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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  20,000 Miles Of SS - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ADK_Samurai - April 9 - 2:56 pm

  I traded my 2005 Cobalt base coupe for the SS hoping for excellent performance... it delivered. This car is absolutely a blast to drive. In fact, Ive had the car since September and have put 20,000 miles on it because of the fun-to-drive factor. My only complaint about the interior is lack of an armrest. Other than that, kudos. This brings the fun back to GM. I would definitely recommend or buy another Cobalt/Cobalt SS! For the money, the car delivers so much more than most of the premium imports that I drove before purchasing my car.

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  Good Solid Drive - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Essexnj - April 8 - 3:15 pm

  This has been a very solid and reliable car--my experience matches the high JD Power and strong CR ratings for this model year. Lots of interior room and luggage capacity. Fule mileage has been good, with over 30 mpg on highways with cruise control. Strong pickup, decent handling. Brake rotors were turned at around 25,000 miles, which seems normal to me for mostly local stop and go driving. Seating could be better for me on long drives (Im 63" with long legs). All in all, I was pleased enough to get a used model for my college son. Its a good deal for those who keep their cars for a while.

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  MY Z06 - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dcd58 - April 8 - 1:03 pm

  This car is fantastic! Minor problem with leaking windshield when purchased, now fixed. What a car to drive. Worked on engine, now puts out 427hp with 362 coming out rear! Love this car

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  Love my Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Rodney - April 8 - 12:53 pm

  Comfortable, dependable , and makes me proud I can buy American. It has given me better service than the last two imports that I owned. It tows great too.

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  Astro is a strong minivan - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Mike - April 8 - 8:26 am

  This is our second Astro. The first one was destroyed in a side-impact collision by a drunk driver. The impact was so hard it flipped the van over onto its roof and spun it around the intersection. No serious injuries to my wife and children, just small cuts from broken glass. Astro vans are built on a truck frame, and are durable, strong, and can almost drive like a pickup. Its been on many a campout with my sons scout troop. If youre thinking about buying a minivan, and need durability, strength, and space, get an Astrovan.

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  a true work horse - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By cdhs - April 8 - 2:36 am

  I shoe horses for a living, I have a utility body on the back of this beast and the true weight (on the town dump scale) is 9400 lbs. Working on Long Island NY we have to drive it like we hate it. Long and short of it is I just this week broke 200k.. I beat on this truck 6 days a week and it stands tall. Maybe in another 100k ill replace it with another 6.0--=- 6 weeks ago I did the first full break job on this truck-- how can you beat that--- by far the best truck Ive ever had the pleasure to own

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  Go anywhere, do anything... Love It - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Todd H. - April 7 - 11:35 pm

  This is a great starter truck for a small family with young children. Used for hunting in the rugged back country of New York, Mass, Maine, Vermont, Missouri, and California with no problems. Used to tow a 18" Boat, up to a mountain lake with no problems. 4x4 that I have never gotten stuck in. Fuel pump problems but warrenty fixed it.

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  1st Vette - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ted piwko - April 7 - 7:28 pm

  1st Vette I ever bought and it was worth the wait. The car is just a blast to drive and the C6 is the best looking Vette

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  Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Unichrom - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Good Car. GM got it right this time.

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  cops love this car - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Pluto5 - April 7 - 2:00 am

  If you like cops staring at you, get this car in Superior Blue, a new color for 03. Cops love it--makes them wish they could trade the bombshell CV.