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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  The Best Vehicle Ever - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By #1Silverado - July 15 - 2:00 am

  After having to take Chrysler Corp/Daimler- whatever to court for the LemonLaw on a $40000 piece of garbage- The Chevy is better than the 2002 Cadillac Deville I traded as well as the 2 Hondas or 3 Acuras or 3 Cadillacs I have had in 8 years. It is reliable comfortable and holds anything I can put in it. Buy One now.

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  good - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By haus8787378rjh;l - July 15 - 2:00 am

  good, has but would be better with more power of a bigger engine. I have lots of big dog parts on my silverado so it has more power because there in not enought stock.

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  Chevy Did It Again - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jason - July 14 - 6:43 am

  This car has everything, the best bang for the buck. From the moment you hit that button ignition and the pipes roar up its a pleasure to drive. It handles very well and its very hard to lose control when punching out the twisties. Remove the standard Targa top and enjoy a cruise down the beach as everyone gawks and you hear the voices of little kids say, "Mommy I want THAT car when I grow up".

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  Fun to Drive! - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Jack - July 14 - 12:10 am

  I really enjoy driving this truck. It sits higher than the S-10 I had previously, and the ride is much smoother. My only disappointment is locally I only average about 14 to 15 mpg. However, I average 22 mpg on the highway. The crew cabs back seat is great, providing comfortable seating for adults! The bed is shorter than my previous truck, but still large enough to haul 4 by 8 sheets of plywood with the tailgate set in the 57 degree position. I also love the locking tailgate, which is a great idea since the tailgate is also removeable.

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  Millenium Impala - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jeff520670 - July 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the car in July of 2001 and since then I absolutely love the car. It turns heads everywhere. I find the car very reliable having had very few problems so far. I drive alot and the car is comfortable gets good gas mileage. Its a pleasure to take on the long road trips. Had it to southern Florida and back from Pittsburgh, Pa and it was great.

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  Itll do - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By brad1193 - July 13 - 4:50 am

  Weve had this car for about 2 weeks now and so far so good. We took a trip from San Diego, CA to Santa Barbara, CA up I-5 to the 101, which both have horrible traffic, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We traded in a Trailblazer that we did not like so I questioned going with another Chevrolet but Im glad we did. The build quality, comfort level, appearance, and amenities make for a great package. Theyve done their research and took the time to put out something that wasnt thrown together. I agree with the critics that say they had put all their eggs in one basket with the truck/SUV market but it seems theyve produced a winner making for some good competition.

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  Plush Ride...Comfy for a big guy! - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Satisfied in TN - July 12 - 9:53 pm

  Im not a fan of GMs much maligned interior but the LT3 makes it as nice as possible. The 10-way power leather seats are great. There is ample room in the back seat even behind me when Im driving, Im 64". The 5.3 V8 w/ the 3.42 rear end cruies the interstate effortlessly (75 mph/2000 rpm). The Bose audio system is awesome! It sounds better than the system in my father-in-laws BMW 645i that cost $90K. I like the updated grill and hood of the 2006. GM should make larger rims affordable. The factory 17s are okay but some nice brushed aluminum 20s, not optional polished chrome $2000 20s!! Also considered the Toyota (too car-like and flimsy) and Ford (worse MPG).

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  Excellent 96 S-10 service - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Kirk M - July 12 - 4:43 pm

  Purchased in 02 with 107,000 miles, now has 165,000 miles with no trouble other than alternator, tires, brake pads (normal wearing items) Of course, I do all the normal maintenance that is supposed to be done (ex-auto mechanic with 15+ years experience)

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  Love the Suburban - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By P Hughes - July 12 - 11:20 am

  The design and layout is excellent. Interior is very comfortable and exterior is sharp. It handles and accelerates very well for such a large vehicle and I actually believe we will get the EPA rated 15mpg city once the engine breaks-in thanks to the Fuel Management System. The Suburban is well worth the price paid. My only complaint is that when the DVD ordered, you get a gray roof even though we have tan interior. The DVD the headliner, the switch panels - everything above is gray and the rest of the interior is tan. The mismatch is just a bit odd.

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  Underrated truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dave - July 11 - 7:23 pm

  After much research I decided to get a loaded Colorado crew cab. I have owned Pathfinders and Jeeps and this truck is just as tough. Its getting 20 mpg right out of the box, and the I-5 is smooth and powerful. I know, I just towed my 5600 lbs. Sea Ray 40 miles to the Lake.