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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  my opinion of my avalanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By sdbarr - August 8 - 2:00 am

  It is better on gas miliage then i expected for such a big truck. And the comfort is the best.

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  Smooth Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Stinnel - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This Impala has been a shear delight to own and drive. It handles well, is comfortable, drives well, and looks great. I like all of the fine features that come with this car. The fog lights, the overdrive, the auto locks, trunk release, the CD, steering wheel radio controls, and other features make it a "dream" to drive.

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  This Car ROCKS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kalifornia - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I love my Impala LS. My parents picked it out for me and it wasnt really what I wanted as a high school student. After driving it a mile down the road I fell in love. Its speedy and VERY fun to drive. Im always getting comments on my Impala. If you get one, get one with everything....

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  My First SUV, My First Brand New Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By GaWelch - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I am more than pleased with my purchase of my new Trailblazer. It handles very nicely, including cornering. Very comfortable and solid. Quick engine response. I have driven full size sedans for the past thirty years, so this was a big change for me. Ive already had it on snow-covered roads and it manuevered very well.

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  Excellent Midsize SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ictflier - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Replacement for 1997 Blazer. Excellent mileage, even pulling the boat trailer. Several long trips, very comfortable in front and back.

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  NICE TRUCK!!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Beebe2 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This truck won me over, from the looks to when I hit the petal down it took off beautifully and the ride was very comfortable.

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  Fun Car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By JESSE HEFNER - August 7 - 9:36 pm

  I have greatly enjoyed my HHR. The only problem I have is the radiator is in the wide open for rocks and road debris to get in. Within 500 miles I had to replace the radiator due to a rock puncturing it. All I was doing was driving down the freeway.

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  1st Minivan - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Aimee - August 7 - 9:20 pm

  This is a great compromise between a minivan and SUV. The DVD player is easy to use (says my 8 year old). The ride is nice and smooth and comfortable. Great sound and safety. So far, no complaints.

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  Best mid-sized van ever - 2005 Chevrolet Astro
  By PETER - August 7 - 5:13 pm

  This is the 4th Astro that I have owned in 9 years, and each one has been better the the last. I averaged about 90,000 to 100,000 miles on the last three and already have 1600 on the 2005 Astro. I love it.

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  Cant touch this for the price - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By bcarnalis - August 7 - 2:46 pm

  Are there better sports cars in the world? Yes, certainly. Are there better ones for less than twice the price of the Z06? That is much less clear. This car is a performance monster, in all regards. It isnt just a straight line car, but will corner with Ferraris and brake with Porsches, and do it all for 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost. Of course you pay for this in terms of quality of the interior materials, which do not match Porsche and Ferrari. But if you just want to hang with your buddys F360 on the track, this car will do it right out of the showroom. And it has a heads-up display!