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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  Love this car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By randydriver - April 20 - 2:13 am

  I just love this car I have had it a month and a half. It was the last 2004 on the lot and it had a 5-speed. I have averaged about 29 mpg around town and 38-40 on out of town trips. I like the quirky style and the cavernous interior.

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  Keeping My Fingers Crossed............ - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 2nd Tahoe - April 19 - 8:44 pm

  I used to own a 1998 Tahoe that I lovingly called the White Devil - anything that could go wrong with it mechanically, did. Regardless, I obviously liked the features enough to buy a 2002. I had an initial scare with less than 5k miles when the transmission went out (Ill let this one slide), but they gave me a loaner and fixed it in no time. 55K miles later its great! While I have had some problems with the climate control, there have been no more problems with mechanical reliability, all of the accessories are holding together, and the paint quality is outstanding. I plan to keep this car for another 100k miles, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the reliability continues.....

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  Super Truck - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By bobz2 - April 19 - 5:13 pm

  Got rid of a new T-Bird and Silverado Lt. This car/truck (A Corvette with a big trunk)is three in one. Sports car,truck, convertible. A real blast to drive, comfortable, fast, safe and useful. I havent been able to think of ways to personalize or improve other than needing some more interior storage. I love this truck.

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  Great Economy Car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Dustin - April 19 - 1:35 pm

  This car is a great car for someone who does lots of driving. I have already put about 17,000 miles on mine in 6 months time with no problems, just general service checks. The drivers conditions could be better. It took a while to get used to foot placement for best comfort. The trunk is extra roomy, as is the interior. I bought the bottom line model for a little over $6000, great buy! My only small complaint is my max MPG has been 35, and that was in excellent conditions. Average is more like 31- 33.

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  Chevy has regained the throne - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ksliger - April 19 - 2:00 am

  This design has fit in perfectly with my families needs. It seats 5 comfortably with the midgate up yet still has the capability of being used as a full-size pick-up when required. It is a joy to drive and has a superb ride. I was pleasantly suprised when I checked the gas mileage on a trip to Dallas...18.9 mpg. That is fantastic for a truck. The interior is both beautiful and functional.

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  So Far, So GREAT!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By dudleydog - April 19 - 2:00 am

  Well, I picked up a pretty loaded LS a couple of months ago and this car has been everything I expected and more. Roomy and responsive, full of useful features and more. The exterior styling is impressive. The wheels and the spoiler add sportiness to the appearance. Inside, the seats are comfortable and everything is in reach. The RDS radio sounds good and it has a bunch of features as well. Its a very confortable car and ride. The engine is peppy, transmission smooth and mileage so far as been around 21-22 mostly city. For the dollar, its a great value.

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  Mile high High - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By darren hone - April 18 - 2:26 pm

  Chevy nailed it. Drove the other big three imports, they dont come close. Feel like a man driving this car, not a soccer mom. Handles great, rides even better. Excellent style that youll feel good rolling up in, without the pretentious price.

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  The Caddilac of Trucks - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ONYXsilveradoSS - April 16 - 9:06 pm

  This truck rocks. Some minor problems but fixes make the truck better. Chevy de-tuned this one big time and there is performance left to be had...faster. Love this truck, better than a Ford in build quality.

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  Fun to drive - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By joe - April 16 - 3:30 am

  I bought this car on Nov 17th last year, and now have over 36,000 miles on it and have not had any problems at all. I am 61" and a big guy but have plenty of room in the Aveo. Great looking well made car, even though its really a Daewoo!!

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  Its a VOLT - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By gardwi - April 15 - 7:22 am

  Its electric