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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  17K Miles & 15 months. I love this car! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By debewley - January 8 - 7:29 pm

  Ive put over 17,000 miles on my 2004 Aveo so far. As others have mentioned it is extremely peppy and has a surprising amount of interior room. Im currently driving my Aveo 120+ miles per day including interstate, secondary roads, and city driving. And Im averaging greater than 31 mpg. I love the small turing radius and the extremely responsive steering. Ive owned several new cars in my lifetime and this is the first one that Ive not had any problems with after prolonged ownership and driving. The quality has been excellent and I really dont know how you could expect more from a $12,000 dollar vehicle.

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  Silverado Experience - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Lazarus Romig - January 8 - 12:46 pm

  I was quite hesitant to buy American, but my fears have been squelched by the excellent performance of the 2007 Silverado. Going into the purchasing phase, I was planning on buying the Toyota Tundra, but on the test drives, the Silverado simply performed better, had more room, better visibility, and was much more enjoyable to drive.

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  Love it - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By C Merkle - January 8 - 12:20 pm

  The Tahoe is reliable, confortable, and I do enjoy driving and riding in it. The mileage is getting better as time goes on and is about 2 mpg better than my 2003 model. It is very roomy and has more space than the Ford SUVs. Thanks Chevy

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  awesome ride - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim F - January 8 - 6:06 am

  I have only had mine for a week but I just had to share how happy I am with my new Equinox. It is everything that I wanted a nd more. If I could I would get one for everyone in my family. The interior upgrades make it a very sweet ride. I have no complaints at all.

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  Great SUV! - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Justin - January 8 - 2:38 am

  The Tahoe is a great vehicle, we just purchased one and have enjoyed it thoroughly. We took the LS upgrade, with the upgrade engine, side impact bags, 6 disc cd, gear ratio and third row pull out. This is a great car, but do your research prior to buying, use this website thoroughly.

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  Love my beretta but... - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By AG_47 - January 7 - 11:15 pm

  I love my Beretta. It gets through the snow really well - something useful in these Minnesota winters. It has 182,000 miles on it and nothing big has gone wrong with it. I have to sell it because I need something newer. If I could keep it and afford to buy another car I would. It gets great gas mileage - only $30 to fill the tank. It is a little small but it feels a lot roomer than a caviler or a cobalt. The trunk is huge - I recently moved and only had to make a few trips. If you are looking for a great, reliable, dependable car then think about getting a Beretta!) Also, it is really sporty and fun to drive.

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  Beats the Camry - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Steve Eckert - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I was 99% sure that my next purchase was a Toyota Camry. I rented a Camry- and that is what I put 400 miles on the next two days. That car was all over the road (it is not a highway car), it was loud inside and the transmission was shifting on its own. I hated this car! So to the chevy dealer and took a Impala out to the highway and ......couldnt help but buy it. I love everything about it. What the Camry lacks the Impala has. The engineering is twice the Camrys. This Impala holds the road, has plenty of acceleration, seat comfort, lots of interior storage, interior colors and panels matched, outside paint is flawless...I love to drive this car.

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  Excellent combination - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By maria d fernandez - January 6 - 11:43 pm

  Drives very soft, I love it. It has a great driving view. My son loves the DVD system and the fuel economy is great. After driving a Kia Sedona, this minivan saves me a lot of money on gas.

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  Love this car! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By hayhay - January 6 - 3:44 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive. It doesnt feel like you are even moving and suddenly you are cruising along at 85mph. I definitely recommend taking it for a test drive.

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  Satisfied customer - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mike - January 6 - 12:47 am

  Pleasant and easy driving characterize the Aveo. Handling is agile and predicable with quick braking. Turning circles are short. The car is solid, well-built and heavy for its size. Its very economical on gas. It glues to the road well with proper tires. (Factory Kuhmos were replaced immediately after purchase.) The short nose, tall driving position, and superior forward view magnify the cars agility assets, making it easy to drive. The 1.6 L4 provides plenty of pep (4-sp auto). This car rides well, and handles well in snow. The cabin is spacious. I am 58", and my girl is 510" with very long legs. Limits: seats four only, trunk lid arms dip into trunk, lower than normal ground clearance.