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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  What a great car - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Stephen - October 25 - 5:56 pm

  My first Vette was a 66 Roadster, and yes I still wish I had it. However, there is no comparison between the two. The 00 Corvette Roadster is far and away the best car Ive ever owned (I also own a 2005 Mercedes Benz 320 4matic). So great in fact - Im starting to look at the 06s. Ill order that in January.

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  Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Craig Pennsylvania - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Excellent overall. Very smooth ride, LTZ is super high luxury with nice features only available on lux SUVs with prestige name plates costing $20K more. After I set aside the snob factor (not easy coming from BMW/Volvo background) found this an excellent value. Extremely powerful engine that beats most competitors including the minivan-like (and looking) Mercedes SUV and overpriced and compromised interior size BMW. Even the headlights are good, which was surprising given that I always drove European cars before with excellent lighting.

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  Replaced my old Chevy Pickup - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Steve - October 24 - 11:03 pm

  Just bought this truck to replace my 15 year old Chevy Silverado half-ton pickup. Got the LT1 package with 5.3L V8. First trip had 19 mpg with combined city and highway. In just the city, it seems to only get about 11 mpg. The truck is very quiet and rides well. So far, Im quite pleased. Pricing was good in Sept with the GM employee discount and additional 5K discount. Also got $1800 off with my GM card savings and I qualified for an additional GM company card bonus of $500. Every little bit helps in this crazy economy!

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  My truck - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Zach Spowart - October 23 - 10:10 pm

  I love this truck. 135,000 with no problems ever. just change the oil every 3,000 miles and have always enjoyed it

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  Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Bob - October 23 - 9:28 pm

  Its been a fun vehicle with lots of utility for a value priced truck. Great gas mileage. Highway up to 30 mpg.

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  This is an amazing family car. - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Susan - October 23 - 2:51 pm

  This is an amazing family car. I can fit three pairs of skiis, a snowboard, boots, and luggage in the trunk and five people in the car and the drive is still good, still powerful. This car has great acceleration and agility without excessive lean, on the road in the summer and winter. I am the only one who can get up my steep hill in the winter with my Impala without slipping and sliding.

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  What an awesome machine - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sfcc - October 23 - 2:05 pm

  Your writers are correct!! The C6 ranks right up there with some of the finest sports cars made. I have driven 2500 miles. It has been 2500 miles of quiet,tight,comfort and responsive miles I have ever driven. Its fun to drive,great to look at and 17 miles to a gallon in stop and go traffic isnt bad either. Other drivers give this car alot of respect in traffic by making room for me. Forget the power roof for $2,000.00, manual is just as quick.

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  Teach S10 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Patsy Sylvester - October 23 - 1:05 pm

  I love my truck! It has been dependable as well as reliable! It is everything I need for my long drive to work, as well as hauling grain for my horses. The 4 door S10 is very handy for all my teaching supplies as well as my grandkids on the weekend.

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  Loving Life After Divorce - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Rusty - October 23 - 4:57 am

  Bought my first Vette at 25 yrs old for 22K. Loving the car in every sense. The seat of the pants feel is amazing and other the a few mechanical problems she is alot fun to cruise in. Headlight gear bad at 42K, Turn signal bulb bad 3 times in 20K, coolant overflow tank replaced at 46K, Oil pressure sensor replaced at 43K, belt tensioner at 58K and battery at 55K. I push this car like a sports car should be pushed and at 65K I can still muster up a 13.4 @104mph at the track. Only mods are a catback exhaust and Blackwing Intake. GM keep up the good work and I cannot wait to see what the 2006 Z06 can put down for a 1/4 mile time!!!

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  GOOD BUT NOT GREAT - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MR.G - October 23 - 12:53 am

  Bought car used with 34000 miles.First thing i did was,replace front rotors and brake pads,second thing i did was flush the GM antifreeze from engine and went back with regular green anti freeze.I did this because the GM antifreeze will damage the cooling parts in engine and has a gum building inside cooling system.The third thing I did was replace the turn signal device on the steering column.The original broke one night and I could not dim my headlights.Cost was over $500.00.