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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  Works for me! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By aiwn - December 12 - 10:00 am

  Ive had absolutely no problems with my 00 Blazer. Its been very reliable since I got it. The interior is very functional and laid out to my liking. Engine has plenty of pep. The exterior has held up so far and its looks are better than other mid-size SUVs. Chevy trucks are almost always a good bet. Ive got a year left on my lease and Im probably going to miss this truck as I dont think there will be any Blazers left to lease now that the Trailblazer is available. Id buy this one, but the residual is way too high, which is how I got the great lease deal! I hope that Chevy can find a way to keep them around.

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  10 years and going - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Alan - December 12 - 8:33 am

  Never thought I would love a Chevy. Have my Monte for 10 years and 140k. Always reliable & comfortable. Usual repairs and maintenance and nothing too expensive. The one bother is the lights on the radio panel have gone out which makes the dash a bit less attractive. Impressed with GM, bought a Trailblazer and love that too.

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  Amazingly Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jules - December 12 - 6:56 am

  Im overly pleased with this car. Dont be fooled by the small exterior size. Its very roomy on the inside. Easy to handle, very fun to drive. The fuel economy is incredible. Ive driven it around town for a month and the gas tank is still half full. Filling it up is usually $10-$15, even at todays high prices. The engine is powerful considering the lightness of the car, but even with heavy loads it has power. It feels like Im driving a 4-Door sportscar. The only downside I can find is that there is no true air conditioning, but it does blow cold air.

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  hot fast quick ride - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jack - December 12 - 1:54 am

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  The Impala is back - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mike Davenport - December 9 - 10:10 pm

  Finally, I can buy an Impala Im not ashamed of. The new 2006 is awesome. It handles great. Is comfortable on a long trip. Has plenty of room. and the fuel economy for a large car is great. The first week I had the car I drove on a 600 mile trip each way. It was more comfortable than the Chrysler 300 & TownCar I rented for another recent trip. This is the real deal finally for Cheverolet.

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  Great Choice - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Name - December 9 - 2:00 pm

  I love this car. I am a librarian and put hours of research into the choice of this car. The fact that it recently got top safety ratings just confirms that the research was worth it. I often drive a family members Accord, and the interior and driving feel of this car are vastly superior. People are reluctant to say its better than Camry and Accord due to their long reputation of excellence, but from what Ive seen they are slipping and the Malibu is a much better choice.

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  Great Economy Car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Prozac - December 9 - 10:00 am

  I have already put 450 miles on this in 5 days time. The car handles great, gets great gas mileage without even being broke in yet, large enough to accomodate a 62" man with more room to push the seat back, and enough power to get out of its own way. I really hope that they come out with some after- market support. I mainly use this car for work, but seem to like it more for when the family and I need to make short trips aroung town. It has a great European car feel to it. If you just need a basic car that can be lots of fun, this would be a great choice.

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  my corvette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By my corvette - December 9 - 10:00 am

  you have never driven an sports car until you drive a new vet. the feeling you have when you hit the gas is great. You must watch you speed because before you know it you are doing 90 miles per hr.

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  2004 Corvette Convertible - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By flying2low - December 9 - 10:00 am

  An absolute blast to drive! Quality has improved quite a bot from my 1994 corvette. Excellent finish and interior.

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  love my vette! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Brian R - December 9 - 10:00 am

  picked up my dream car finally! bright yellow convertable really turns heads! i love the car! i want to drive it all the time!