and install, suprisingly light and tight fitting. Left the truck out during a steady rain for six hours and no water leaked into the truck bed. Very quiet and smooth on the road.

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  2007 Cobalt - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Nate - December 25 - 6:43 pm

  Great car for the performance-minded driver on a budget. Plenty of power for what is typically expected of a 4-cyl. FWD vehicle. It looks great too.The 18" gunmetal rims look incredible in all lights. Luckily Chevy offered an optional low spoiler option for 07, because that was the only gripe I had about the car. Gas mileage is excellent as well. With a 50/50 mix of city/hwy driving I get 25-27 MPG, and have got as high as 34 MPG on highway cruising. Very competitive in its class. You may find slightly nicer interior finishes on the competitors, but not enough to pass up the incredible whine of the blower at full throttle. Great sound system and the ipod jack is really useful.

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  I love this car and would buy another. - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jacquelyne beasley - December 25 - 12:17 pm

  This is one of the best cars I have owned in my entire life. If I could get my husband to buy me another one I would. I love my car and I want another one just to go to church in only on Sunday and nothing else. Great car, great design, good on my budget. Thank you GM.

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  What a car - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Jason - December 25 - 3:46 am

  What a car. Chevy did a great job on this one. Keeping gas mileage in mind with the most horsepower for your money. The big polished wheels give it that new sporty look that everyone wants. Performance prospective this thing has some good kick. With the sunroof, 6 disc changer, and racing feel to it, this one will turn some heads.

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  Great SUV - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By Tom - December 25 - 2:43 am

  We had a 2001 Chevy Tahoe that we liked very much. When it was time to trade we checked out the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. We really love the truck, we call it the magic carpet ride because it rides so smooth. Wind noise is minimal and the power is great for a full size SUV. Recently we took it on a trip pulling our 6,000lb boat and trailer, I hardly knew the trailer was on the back of the vehicle. After 180 miles one way, we arrived as if we had been riding without the trailer. I own a 2003 Dodge 2500 with Hemi engine, that truck beats us to death and it does not pull the trailer with the ease of this vehicle. We also got between 12.5 and 14.3 MPG, the truck would get 9.5 MPG.

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  Bills Avlanche Review - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Bill - December 24 - 8:35 pm

  I have driven my Avalanche for the past seven months, putting 6000 miles on it. During this time, it has run flawlessly, been a very comfortable vehicle to ride in, and a vehicle with enough power to get it up and going. It can hold its own on the highway, running 55 mph or 80 mph. At the higher speeds, I have found it to still have reserve power to make it move if need be. Towing a trailer is tolerated well by the 5.3 liter engine. I have found it to tow very well and brakeing is great. My avalanche will stop very well on its own and equally well with towing a trailer. In short, I love my Avalanche. It drives and rides like a car but has the built of a truck.

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  Chevy hits a home run - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By parky - December 24 - 6:56 pm

  This is the best new car I have ever owned, it is basically flawless The only flaw being the cupholder location. Other than that it is a sensible family car with room for five and their luggage also. This is as if they brought back the station wagon in a new and compact package. Has plenty of power and have been gitting 28 MPG around town with automatic transmission.

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  Nice - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By will - December 24 - 6:39 pm

  I have been wanting one for a while, and I finally got one, and have not been out of it since. It is everything I imagined.

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  Great Car for the money. - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Eddie Davis - December 24 - 3:02 pm

  We have a 2001 Impala LS with the 3.8 V6. Its a great engine. Very peppy for the hills in Tennessee we drive on. The sound system is very high quality other than a speaker rattle in the front passenger door. The only downfall to this car is the turn signals. They only work when they want to and the dealership is no help. They want to charge upwards of $500 to fix something that should be recalled by GM since I know of at least 10 other Impala and Monte Carlo owners with the same problem.The radio also goes out when you turn on the rear defroster. But other than that weve had no problems with our Green Ghost. Its the only high quality vehicle GM has left.