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 closest thing to a fighet jet - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sound of Speed - April 1 - 5:26 pm

  This car is an amazing car! 70 grand and able to beat Ferraris, Lambos and some of the worlds fastest cars. It can turn in with the best of them and then run on the straight lines. 0-60 in just 3.8 seconds is what I was able to pull off. I took this car to the track an I was ahead of cars that cost in excess of 100K. I love the Head Up Display (HUD), it allows you to see your RPMs and speed without your eyes leaving the road, everything is in the perfect place, shifter, pedals, steering wheel and the seats hold you in while you pull those 1G turns an still allow you to be comfy on long drives. Gets looks from everyone and sounds great. Turn the HUD on and floor it at the stop light

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  Love to Drive - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By kjelvis - April 1 - 2:00 am

  This truck drives like a dream. It has a soft ride, smooth transmission, and is relatively easy to manuever for a large truck. The leather seats are incredibly comfortable, and there are a lot of bells and whistles available. The only complaint is poor fuel economy, even for a truck. I only have 600 miles on it so far, but am averaging about 13.5 mpg.

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  Truck of the year for a reason - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By allchevy - March 31 - 10:13 pm

  This is my first diesel and I am absolutely amazed at the quick response in acceleration. Ive only put 1600 miles on it but average 15 mpg around town and just over 17 hwy. The interior is absolutely great. Instruments are easy to read and with the steering wheel controls, dont have to look around to do most of the common things done while driving (cruise control, radio station, volume). The dash information center is great, mileage avgerage, distance to go before refill. The added feature of integrated brake control for trailering is fantastic. The 180 degree rear doors are really great when loading goods or people in the back seat. Diesel is very quiet. You can actually talk while driving.

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  Love this car! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kelly - March 31 - 3:26 am

  I was looking for LTZ during the 0% sale and ended up with the SS due to availability, and I am glad I got the SS! Its fun and powerful, yet safe for a family. I hate the cupholders, only design flaw though, and Id buy another even though thats important for my commute (traded in 01 Impala LS with 102K+ miles). It has everything that I wanted and much more. Only downside is its a gas sucker even with the 4-8cyl flexibility, but I knew that going in, its a V8 with 303 horses for goodness sake, of course its not great on gas! Thats why I was looking for the LTZ, but like I said, glad I bought the SS! 250 miles so far, and Im still learning all the features, cause I just like to drive!

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By John - March 30 - 6:26 pm

  I have had 2 Ford trucks and had nothing but trouble with them. This 2500HD is my 2nd Chevy and this truck is the best by far. I love driving this truck on the road. It handles very good in all kinds of weather. I have only 1 complaint. The "bad gas mileage

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  Bought New in 1999 - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By passedu - March 30 - 4:52 pm

  I purchased this truck new in 1999, trading in a 1997 Monte Carlo. The truck has been reliable and comfortable for over 165,000 miles. Within the last month the gear selector and mileage indicator LED failed. Repair requires replacement of the entire gauge assembly. Early on I had to have the ABS manifold replaced, under warranty. Since then, starter at 158,000, drivers window electric motor at 156,000, and I had the front end rebuilt at 159,000. I replaced the orginal rear shocks within the last two weeks (Jan 11). There was no leakage, but rear end bouce was noticeable.

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  best SUV out there - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By SF bay area - March 30 - 8:30 am

  This car has performed to all expectations. We tow a large ski boat with absolutely no problems and still hold to abut 14 mpg. Regular driving holds around 23 mpg. We have had very few issues in the past year and a half. Power door lock and two recalls. I was apparently one of the first to purchase the vehicle in the area so one or two recalls was normal. Only improvements that had to be done was additional headrest monitors, tranny cooler and removing of the hybrid decals. This car was worth every penny and save me a lot in gas compared to my old Tahoe.

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  The Best - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ann haley - March 30 - 7:10 am

  Exceptional handling due to limited slip differential and performance handling pkg. Effortless to drive and shift. Power was always there when I needed it. The absolute best driving experience I have ever had. Couldnt help but smile every time she took a curve the control you could always count on. Love the look of the 97. Problems - leaky transmission seal-GM Fixed. Spark plug wires - I fixed before the notice from GM regarding the problem. Transmission noise at around 50,000+ miles which the warranty should have covered but Wylers warranty would not due to dispute between dealer that fixed problem and Wylers warranty - I had to pay. Still, I adore that car! Hands down - the best!

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  Very Thrilled - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Dotagnon - March 29 - 8:04 pm

  I have never driven a car that has been so fun to drive as the Aveo. I studied up on it to look for the problem areas before buying. I found them to not be a problem. The engine is a little loud (what the testers said) for a new car, but is still competitive with all others. Either way, my sound system covers all of that up. Ive also never driven something so manueverable as this. It looks tiny from the outside, but inside it fits four large people comfortably. Its incredible and an awesome buy.

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  Best starter car ever! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By John - March 29 - 5:37 pm

  This is my first car. My dream car was always a Z28/SS Camaro with a 6-speed. Well I didnt get that, but I got my 2002 silver Camaro with black stripes. And a 5-speed. This car is so fun to drive. The mileage is amazing. On the way up from seeing my sister I got 28 mpg. It is very easy to get the tires lit up also. If I had the choice Id go for the V8 any day, but the cost of gas and tires these days the V6 is just more practical.