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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  My car is GREAT! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Brandi - April 12 - 5:18 pm

  I love my new car! I bought it brand new, and its wonderful! I really needed a reliable car to get me back and forth to work and college, and the Cavalier I bought exceeds my expectations. The price was great as well!

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  Awesome! - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Patricia Evans - April 12 - 4:49 pm

  AWESOME! We have had our Uplander for 2 weeks now and absolutely love it! Roomy and well thought out design. I cant think of much more I would need in a vehicle, its more like driving a family room with the DVD and stereo system. We had a Venture prior to this and we are delighted with the standard items that this vehicle has to offer and the drivability is much better due to the wider wheel base. I do wish that it would have a little better gas milage with the recent gas price increases!

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  Great first vehicle - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By nlv007 - April 11 - 6:05 pm

  This was my first vehicle, and I have not been dissapointed one bit! Interior is nicely designed, it does great in the snow, and it has been very reliable. The only major repair Ive had to make is replacing the gas tank after it rotted out from too many Ohio winters. My Blazer does everything I want, and takes me everywhere I need to go.

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  2004 Chevrolet Impala Base Sedan - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By G Simpson - April 11 - 12:50 pm

  The Impala is a modern stylish sedan with plenty of passenger room, trunk space, and a responsive engine that accelerates when you need it, yet gets excellent gas mileage! I love my Impala and am thinking about trading my other car for another Impala.

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  Love It! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Denise R - April 10 - 2:28 pm

  I absolutely LOVE my 2003 Trailblazer! It gives me more room than a car, yet still gives me the room of a pickup. On long trips, we can lay down one of the back seats and BINGO! Just enough room for one person to lay down and sleep while the other is driving. If we pull over, we lay down both seats and have plenty of room for both of us to have a quick nap. With the luggage rack on top, there is plenty of room for everything from groceries to football equipment, to sleeping bags and pillows. Our dog especially loves when we leave both seats down, because he has a mini playground when we travel. Smooth riding and great gas mileage for our hard earned money. Thanks Chevy!

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  Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Vince - April 10 - 12:56 am

  A little pricy even on base models. Tow package should be installed on all models standard. A little taller than regular trucks is a plus.

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  06 Maxx LT - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dave71 - April 10 - 12:23 am

  Just bought the Maxx last week, but loving it so far. Had a 2003 Malibu, and this car is way beyond the previous generation, feels like its built better. Looked at Impalas, but really wanted something smaller and the Maxx was right up my alley. Love the power. Rides and handles great, although the previous owner put performance tires on it, so Im not sure if I will keep them. Love the ABS and traction control being standard equipment. The interior space amazes me. Was looking to buy a bike rack for my car, and this eliminates the need, in fact could fit 2 bikes in it. Overall, very pleased with the purchase so far.

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  Gotta love it! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Maggie - April 9 - 12:23 pm

  Did a lot of research on crossovers before deciding on the Equinox. Love the ride, features, love the comfort, the room is sufficient for my family of 5 (that includes my dog). Great car and great value. Looks really good, too. I really love it. Ive had it for about a month and it has 2K miles on it so far. In eco mode on the highway, I see the gas mileage really work in my favor. Helps that I can see how many miles I have left before I run out of gas! No more minivan for me.

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  Excellent Value!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rtoumbs - April 8 - 10:00 am

  This is the 3rd Cavalier I have purchased in the last seven years. I have spent almost nothing on maintenance. I totaled the first one in a head on collision and walked away without a scratch. The 2nd one is now being driven by my 15 year old son and I just bought a new 2004 LS Sedan. None of the compacts I looked at came close with regards to engine power, standard features, and price. I will hold on to this Cavalier until they bring back the model name in 2016 or whenever Chevy comes to their senses. This car makes the daily-recalled Ford Focus look like a joke!!!

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  04 impala ss - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By coolestcatintownyo - April 8 - 10:00 am

  coolest car ever, except for the lack of a v8 and convertibility