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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  fun in the sun - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By patrick crowley - October 17 - 10:00 am

  This car is great for the ego, scary FUN to drive, predictable handling at the limit, the only downside is the 1st to 4th shift which is not always predictable.I do not understand the comments about cheap interior. To me its just great. Sure its not as luxuruous as a maserati or mecedes but then again its only a fraction of the price!

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  Cannot stop "wind noise" - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By James L Kimbrell - October 17 - 10:00 am

  We, as a family, love our 2002 Tahoe except for one very irritating thing. There is a wind noise on the drivers side that two dealers have not been able to stop. From about 60 miles an hour, the noise is so loud we can hardly hear a normal conversation.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By joander - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Had a few problems in the begining, 1. Faulty control valve on heating system. 2. Alignment problems. 3. Paint defects that were not fixed before taking delivery of the vehicle

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  Mothers Day Gift - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Cornejo - October 17 - 10:00 am

  Purchased 1SD package w/ upgrades (leather package, 17" wheels, xm radio). Smooth stable ride. Steering is nimble & responsive at different speeds & situations. Engine & transmission shift is smooth. Strong V6. Rear multi-level cargo shelf is useful for groceries, tailgate party, etc. Chose leather because it is more child resistant to spills & dirt. Right sized vehicle for 3-4 people + luggage. V6 engine is compact and uncluttered so there is room to inspect belts and hoses. Oil stick, brake fluid, & air filter are readily available. Made this jump back to an American vehicle for the dollar value size, quality, & performance.

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  24,000 Miles later - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Anthony - October 17 - 1:00 am

  I have had the car for 10 months now and have 24k on it. So far oil changes only and rotating the tires. This car is the most underated car out there! For all the torque steer issues all you have to do is turn off the traction control and the car tracks straight! The traction control applies the brakes on acceleration and pulls the car all over the place. Fuel mileage has been an avg of just shy of 20mpg and I just got under 25 on a recent highway run to Va. Sure you can knock a couple of things on the cheapness of certain things but turn the key and listen to the American muscle! It compensates for everything else! For the money it is still a great value and I get tons of compliments on its looks!

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  Great Performance for the price! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By linz - October 16 - 10:38 am

  Ive had this car for over 2 years now and have 45000 miles on it. I had to order the car because I could not find an SS with a five speed and all the options I wanted. So I hadnt test drove one when it was ordered.Ive never had to take it in for service but did replace the brakes and rotors at 40,000. The interior aluminum paint has started to chip from wear and tear and the steering wheel leather has started to fade. I previously had a 2005 Grand Am GT and it was in the shop twice in the 2 years I owned it. The Grand Am had more get up and go than the cobalt but it was a V6 automatic. Decent car for the price, but some improvements could be made. Back seat is extremely comfortable for a coupe

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  Theyre giving them away! - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Big Bob - October 15 - 11:02 pm

  Got out of a Toyota Tundra. Loved it, looking for 5+ seating. My new LTZ is all the truck Ill need. Stuck with a truck/SUV because of the family boat. Cannot believe I paid $17,000 less than MSRP - could not find a better deal for same amount of truck anywhere. If you are in the market, you have 100% leverage and can buy a Tahoe for less than ever now.

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  Sharis Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sharon Patterson - October 15 - 2:53 pm

  Very happy with the purchase. Flaws? Only 2 - the coffee holders stink and the vehicle needs handholds; otherwise it is a great vehicle

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  Suburban - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By louie - October 15 - 10:25 am

  I purchased the Suburban almost a year ago and have not had a single problem out of the vehicle. The guy I purchased it from worked for a GM dealership and was the original owner of the truck. He had the engine and transmission and transfer case replaced at 45000 miles under factory warranty due to anoverheating problem. The engine and drive train now only have 55000 miles on them and perform perfectly. I use the vehicle to take my family around and also to pull my ski boat. The only flaw on the vehicle is the fuel mileage but you do not purchase a vehicle like this to get gas mileage.

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  Very reliable - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mrsacma - October 15 - 9:54 am

  Purchased New and found this car to be very easy to get in & out of. Lots of room for a small car. great gas mileage average city 32 Hwy 38-40. Had dealer replace right front wheel bearing at 3000 miles and no problems since then, I have 40K miles on it now. No regrets here on buying this other than it should be built in the USA!