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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  2006 COBALT - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By S Kirtwright - November 9 - 9:06 pm

  The Cobalt has a simple but true fact that it is easy to keep in track on the highway even in high cross wind situations. The gas mileage that I got was higher than what it was rated for, but the roads that I was traveling on were it very good condition.

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  I love my Aveo!! - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By a_reality - November 9 - 7:19 pm

  A lot of people laughed at me when I announced I was buying an Aveo. However, every single one of them instantly changed their minds the moment they sat down in this little car. It is amazingly roomy and provides a nice comfortable ride. Okay, so its not a Cadillac, but its not really meant to be either. Im 62" and have plenty of head room in this little baby. Living in San Francisco where parking is a nightmare I appreciate owning a small good looking car that has the power to get up large hills, and can park just about anywhere. Id recomend this car to just about anyone who needs basic point A to point B transportation.

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  Great Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Car Owner - November 9 - 7:07 pm

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  Proud to be a Blazer owner - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Blue Devil - November 9 - 1:00 am

  Purchased it this past week end its a great truck and anyone considering it should look for a low mileage example, which had been taken car of, mine is one of these and it runs great great pick up and go, 4x4 system easy to use, love the compass and temp. display as well as the overhead console. It is a great vehicle that when properly maintained will last a long time

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  Goes in snow - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By VailMtnCar - November 7 - 4:26 pm

  In 135K commercial use only repair was a window motor. Did get it stuck once also (operator-error). Rides like a dream with tons of room but still gets 17mpg. Just bought another one for the fleet. Its a lot of car for 14K in the used market.

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  My first electric car - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By Zacattack - November 7 - 10:47 am

  Just got the car yesterday, to soon to evaluate some of the questions. Very excited to see the economic savings. Will review in three to six months

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  Fun truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By LFD54 - November 7 - 3:06 am

  Now with gas prices falling, I went out on a limb and bought a full size. I love the ride, especially the lack of road noise. The gas mileage could be better, but the Silverado is doing better than the others. After recently owning a 2000 Dodge 1500 and a 2003 Ford F150, this Silverado has everything in a much better package. The tranny, throttle and braking are a bit touchy, so something I need to get used to.

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  impressive car! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By seahawk01 - November 6 - 1:47 am

  Traded my Civic in on a new Cruze, it has been a long time since an american car was in my garage, and im happy as can be with the Cruze. I got the fully loaded LTZ model with the 1.4 t automatic. I have a very long daily commute and have been on several long trips, i rack up miles very quickly. I thought i would wait for a few miles to give my review/impressions on the car, i just passed the 20,000 mile mark. Early on my fuel economy was a bit dissapointing at around 28mpg (like some other reviewers here) It has been getting better as the miles go by, my last tank was 34 mpg. This is winter mileage which includes more idle time than normal, i keep a very close eye and records of my economy

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  Vic Red Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Lar - November 5 - 10:30 pm

  Fun little car, great gas mileage, very peppy for the price. Ability to get on the Interstate (merge w/70 MPH traffic) even though it is only a 4- cylinder sold me.

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  Sporty and Practical - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By David V. - November 5 - 10:23 pm

  I bought a used 2005 Impala and absolutely love it. I feel like Im driving a sports car, yet I can load up the family and go. Great gas mileage for a V-6 (29 - 31 mph). The ride is very quiet, smooth, and comfortable. You get a lot of value for your money, as even the base line model feels sporty and has lots of "extras." The crash-test ratings were fantastic too which should make my insurance company happy.