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:

• 

  Impressed w/First year model! - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Deepdiver - February 12 - 2:00 am

  Great drivability and ride. Have Z71 package and my truck handles and rides better than sisters 2001 2WD. Impressive pwr and fuel economy (5.3L), have over-size mud tires and full guards and Tri-glass shell. Pulls my heavy boat and other trailers with ease! Love the auto-4WD.The only problem I have is that the throttle cable sticks on cold starts, have to tap the gas peddle to get past the sticking, once driving,no sticking. That and 3 factory recalls and 80000 miles on this truck is quite impressive to me. Havent had the difficulties that I read on some of the other reviews, like noisy rear-end clunk, etc.

• 

  First Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By plima - February 12 - 2:00 am

  This has been one of the best cars we have ever purchased. The combination of comfort, quality and value are very hard to beat. it is clear why sales in 2003 were up over 40 percent!

• 

  2004 Chevy Tahoe LT Purchase - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Joe T. Davis Jr. - February 12 - 2:00 am

  I am overall impressed with the performance and value of the vehicle. The vehicle is solid as a rock and is as dependable as ever. I look to have years and years of service of this unit.

• 

  Love by New Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Nathan - February 11 - 8:16 pm

  I am a young married professional that just made my first "new" car purchase in Feb 2009, while upgrading from a small model car. I love this car. It is great to drive, its comfortable in the interior, everything is convenient to get to, the trunk seems huge, and I think the exterior design is amazing. This does not look like a Chevy. After owning a Honda Civic, I told myself Id never buy a domestic car again, until they started building better quality. Well, the Malibu actually answered this maxim before I thought it would. The fuel economy is just okay, but thats also coming from someone that just got out of a 97 Civic that was still getting 31mpg. I 100% recommend the Malibu.

• 

  100K No Problem - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ussery - February 11 - 7:10 pm

  Ive been extremely pleased with the performance of the vehicle, I chose the 5.3 Vortec to handle the 4WD and tow/haul demands. Most of the mileage is due to a 32 mile one way commute. It has seen its share of mountain logging roads, mud bogs, and desert sands. The transfer into 4WD Low is rough, even in the best of circumstance. (Rolling under 5 mph.) Better get into it before you need it. Gas mileage is still at 18~19 MPG, pulled the plugs at 65K, flushed all drivetrain at 95K, and the coolant is next on the list.The velour interior is showing wear and fading-New Mexico sun and heat will eat fabric. The plastics are holding up well, wish the speakers werent crackling. Heart Beat USA!

• 

  Best quality TRUCK in the WORLD.....!!!!!!! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Hayden Stoterau - February 11 - 2:01 pm

  This is an awesome little truck, GREAT for EVERYTHING especially in the snow it slides around corners nice and does great in the mud (NEVER have gotten stuck) Rivers and bridges are not its friend. Parts are extremely cheap.

• 

  My New HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By David - February 11 - 4:00 am

  I purchased my HHR April 10, 2006. I have a metallic blue HHR, and I closed my deal online. I had never heard of this car until my salesman suggested I check it out. I love this car! I elected to get the basic LT with cloth seats and the six speaker system. It comes with a CD player, power everything, and theft system. I didnt need leather seats, so this model was fine. I thank all of you guys for helping me make my decision. I check every review, and I was sold. I didnt realize how nice my car was until I walked my dog one day, and turned back and looked at my car. It is beautiful. For those who compare this to a PT Crusier, can you see? The PT Cruiser is a hearse!!

• 

  My second Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By dasebolka - February 11 - 12:29 am

  I am the Avalanches biggest supporter. This is my second Avalanche purchased in three years. The first Avalanche had an unpleasant encounter with a tree and utility pole. I was able to drive the vehicle home after the accident and had no injuries. The same could not be said of the vehicle. As long as Chevrolet continues to produce the Avalanche, I will continue to purchase them. They are an excellent, safe vehicle for my family of five. The Avalanche gets two thumbs up from this customer.

• 

  My first Impala - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By P Harvey - February 10 - 10:00 am

  Everything so far is great. Only complaint is the constant mailings from GM wanting me to take the car in for replacemnt of an air bag sensor (WHICH WAS DONE AND REPORTED TO GM NUMEROUS TIMES)

• 

  Love at first sight - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By cindyd - February 10 - 6:23 am

  I had to have one. I love everything about this car. I was pretty surprised when I discovered how quiet it is at highway speeds. It has personality and charm, and is a true joy to own. I have a long daily commute, and this car has made it so much better. I actually enjoy it now, well, as much as you can anyway. The car handles great, and has a really smooth ride. I like the fact that it really seems to fit females. The armrest to steering wheel span for example. I feel out of place in pickup trucks that seem to be built just for men.