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:

• 

  05 Chevy Malibu - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Showboattt - August 17 - 9:16 pm

  This car performs a lot better than expected. New design is super. V6 power is a light weight car like this! Zoooms!

• 

  Love It...Love It...Love It... - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Vanessa - August 17 - 7:32 pm

  I love this car. Perfect for the family. It is also so much fun to drive. You feel like the king of the road or in my case queen. It is an extremely sturdy vehicle and so heavy, you really dont feel any of the bumps on the road.

• 

  Great truck - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JR - August 17 - 4:36 pm

  I traded in a Trailblazer for the new Tahoe. The truck drives better than the Expedition, Armada, and Sequioa that I drove. The interior is just as comfortable as every other Chevrolet, but it looks much better. On the highway, the ride is quiet and comfortable. Off road performance is great with the locking back end and autotrac, but be sure to remove the front air-dam before going on extreme outings. If you have a boat, then the G80 differential option is a must. I got $2500 off the sticker price. I am getting 19mpg mixed with the 5.3L- not bad considering the size and towing capacity. Gas mileage is better than most mid-sized SUVs and all full sizers

• 

  Very Good Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Stevereno - August 17 - 4:15 pm

  I got the Z85 LS automatic with the I5 engine. The truck is very useful. Lots of room on the inside for the 4 door crew cab. Very attactive appearance. You can beat this truck for the money. I would have spent a good bit more on a Dakota.

• 

  Sweet Car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By MRFNB - August 17 - 4:06 pm

  I traded a van for the HHR because of the smaller size and lower access to the rear cargo area. The car runs great and gets good mileage, 23 mpg or so in almost exclusively stop and go driving, and approximately 34 mpg on a 1000 mile vacation trip. The driver info center is handy, showing all the necessary numbers at the push of a button.

• 

  BEST 4DOOR EVER BUILT......... - 1994 Chevrolet Impala
  By DMASON - August 16 - 5:05 pm

  THIS 4 DOOR FAMILY CAR IS ALL A 4 DOOR SHOULD BE. HAS MORE THAN AMPLE HORSES AND PLENTY OF SHOW. NOTE THE AMOUNT OF YOUNGER ADULTS THAT OWN ONE NOW, WHEN ORIGINALLY 85% WERE OWNED BY PEOPLE 50 AND UP. KINDA SPEAKS FOR ITSELF DOESNT IT. BMW AND MAZDA AND FORD HAS NO ANSWER IN COMPARISOME WITH ANY OF THEIR 4DOOR VEHICLES UNLESS YOU PAY FOOLISHLY.3 IMPALLA "SS" OR 1 BEEMER? NOT THAT HARD A QUESTION IS IT. OH YEH, DONT FORGET THE DOLLAR LOSS IN % OVER TIME . CHECK OUT THE RETAIL ON THEM ALL AND SEE WHO LOST THE MOST $ IN VALUE!!!!!!!!!

• 

  GM still remains no 1 - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Terry - August 16 - 3:05 pm

  Unlike some of the critics, I like the feel and smoothness of the ride. I dont expect a Nascar ride, ie, not a lot of speed. It has enough pickup to get up to the speed laws. Got a good employee discount and better yet no hassling. It turns good at corners. So far, and too soon to tell, it has no mechanical problems. So I would recommend giving it a try. GM is not all that bad, foreign cars have their quirks. Gas mileage is as good as any car depending on drivers habits. Tires are good, but you may want better if you drive a lot in snow. Like the drivers hooked mat, keeps from moving around back of pedals.

• 

  Need to fix wheel bearings - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Melissa Sutherland - August 16 - 4:37 am

  I love the car in general. Good gas mileage, great factory stereo system, very reliable. I travel a lot, so I love that I can rely on it. My only complaint is Ive only had the car a year and had to replace 2 wheel bearings. Otherwise its a great car.

• 

  Great Deal - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By kansasdriver - August 15 - 7:08 pm

  We have had no trouble with this car. It was a one-owner lease, bought by the dealer for sale. The price was quite competitive. We are very pleased with all aspects of the car.

• 

  2005 Chev Duramax - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Richard - August 15 - 2:53 pm

  Having driven 1/2 tons for several years this is my first HD and I consider a "real truck". Very comfortable for the family and we dont even notice the sound of the Duramax listening to XM on my bose speakers. Love towing our 5th. wheel and recently did a long vacation trip through 4 states. Kind of reassuring having been approached many times by "old timers" just to tell me what an awesome tow vehicle we have. Have not had any problems in the first year and look for many more to come. (former Dodge truck owner).