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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  yep - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cplsaccoccio - April 8 - 10:00 am

  very strong, comfortable truck, only complaint inside door handles in odd spot

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  Excellent Family Value - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Kevin - April 7 - 10:58 am

  This has to be the best Family value out there. It has everything we need. Gas mileage is bad but the rest of the truck makes up for that. Most importantly is the safety and comfort. I have the 8.1L engine and the truck feels like a race car. I tow a camper and a boat so the engine is a plus. Would have been a good idea to put a diesel in it.

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  Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By John Quellos - April 7 - 1:44 am

  I bought my Avalanche because I liked its looks. The power is definitly there when you need it and the comfort level is up with the best. I love the control I have when driving on the old dirt roads where I live. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who asks.

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  An Excellent Car and An Excellent Value - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By West Coast Pat - April 7 - 1:12 am

  My wife and I bought our 2004 Chevrolet Impala LS on the last day of 2004 and weve been extremely pleased with our purchase. Our other car is a Toyota Corolla so we visited the Chevy dealership with reservations but were quite impressed with the build quality we saw there. Our car has perfectly-aligned, narrow panel gaps, high-quality materials and a very comfortable interior. The 3.8 liter V6 is quiet and strong and provides great gas mileage. My wife loves the heated seats. No other car offers so many features and value for your car-buying dollar and the Camry and Accord cant even come close. You pay for the name with those cars and you pay for a great car with the Impala.

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  Dream Car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By John - April 6 - 11:27 pm

  Unbelievable fun. The 2004 Corvette convertible is an uncompromising combination of power, handling, comfort, sound, and looks. The build quality is exceptional surpassing any Japanese or European model. This car is built for speed and handling but there is an added bonus of unquestionable good looks. There is a great deal of thought in this last version of the C5 with minor improvements throughout. You cant buy a better car for the money. Unlike other cars in its class the corvette can be used as a daily driver. The ride quality with the selective magnetic ride control makes a big difference over earlier models. The interior is basic sports car and it should be! Its a Corvette.

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  Best Auto Ive Had - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By magzum - April 6 - 5:58 pm

  I went from a Chevy Venture to the Uplander.....trust me they are not the same. The Uplander is so much nicer and drives better. I highly recommend that if you are in the market for a mini-van, check out the Chevy Uplander and you wont be disappointed.

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  Love it ! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Teresa - April 6 - 11:28 am

  I bought the Avalanche used with 12,000 miles in excellent condition and have not been dissapointed a bit. It does not get great gas mileage but I have driven a sport utility in the past, and it is about the same. The comfort of the ride and the usefullness of the Avalanche has made me very satisfied.

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  1995 K1500 Chevy Suburban XL - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Tom T - April 5 - 10:37 pm

  I will buy from a GM dealer next time versus private party. The money I saved from buying from an individual versus the dealer was what I had to pay for repairs/maintence. This full size SUV provides the cargo and passenger space while providing towing capability. The space and towing beats the Fords.

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  Good for the Money - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By purtycoolguy - April 5 - 12:17 pm

  Bought a lease return in its first year and was my first "American" vehicle purchase in over twenty years. Loving the value I got from paying 1/2 the price for a new one and also the continued trouble free operation. Four wheel drive has been more than handy in three blizzard occasions. The top comes off easily enough and gives you a wide open feel with big windows for full visibility.

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  Love my 94 Cavalier - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rlenser - April 4 - 2:08 pm

  Have had the car 11 yrs now, and will regular maintenance, it has been worth every penny. Surprisingly, we were considering selling it (its the bright shiny red rally sport coupe) and its kept higher value (vs initial price) than our other vehicles! Love my Chevy!