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:

• 

  Nice Job Chevrolet - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Steve - February 23 - 10:03 pm

  We picked up our Black SS this last week. Were impressed with the car, very quiet, very powerful, and the interior and exterior fit and finish is a huge step up for GM. Love the power and handling. Lots of features for the money such as OnStar, heated seats, Bose sound system, XM radio, leather and power sunroof. Would like rear view mirrors to be larger and Chevrolet to offer a navigation and DVD player as well as auto climate control, but quite nice as is. We like our SS. Compared to Dodge Charger and Ford 500, Ford is underpowered and Dodge, while great HEMI power, lacks fit and finish and refinement of SS. Would like Chevrolet to implement rear drive for next Impala

• 

  Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By JV - February 23 - 7:30 pm

  I love my car. All of my friends laugh when they see me in my little yellow car but then when they see my gas bills I get the last laugh. Also, I can fit so much stuff in that car. My sisters four kids all fit and two of them are in car seats. People just dont believe it until they see it. And I have fit TWO 63" men in the back seat of my car with a third passenger in the back seat and they werent sitting with their knees up to their chins either. I just love my car, it is quiet and smooth and it is really cool. It is just great.

• 

  Good Reliable Car - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By rns - February 23 - 6:24 pm

  I have had this car since late 1999 and the car has lived up to my needs. It has been reliable and without any mechanical difficulties, with only routine maintenance and normally replaced items like the tires and battery. The mileage is down from new when I got 20/29, now I get 17/28, not bad for a car with 80k miles.

• 

  Awesome for $7800!! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By sharkbite - February 23 - 4:20 pm

  Well for $7800 brand new you just cant bet this ride! I averaged around 34mpg on the first tank!! Great room inside with a big car feel. Remember folks this is an economy car. Lifetime oil changes and free 24 hour roadside help makes this a no brainer!!

• 

  Great SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 07tahoeguy - February 23 - 2:01 pm

  Hands down currently the best overall Full Size SUV on the market today. If you havent had a test drive yet, get out there. One Warning, if you drive it, you will be sold. GM has stepped it up, Gen 3 is the real deal.

• 

  2010 Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jane - February 23 - 12:43 am

  Overall great vehicle, excellent styling & interior appointments - at this price point. The LTZ 6 cylinder is very solid & a pleasure to drive. Very well equipped even at base model. GM has a hit a home run with this one. I would highly recommend this vehicle. The ride is quiet & firm; great visibility from elevated crossover seating

• 

  Corvette - Americas car - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dan - February 22 - 6:06 pm

  I love the Corvette convertible. Its design is so simple and effective, and the fact its a convertible makes it even more visually appealing. Having put a new sound system in, it completes the car, making it an ultimate luxury to drive in. A truly wonderful car.

• 

  Love our Nox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rick - February 21 - 1:26 pm

  Watched this CUV from the Auto shows and editor reviews until I could finally order it on 4/10/09. Our white LTZ arrived on 7/3/09. Now nearly 8,000 miles later we couldnt be happier. I see yuppies in their much more expensive SUVs taking a second look, but little do they know that my Chevy is more feature rich then what they paid another $10,000 or more for. Have had no problems or service calls. Truly like the idea of having roadside assistance for 5 years, but figure I wont need it. The chrome appearance package is worth the extra $$$ for the look it provides. Getting 29mpg with 4cyl driving 77mph with the AC on. Test drive to see for yourself.

• 

  The Malibu Maxx is underrated! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Eric - February 21 - 6:23 am

  I have been driving my Malibu Maxx for almost 4 years now. I live in the Buffalo, NY area so Im used to driving in poor weather. This car did excellent in the bad weather. Also the features in this car are unbeatable. Cruise control, remote start, heated seats, OnStar, XM radio, adjustable pedals, front and side air bags, traction control, 6 cd changer, car information computer, power sunroof, 30 MPG. The best part, not one thing went wrong in the time I have had it! Flawless! This car is a sleeper for sure!

• 

  Loving my SSR - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By james mayo - February 20 - 10:03 pm

  I love to let the top down and take my wife for sunset cruises. My SSR is yellow. It is so beautiful against the sunset. It also gets a lot of looks and comments from other motorists. I let my best friend drive it. He loved it so much that he bought one. I will keep my SSR till I die.