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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  Heavy Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Sullivan - July 27 - 6:03 am

  This vehicle tows like nothing I have ever owned. Mileage is well within expectations. Both on and off road performance is very good but suspension is very stiff when not loaded. The numerous standard features are greatly appreciated. Am having problem keeping front wheel alignment with 4 W/D system but not excessive.

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  Biggest piece of junk I ever bought - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ben - July 24 - 3:36 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this truck since I bought it. Side door strips keep coming off. Had a oil leak at 27000 miles rear main seal went out had to be replaced. When the dealership replaced the rear main seal they tore the transmission seal then had a transmission fluid leak. That was covered under warranty at least. At 37000 miles the rack and pinion went out and GM wound not help pay for it to be fixed cost me 750 dollars to get fixed. Just recently changed my oil and noticed a white milky substance that came out of the oil pan first. Just checked the oil yesterday and noticed the same substance on the dip stick which wound b coolant in my oil. I hope GM will help.

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  2003 Impala - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Nicholas - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Nice performing & styling, Superbr job well done. The suspension is awful, you can feel every expansion joint in the road. throttle pedal too soft. The contour of the seat was designed for a 54" hunch back, very poor for a person 6 1" with good posture. Soften the suspension and flatten the seats and it would be a very comfortable vehicle.

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  Stepped up to the LS - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By tm2323 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive been driving the Impala base model for the past year as a company car. My company is yanking the company car plan and is now paying us for mileage. I loved the size and space of the base model. So, I went out today and bought a 2003 LS (1sc) fully loaded. Cant wait to get it home. Looking forward to the extra power of the 3.8 and the upgraded sound system, along with heated seats this winter.

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  A car I can appreciate - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By JoyceBob - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I think my next car will be a Corvette because I like the way they look.

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  Better than Gr. Marquis - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Pat Horton - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I rented an Impala and it is head over heels better than my new Grand Marquis. Wish I had know about it sooner.

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  Top-notch - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cjsturk - July 24 - 2:00 am

  I needed the practicality of a truck. When I first drove it around the city everyone stopped to look. Now that I have started adding things to accent the already great looking exterior, my truck gets even more attention. On top of that its a pleasant truck to drive. It handles great and has all the power I need.

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  Ho-Hum - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Murph - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 2001 for about 1.5 years. The looks of the truck are great but it could use refinement in the interior (a lot of cheap plastic next to the leather). Ive had it serviced twice for drivetrain noise during start and stops. They ended up replacing the rear leaf springs and the yoke on the rear-end. It is better but I think the problem is coming back. There are also a lot of little annoying noises and squeeks in the interior, especially when it gets cold. The 5.3L is great but it lacks the git up that I would expect from this engine. Perhaps its the 3.73 gear. I would expect that for the price of the truck that Chevy would take care of the little annoyances.

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  Mr. - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By *** - July 22 - 2:00 am

  This turck is an overall good truck. It has plenty of room to fit my family of 6 with room to spare. Very quiet on the road and a smooth ride. The radio is great too. A real powerful towing truck for a half ton, i pull a 32 camping trailer that is well over 8000lbs and the truck handles it pretty well.

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  Glad to be Back! - 2014 Chevrolet Impala Limited
  By Armando De Santiago - July 18 - 8:34 pm

  I recently purchased my 2014 Impala LT Limited, and I tell you what, it is more forgivable then the 2007 Saturn Aura XR that I traded in. With children, a big sedan is a must. First and foremost, the ride is a ton more forgivable. As the bumps and cracks in the road come and go, the suspension absorbs them with ease. The fuel economy is much more realistic compared to the Saturn. The V6 in this car has the grunt when needed, but also returns an enjoyable silence when cruising on the highways. I can thank Chevy for making the LT suspension soft, but the FE2 package is not really rewarding when needing to either make emergency turns or when sweeping in the back roads. A cheap and easy modification from what I have read is taking the FE3 suspension from the LTZ, still a compliant ride, but also gives you that much wanted feeling of stability on the turns.