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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  I love My Chevy Malibu! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jean Hawkins - October 14 - 8:13 pm

  I just bought my first Chevy two weeks ago. I had Toyotas for about 20 years and then I had a Ford Ranger truck. My truck got rear ended and was in the shop. I got a rental and it happened to be a Chevy Malibu. I had it for about a week and fell in love with it. At the same time Chevy had the employee discount price going on so I decided to see if I could get one. I also got the choice of a $2000 rebate or 0% financing so I chose the 0% financing. I am thrilled with my new car.

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  Sunset Bomb - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By titianqueen - October 14 - 4:25 pm

  Only complaint is that a lot of heat enters thru the tinted roof, and had to have a custom top make for it, instead of paying $1900.00 for an additional color coded hard top.

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  Not perfect, but better than the rest - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Derek - October 14 - 10:40 am

  I have had this truck for almost 3 months now and have found it to be great for what I need. As I saw in another review, there is some engine pinging at highways speeds and the tranny does have some sort of clunk to it, especially between 2 and 3 gears, but outside of that the truck have been perfect. Rides better than Ford or Dodge and gas mileage is acceptble at about 17mpg in hilly terrain with lots of stop and gos. Towed well for the 1 time I towed about 3000lbs, hardly noticable. I would buy another given the chance and would suggest potential buyers to test drive before making their decision comparing it to Ford and Dodge.

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  An American Classic Grows Up! - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Mike - October 14 - 8:34 am

  I did not set out to buy a Corvette. I was going to purchase a SL or CLK series Benz or a 6-series BMW (all available as convertibles). I visited the dealerships, I test drove the cars, they all had power and refinement and, yet, bored me stiff! I happened to pull into a Chevy dealer (for the first time in 20 years) ... the new C6 Vettes both resembled their heritage and yet looked different. I test drove one. I fell in love! This car LOVES the road! The seating position is perfect, the responsiveness of the engine is amazing, and you feel like you couldnt come unglued from the asphalt if you tried. This car inspires confidence. I bought a fully-loaded ragtop the same day.

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  Corvette Forever - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Sfore - October 14 - 4:40 am

  I had bought 1976 Vette when I had graduated from college and had the car until kids came along. Now the kids are out of college and a 2005 Vette is back in my life. This car is fantastic. The performance and handling is phenominal. I took it to Pocono Raceway for a track day and this car blew me away. I will always have a Vette in my garage

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  Richs Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Richard Hess - October 14 - 1:23 am

  I really love this truck! It handles like a sports car, and rides smooth. Nice and peppy. But economical for a truck! Also, it has a real nice look to it.

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  Best van out there - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Seth Young - October 13 - 10:21 pm

  This is our first van, and it is great! The exterior is beautiful, and the interior is just as nice! Im 6- 4" and I have more than enough room for my head and legs. The controls are well placed and easy to understand. The power is more than sufficient, and the vehicle handles wonderfully! We got ours for $20.900.00 and Im sure well get every penny out of it.

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  Family cruiser - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By family dude - October 13 - 8:55 pm

  My Cavalier gets me and the family everywhere we need to go. In this hectic world, a dependable vehicle means the world to me. I feel confident and safe in my new Chevy!

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  Perfect for the Price - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Scott - October 13 - 6:08 pm

  This is a perfect little car if youre looking for something affordable, not too flashy, but still reliable. I have the manual transmission and although it was listed at 28 mpg in the city, I get 31 consistently and nearly 40 mpg on the highway. If its lacking anything, its top speed, but the speed limit is 75 anyway, right? If you dont feel like spending $17,000 just so you can say you drive a Civic, buy yourself an Aveo. Its every bit as fun to drive, versatile, roomy, and a lot cheaper.

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  I love my little bird! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By kimcan84 - October 13 - 2:33 pm

  This car is so much fun to drive! It may not be the most powerful little car in the world, but it gets me where I need to be. Its super comfortable (at least from where Im sitting). I love that I can raise and lower the drivers seat. The stereo system is pretty nice as well (MP3 cd player).