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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  Corvette the Dream Machine - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Carol - May 24 - 11:00 pm

  The best Corvette yet....I previously owned a 1987 and was sad when I had to turn it in on my new 2005. The sadness soon disappeared when I set foot on that accelerator pedal and took to the road... a sports car with all the new electronic features along with the handling and performance which has always been Corvettes trademark. We are a team...heads turn when we drive along that road of dreams.

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  Love my Impala - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Harlan Epps - May 24 - 6:03 pm

  My wife and I have been very pleased with the performance of this car. We love the style and color. We are pleased with the safety features and anti-theft. We have not had any major problems with the mechanics or physical condition. Very comfortable on trips and we find it to be very economical. Do not plan to get rid of it any time soon.

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  Bought New, still great - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike - May 24 - 4:47 pm

  I highly recommend this vehicle. The performance is outstanding and the vehicle is extremely comfortable. We bought a Honda Pilot as a second car and it fell way short of the Tahoe. The gas mileage isnt great, but no one should really expect great gas mileage from a vehicle of this size.

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  What a riot. - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Wingnuts - May 24 - 2:45 pm

  I traded in an F-150 FX4 for this ride and love every second of it! Talk about a fun drive, but if you are an introvert youll hate it because everybody wants to talk to you about it. Top down is the absolute best especially @60mph or less. The only issue Ive had is cavitating with the windows down and the top up over 40mph. Im glad I waited on it though as the dealer knocked off $15k from the sticker.

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  GM did it again - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Tyler - May 24 - 6:43 am

  What can I say..GM did it again. This is a huge upgrade from the Cavalier. I was a big fan of the Cavalier z-24 and im a bigger fan of the Cobalt. I got the upgraded sound system with ten inch sub. Wow good job. I never had a white car but this Cobalt looked great in white.The handling is great. The all black interior is very smooth. Great on gas. I drive great distances to work and back...all i can say is wow. The car has the needed boost to get past those slow drivers with no problem. Great bang for the buck!

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  02 ZR2 - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Steve - May 24 - 3:21 am

  I bought my Tracker ZR2 to tow behind our motorhome. Setup for towing four down is a breeze. Transmission in park - Transfer in neutral - key on access and go. Tow brackets are available off the shelf and are simple DIY bolt on. The bracket receivers pass through the grill without mods and when the hitch assembly is off they are next to invisible. I dont know its behind my diesel pusher when towing. I love its size. I can make a parking spot most anywhere. Its manueverable and fun to drive.

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  Its my wifes, but I want one too! - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By KennyMac - May 23 - 12:23 am

  We really like our new Chevrolet uplander. The interior layout is very luxurious and the electronics and options offered are incredible. The car rides higher than our old Passat, giving the kids (twins!) a grand view, which previously they did not have. We think the van looks upscale, and the white one has darkly tinted windows which makes it stand out. They is plenty of room for 6 adults or 7 if theyre friendly. Rides great, great price, looks great. The XM radio and 6-disc CD and DVD player will keep everyone entertained. Bye Bye Honda Odd (you look stodgy by comparison), and Bye Bye Sienna (cheap plastic layout), and Bye Bye Town and Country with those fancy folding lawn chair seats.

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  Practical but not dull - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Joe Buckman - May 22 - 2:43 pm

  very good truck

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  buying a 2012 chevy traverse in 2017 - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By billie - May 21 - 11:26 am

  it is a suv

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  Highly Satisfied - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By CHARLES - May 21 - 8:00 am

  Right after we purchased the HHR we took it on a trip to Ft. Wayne, IN. About a 3500 mile round trip and was so pleased with the performance and comfort of the vehicle that we couldnt believe that it was a compact. We have not had one problem with this HHR as of yet