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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  Chevy Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chevy Owner - April 29 - 1:20 am

  I absolutely love this truck. Purchased used with 83000 miles on it and so far no problems. 5.3L V8 engine runs real strong. The truck is well designed and very well built. I like the design of the interior a lot. Extended cab is very roomy and the cloth seats are very comfortable on short or long trips. I have the Z71 off road package, which really handles well off road. The automatic 4wd works well and there is a very smooth transfer from 2wd to 4wd. Gas mileage isnt great(14mpg) but hey its a truck. A friend of mine has a 98 Ford F150 with the 4.8L V8 and he only gets 12mpg. Chevrolet needs to keep building trucks like this because this is what a truck should be.

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  Aveos Rock - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Aveo-Luvr - April 28 - 8:38 pm

  The Aveo is much more spacious than it initially looks. Even though it is the most inexpensive model, it rides very smoothly and you dont hear every crack in the road. It is the first new auto I have ever owned and I recommend it to anyone commuting or even as a first car. They are inexpensive, the insurance is inexpensive, and they get great gas mileage. They have a lot of get-up-and-go for such a small engine. I love my AVEO!!!

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  Best Car Ive Owned - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Bob - April 27 - 10:34 pm

  My 2005 Chevy Classic is an awesome car. It has the perfect combination of safety, comfort, reliability, and performance. Fuel economy is excellent for its size, which by the way, despite being a bigger car, has the same size fuel tank as my last car, a 2002 Cavalier. The Classics cost of ownership is quite low because it costs less to maintain and insure. It also makes a great family car because it is very roomy and comfortable, and can adjust to any size person. Although hard to find, I highly recommend the Classic to anyone.

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  LT3 Impala new buyer - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Michael Capria - April 27 - 10:06 pm

  Former Avalon driver, now in a 2006 LT3 Impala and after the first 300 miles Im impressed. Great dash info display. Smooth ride, comfortable seating, extra room even for a 6th (small) person with the column shifter. I never thought the remote start would be so handy but in a hot parking lot I can step into a cooled down car, nice.

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  Love it so far! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By L Reeve - April 27 - 6:56 pm

  Ive only had my car 10 days but I have to say, it rides like a dream. I have filled up my tank once and am already getting 23 mpg. in town with lots of stop and go. That is equal to the 4 cyl. car I traded in. Ride is quiet and smooth. Lots of compliments about the new body style and overall look of the car.

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  Good Value - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dew - April 27 - 6:53 pm

  Pros - lots of bells and whistles for the money. Cons - problems with interior fit. Replaced dash cowl because it warped within 2 days of ownership. A piller trim now separating with the hot sun.

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  Love My Avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jack - April 27 - 9:47 am

  The truck has been wonderfully comfortable to drive. Easy to turn, drive. I get 20 MPG with the 5.3 liter motor, though most of my miles are highway. Glad I bought this truck.

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  Aveo is great - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Derek - April 26 - 10:52 pm

  Looked into a lot of cars for comfort, fuel economy, and the sort.. The Aveo has got it all . Amazing room for a larger person. Comfotatble seats that match Toyota and the beyond, due to the fact the seats and car sit high off the ground. It feels like youre driving a minivan or small truck. Almazing car...I get 41 mies a gallon highway in 5th gear....38.5 miles in town. The base radio is kinda wimpy but who keeps their base radio anyhow? This car is totally worth $9900 base!

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  Awsome for the price - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By MASON - April 26 - 9:18 pm

  Awsome little car, I drive 100 miles a day, 3000 miles on the car so far 35.5 MPG is my best mileage so far. Its the perfect little car for someone that doesnt want to pay a fortune, but wants good mileage. No it doesnt perform like a Vette, because its not one. Its just what I paid for a small, cute, affordable, economic, basic little car. Not to mention that it fits in almost any parking space, and can do a U-Turn anywhere. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for the same.

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  250k and still going! - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ed - April 26 - 4:37 pm

  Weve had 2 96 Impala SS over the years. Both were adult driven and routinely maintained. The first one had 122,000 on it by the end of the 1999. At that point it was retired from duty, and we picked up another from a collector with a mere 1700 miles on it. The second now has over 250,000 miles on the original LT1 motor, 4L60E transmission and 8.5 10 bolt posi rear end. Burns no oil, and starts up every time. Only fixes have been a starter, an A/C compresser and a harmonic balancer. These are just great cars that hold thier value.