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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  Great car for the price - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By bethlrn - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is value for money. It is roomy, comfortable, quiet, smooth and has plenty of zip. The sound system, heater and a/c are all first rate. And it was less than 20k!

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  looks great - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pat54 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  The vehicle is very roomy and has a very nice ride. The rear hatch is very difficult to close and normally takes 2 or 3 tries to close, the rear doors are about the same and take some effort even with the windows down. The gas milage was very disappointing we average about 20 to 21 highway and 15 to 17 in rural driving. I hesitate to think what city milage would be.

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  My 2nd Impala SS - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By John - October 4 - 6:40 pm

  Just purchased an 06 SS Impala Blk on Blk. Its maiden trip was to upstate New Hampshire from Western Mass 5hrs each way. Previously owned a 96 SS. The power is outstanding but the front drive limits the ability to take advantage of the power. The plastic on the doors and dash is similar to my fiances 01 Cavalier, in a word, its cheep. Suspension is more like a Buick than my last SS. I did not feel comfortable on VTs RT 91 above 85mph due to curves. Heated leather seats are adequate, could use a bit more bolstering, but they are fine for me. Get the Bose stereo, I didnt and I regret it. No way the engine gets 28/18 hwy/city mileage, more like 22/13.

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  First new car... - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jerzeezfinest - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I am SO excited about this car... I was driving a 91 jetta that I put $4,000 into in under 18 months-- I was NOT going to deal with anyh more used car problems... The aveo was the cheapest new car i could possibly by, I went to 12 dealerships and was in LOVE with this car. It is an AWESOME value and I dont think I could have possibly done any better for what I had to go on. Im 18, with a cosigner and a little help for the down payment, Im paying $175 a month... totally do-able.

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  GOOD SUV AND GOOD PRICE RANGE - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By KEJIE LIU - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this nice SUV a few days ago, havey known about the reliability yet. It has a smooth powertrain and lively take off. Quite in town driving and comfortable freeway ride. Noticeble wind noice from the windshield. I like the FWD better than the AWD which provide more take off power and smooth driving performance on the good surface road. Good MPG compare in the same class.

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  Go Buy One! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By The "Bruggy Man" - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I upgraded to this vehicle from a 99 Ext. Cab GMC Sierra. I love having four "real" doors, especially when you have a two year old daughter to buckle in a car seat. The additional cabin space in the back seat is well worth the sacrifice of eight inches of bed space. The 5.3 litre V8 is smooth as glass. There is also great visibility when looking out the side windows and back window. The current rebates and discounts are incredible! I bought this vehicle for $1,200 less than I paid for my 99 model brand new.

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  Love my truck, hate fuel mileage - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By chad smith - September 29 - 2:00 am

  I love my new diesel. Plenty of power no need for aftermarket chips. Rides great. Looks great. Pulls great, but the fuel mileage is terrible. 13 mpg is the best I get. It has been four months now. I have 15,000 miles on it and cannot get any better mileage. With the price of fuel ($4.15) it hurts when you pull up to the pump

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  Not Bad... - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By RSS - September 26 - 2:36 am

  This Monte has been a decent car and I would call it average at best. I bought the car w/ high miles and started the fixing process. The previous owner did take good care of the car too. Intake manifold gaskets are weak, catalytic converter will crap out and cause weird issues, steering shaft will clunk when not lubed. The car has had issues but has always started and gotten me to where I need to go, though it might not be too pretty.

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  tow monster - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By scubajohn - September 22 - 2:00 am

  this truck is great if you want to tow large items, but really sucks up the gas to just drive around

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  Chevy Duramax Diesel Rocks - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Comab - September 17 - 10:00 am

  I had a 90 Chevy work truck then switched to the Ford F250 Super Duty. Now Im back to Chevy with the 2500HD 4X4 Diesel. I found what I was looking for; all the things that the Ford didnt have. Much more comfortable ride. The LB tracks wonderfully on the interstate at 80-85 mph. Better fuel economy.The diesel has lots of power and acceptable acceleration. Easy to get in and out of and also low enough to work out of. The plastic in the grill seems soft and easily scratches with bug impacts. The tires and wheels are purposely small to max out the torque, but they look too small for the truck. When washed and clean it gets positive stares.