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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  2001 Z06 - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dano - January 30 - 10:55 pm

  This is my second Corvette. It was purchased used, Im the 2nd owner. This is an amazing car, the performance and handling are outstanding. Ive added a hurst shifter Stinger air intake and B&B exhaust. Now its even more fun. The mileage is amazing as long as you can keep your foot out of it. It is a head turner, looks blazing fast just sitting.

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  High miler - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Fred S - January 30 - 5:22 pm

  I have put over 65,000 miles on my Avalanche in two and a half years. The only problem was that the tailgate latch broke. On the highway I get between 18 and 21 MPG even on the 75 MPH interstates. I have hauled 12 ft. 2x12s inside with the tailgate closed. The bed cover is secure yet easy to remove. In short it is a GREAT vehcle with multi-talents.

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  Z24 love it - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By D White - January 30 - 11:04 am

  I inherited this car from a friend who had it for less than a year. I intended to sell it right away, but changed my mind after driving it a bit. For the size and class of car, its definitely one of the most fun ones Ive had. And it loos good! Easy to maintain, and reasonable priced, I truly believe I got a sweet deal.

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  My 05 Colorado LS - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Terese Foster - January 29 - 8:35 pm

  Fun truck to drive, very sporty & handles very well. Just wish the seats were little bit more comfortable.

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  Luxury Car and Fun to Drive - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tony - January 29 - 2:03 pm

  The 6 speed 2.4L v4 is definitely the way to go. It has great fuel economy and is built as good as a BMW in my opinion. It is great to see that you do not need the v6 (which I had in my last car) to get the quiet ride and good acceleration. I was looking for a good family 4-door sedan that would also be fun to drive back and forth on my long commute to work (on the congested roads of NJ). Based on my budget of 20-25K, I had considered many new cars and also a low mileage BMW used car. After test driving, the Malibu was the clear winner. My wife and I were actually shocked at how smooth and quiet the ride was (though tried to keep the smiles off our faces before negotiating the price).

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  My Son Loves This Truck! - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Wade - January 29 - 10:13 am

  I bought my SS used, as I do with all my trucks, and am very pleased with it. The exterior is so much better looking than the standard Silverado. It drives & rides like a Cadillac. I will never buy any other truck than a GM.

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  Strong Recomendation - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Daniel - January 29 - 9:46 am

  I really enjoy this car. This is my first brand new car purchase and bought it without any research, and to be honest, I almost didnt test drive it. I was very attracted to its design and at the moment, that is all that matter. I was wrong though, there is much more to it. It handles well, has lots of pep, and is extremely quiet. I am a little disapointed in the MPG, but my last car got over 400 mile to the tank so anything is an adjustment. Nonetheless, this is a phenomenal buy and I have never been more satisfied.

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  Dont Blink or Youll Miss the Show - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By bangn the pavement - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Well everyone the end of an era is coming. I can remember new 69,70,70 and one half,71, and 72s rolling off the assembly lines for around $4000-$5000. I have just ordered a 2002 Camaro SS with all the toys I had a youngster. Well I guess some people never grow up. It has been a wife, four kids,two dogs and a job that takes up way too much of my time since I had a machine like the SS. I took a 2000 SS that the dealer had for sale for a ride and once again I was hooked. Now I count the weeks before delivery and hope that many more people find the pure enjoyment that such a unique vehicle offers.

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  Best vehicle Ive ever owned - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Avalanche2002 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Very powerful 2500 Avalanche with 8.1L vortec engine. 14 miles/gallon, very smooth ride, good pick up for an over 3 ton vehicle. very little sway on curves. strong runner, no complaints.

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  17,000 miles and still love the car. - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By garnes - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Very solid feeling car. Rides as smoothly as much larger cars. (I have an Aurora too) Trunk at 18.6 cubic feet is incredibly large - blows all sedans away except maybe a Town Car. Seats are very comfortable - no comparison with any other car in this price range. The interior is quite handsome too. The all cast iron 3.8 V6 is basically indestructable. Oh yeah - the mileage is unbelievable for a car this size. It gets better mileage than lighter imports in this price range. It has a very high safety rating too - again better than most anything including the imports. Yeah, I love this car. No problems. Great value.