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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  So Far So Good Really Impressed - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Anonymous - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Have been a F150 Lariet Truck fan for over 20yrs. Commute over 100 miles per day & was tired of waisting $$ on fuel. Cruze was 1st car I test drove & loved the leg room. Seat fits great, controls etc are nice.Ride is quiet & nice. Live in northern MN so was not sure of giving up 4WD for front wheel but so far so good. Handles great. Very impressed with my avg 38MPG on the highway. Over double what my truck was getting. Plan to use my savings for extra trip to the Caribbean.

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  Insane performance - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jim - May 11 - 11:24 pm

  I had been looking for one of these cars for about a year, since I was very picky. I have t-tops, 6-speed manual, leather, Monsoon audio... the works. I have done a few mods including a full header back exhaust with a flowmaster cat-back, and a K&N intake as well as a B&M short shifter. I also installed iRotors cross-drilled and slotted rotors with hawk pads. It also has the handling package. This car is a blast to drive, but it can be a tame cruiser if you want... I never want it to be a tame cruiser though. It has tons of go and plenty of whoa thanks to the new brakes. The stock intake and exhaust are very restrictive, so if you modify, go after this first.

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  Well worth buying - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By 2004 Venture - May 11 - 1:30 am

  Overall, its well worth its money. That same day I went into the Toyota dealer and walked out and Im glad I did and right into the Chevy dealership. Good on fuel, handles well, lots of space and the kids loved the DVD player.

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  This Car Rocks - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By iglazzman - May 10 - 7:16 am

  Only problem has been air pressure with the tires. This car is the best of both worlds. FWD for the snow living in the northeast but a real sports car feel. One word, awesome.

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  2013 LT 1500 crew - 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ndoutdoors - May 10 - 4:58 am

  I have owned over 60 vehicles in my life. This is my second new GM Truck, first was a 2005. I looked at toyota as i drove a tacoma before and loved it but needed bigger. Not impressed. Then Ford, nice truck, but in order to get a decent looking dash you were looking at 40K. I walked away with a 2013 for 31k. Sticker was 43K. Very happy so far. Best value in the segment.

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  Excellent Car!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tracy - May 10 - 2:30 am

  I love my Malibu. Its roomy. Great gas mileage. It has power. Great turn radius. Large trunk. Beautiful interior.

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  Great Deal - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Joe P. - May 10 - 1:10 am

  Purchased the car just before Thanksgiving to replace the old one that was past its time (the rust finally got to it). Have no complaints or problems with the car. Been getting an average of 25 mpg in the city and on the longer drives right around 29, although Ill admit Im a a bit of a leadfoot. Im very pleased with my purchase.

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  Sporty Impala - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By wfujioka - May 9 - 7:04 pm

  I purchased the Sports Appearance package and this is the best car that I have bought so far, it has a lot of pep & go and is exceptional on the road. The steering is a little loose. I am currently getting 27-28 miles per gallon. Looking forward to the 2006 edition. That is when my wife will exchange her 2002 Monte Carlo for another Impala.

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  Great little car not made anymore - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By timyak - May 9 - 4:26 pm

  I bought this car from a wholesaler and it only had 5K miles on it. Not many features though. Only Automatic with AC and a radio. Still had nubbies on tires. Drives great and is more peppy than my 1997 Prizm. Get 30 MPG in city and 36 highway. I love Prizms even more now that gas is over $2 a gallon. Im on the prowl for another Prizm for my daughter.

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  SS Rules - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Rabos4672 - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This is the first SS I have purchased since 1988. I love the new style and lucked out on getting a new Jeff Gordon edition even though the 04,s were out. I previously had a pontiac Grand Prix GT, which I enjoyed, but they no longer make in a 2 door, so I returned to Chevy