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:

• 

  All day, every day Chevy - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Tim - October 12 - 11:06 am

  Very few 2500 4WD 3/4 ton on west coast. Vehicle drives extremely well on wet pavement. Comfort is excellent, plenty of room in the back for food, kids etc. Compared with Tahoe, for the same price but with 3 extra feet of cargo space. XM satellite radio does not work on major roads where I live in Washington. Wish it came without wood grain finish, but only in LS models. Center console is a little confusing

• 

  Chevy Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Brent Tuag - October 11 - 9:53 am

  This is one of the cars to drive this year. It has great handling and its supercharger really kick in.

• 

  Purchased new in 2006 now 10 years old - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Frank Galka - October 11 - 1:23 am

  Still performs like new.Get 16.5 MPG on trips 13.0MPG local.Comfortable to drive,feeling is safe & secure.Smooth riding even @ 75-80MPH 97000 Miles on it in 10 years.Serviced regularly.No Major Problems or setbacks.Will purchase new again. Just passed 104000 miles,still running good since I purchased it in 2006.Still have it serviced regularly by the dealer I purchased it from.Minor repairs.Had to replace heater fan & leaking seals on differential.$750 for repairs,mostly labor cost. Just passed 109000 miles,still running good since I purchased it in 2006.Still have it serviced regularly by the dealer i purchased it from.Just replaced all 4 wheel brake pads & rotors. A little rust on rear bumper right corner otherwise paint job is still like new.

• 

  My Review - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Clinton - October 10 - 3:16 pm

  My driving experience with my truck has been excellent. However, I need something smaller and more fuel efficient. If I had to rate my truck 1 out of 10, it would easily be a 9.5. I was very satisfied with the truck and its driving.

• 

  Make me say wow! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By thaisch - October 10 - 11:10 am

  I’ve been waiting to get a real sports car for as long as I can remember. I wanted a classic but the money for what you get was too high for me. So I took an 05 with 20k miles for a test drive. 5 miles later I was hooked. I now have a "new" black 05 C6 with 700 miles. This car is so much fun to drive. The power is endless, and the brakes are equally impressive. It has magnetic ride control that gives a firm but civilized ride in touring mode, and a very firm tight ride in sport mode. The best of both worlds. I never get tired of looking at this car and from the looks I get neither does everyone else. Very happy to have a "real" Americian sports car. My wife even likes to drive it!

• 

  still owning Chevy`s - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim & Norma - October 10 - 5:06 am

  This truck is excellent! Weve owned about a dozen new and used Chevy pickups in the last 25yrs. They just keep getting better! We like the new hood style. The ride is extremely smooth and comfortable. Visibility out all windows is great. This truck rides more like a car. I would have to say this is probably the best used pickup "so far".

• 

  2006 Corvette - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By JIM STRICKLAND - October 9 - 11:03 pm

  I have owned 50 Corvettes since 1967 includig big blocks and small blocks. I have always felt like my 1967 Vette with 425 H.P. was " The Best of The Best" ... until now! I picked up my new 2006 Victory Red Coupe at the Museum last January ... and after driving it less than 11 months, I can say without a doubt, its the "Best Damn Vette" I have ever owned! Over the years, I have owned Rolls, Jaguars, Ferraris, Porsches, and many muscle cars ... but I am totally convinced this Vette is the "Best Bang for the Buck" of any automobile ever built! 0-60 MPH in 4 seconds! ... 26+ MPG on the road and nearly 20 MPG in town! I can have it serviced in any Chevy Dealership in America!

• 

  one great car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By finallygotone - October 9 - 11:09 am

  After changeing the rear rotors and getting the DEXCOOL out of it, I have only one complaint, all the jaums look like they were painted in an old garage, dull as they can be!

• 

  fun to drive - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By alan olsen - October 9 - 10:00 am

  the car turns a lot of heads.whether it be people in the street or in other cars,they have to take a second look.

• 

  malibu maxx - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Letitia Simmet - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a very peppy car with the 3.5L 6 cycle engine, you step on the gas and it means business. Comfortable driving with all the buttons at your fingertips.