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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  Conversion Van - 2004 Chevrolet Express
  By jhillen - April 1 - 5:46 pm

  Good solid vehicle for a family. Good value when compared to a Suburban. Even with 4.3L V6, it has good perfomance. Available V8 would probably be better. Locking rear axle makes winter driving very doable. Optional 4 wheel disk brakes are welcome addition to stop this 5300lb truck.

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  Great Car! - 1993 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Robert Marks - April 1 - 2:01 pm

  We have not had this car a year and it has required almost no repairs - just tires,which you will burn up if you drive without the stability control and are always hammering the gas. For the money this is an excellent car and a true race car. This car is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever driven. Gas mileage is excellent for such power. The transmission is smooth. Seats are a bit stiff and the ride is much like that of a go-kart, But this car is FAST and the ride is tight. It is very hard to get in and out of. Overall a great reliable car and I have no complaints. The passive remote keyless entry is a super feature and was new this year.

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  excellent car for a reasonable cost - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By doug lindstrand - April 1 - 1:46 pm

  Chevy had a 5000 dollar rebate so I bought this car for under 10,000 dollars out the door tax included. It is very well equiped too. It is fun to drive, excellent power, and it has a quality feel to it. Im completely satisified and feel this car as as good as any import in this class.

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  2007 tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By alan - April 1 - 3:26 am

  Gorgeous vehicle thats fun to drive. Solid,smooth ride. Easy in and out with power tailgate, and power fold middle bucket seats.

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  Fun Car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Fun car - March 31 - 11:48 pm

  I have gotten great gas mileage out of this vehicle (up to 34mpg highway). It is a fun, sporty car with a little more kick to it than the average Cavalier. It is a great car for those that are single or have no kids (being a 2 door and a compact back seat would probably be a little bit of a hassle with carseats although the capability is there). This is a great, stylish, dependable car for those that want something fun to drive.

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  2005 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Gale Camuso - March 31 - 11:41 pm

  I am very happy with my purchase. This is the 4th Cavalier I have purchased. It helped to have a large rebate on it. Its very sporty (I have been stopped and told its a nice looking car - very sporty) It came with the mp3 player and satellite system and I am very happy with that as well. Drives very smooth and quiet. I am sorry to hear this is the last year that Chevy is making Cavaliers. I will have to figure out what kind of car is will be buying in 4 years from now. The interior looks like the previous Cavalier RS 1998 I had.

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  Truck or SUV? ( trukuv ) - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By james - March 31 - 5:46 pm

  Fun to drive with exceptional comfort and smoothness. Decent fuel consumption for its size. A lot more versatile than a standard truck. Bed is way more spacious than given credit for.

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  Driving till the wheels fall off - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Scottyd - March 31 - 12:14 pm

  I now have 206,000 miles on my Cavalier and it is still running like a champ! I still get roughly 33 mpg and I dont ever use any oil. The only major repairs were that I replaced the front brakes and rotors twice, and both front bearings twice, but it has never let me down. Great Car!

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  Love this truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bchamba - March 31 - 2:00 am

  This is the nicest riding auto I have ever owned. I have had a yukon, silverado, t100, and a Landcruiser, and I have to say this is the best riding and to me anyway, best looking truck ever. I got mine with all the bells and whistles, and I have had great luck with it so far.

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  Z71 rocks - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cramer99 - March 31 - 2:00 am

  I love the truck it make long drives short.