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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  Avalanche to Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By dennis headrick - June 5 - 12:33 am

  Good handling, good pep, good brakes, very versatile. Good gas mileage. Traded an Avalanche truck for the Maxx. Was tired of 11 mpg in city. If this car is as reliable as my Avalanche truck I will be very satisfied!

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  My Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ctskirm - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Poor audio system, lots of road and engine noise. I am going to add insulation to lessen noise.

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  Is what it is - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By John - June 3 - 1:56 pm

  Low resale value even tho great car

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  2008 Silverado 1500 - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Keith - June 2 - 11:06 pm

  Several annoying features that detract from an otherwise solid design. (1) Steering wheel too far forward. You really have to slide forward to get a comfortable position thereby placing your knees very close to the lower dash. (2) No locking fuel filler door. (3) No grab handle for the driver. GM uses the weak excuse that a wiring harness goes up the driver side pillar. (4) Poor design lower dash trim panel (closest to your knees) that protudes rearward instead of forward further reducing leg room. (5) Poor radio control placement. The most used knob, the one to change stations is on the far right. This makes a long reach. Should have been on the left of the radio.

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  GO CHEVY - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By HAROLD USRY - June 1 - 10:00 am

  THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CHEVY P/U I HAVE OWNED. IT IS MY EIGHT. PRIOR TO THAT I HAVE OWNED THREE FORDS. THERE IS REALLY NO COMPARISON. I HAVE NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD WHY CONSUMERS REPORT ALWAYS GIVES THE JAPANESE VEHICLES GOOD RATINGS, "MILES" AHEAD OF FORD OR CHEVY, AND DONT EVEN MENTION POOR DODGE. PERHAPS OWNERSHIP HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT?

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  Good for the price - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Misc - May 30 - 3:00 pm

  This is a car you can enjoy not only driving but playing with as well. Plenty of features and solid performance. Manufacturing quality is much lower compared to competitors, specially on trim and metal sheet finish. "You get what you pay for" Hope that Impala will not have any major mechanical failure.

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  99 Chevy - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cb - May 29 - 6:33 am

  Only regular minor problems - replaced water pump, power steering pump, master cylinder, first brake job at 130,000 miles. Only negative was broke a small plastic piece in both power window drives (regular wear and tar) and the way they are built had to replace the entire motor which was costly.

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  Ticket me red - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By miller1 - May 28 - 12:36 pm

  Like we all say, fun to drive, great looks, great price. Good choice. Was pulled over once already with 800 miles on it (warning).

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  TOO SOON TO TELL - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By NFREITAS - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Safety, style and fuel economy important as I was giving up my Suburban. This car rides smoother than my bosses 70m Mercedes and outside of having a GPS has close to the same anmenities. Took on trip to hills 2nd day, handled with ease, husband rode in the back and watched a DVD and said that he was never more comfortable. I can assure you the warning information works. Power Steering warning came on 2nd day-its in the shop being replaced. Service said they have had a lot of recent 2004 GMCs in for this. Also, CD player got stuck for 2 days-old cds

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  So Far So Good - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By gmloyal - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Traded my 2001 s 10 in on this truck. No problems with the pricing, just a 5 hour ordeal on the trade in value. The truck is much improved over the s 10 but still aint a silveraldo, but its more afforadable. I notice a lot of heads turning as im driving it. it is a real looker. The seat material is a downgrade from the s10 but adaquate.