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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  Little Red Cav - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kyle Carpenter - January 2 - 12:28 am

  I LOVE THIS CAR!!! its simple, and worth every dime I payed. I bought it with 3 miles on it now I have 32,000 miles. And Ive enjoyed every mile. I drove it from Florida to Northern Indiana to Maryland, Now i have it in Hawaii. I love the sporty look.

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  Little Red Cav - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kyle Carpenter - January 2 - 12:12 am

  I love my little red cavelier too bad I need to sell it. I have a 2yr old... We did have the car for the whole infant stage and it was still great.

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  Love Thus Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By FloridaMan - January 1 - 10:28 pm

  VERY smooth ride. INCREDIBLE price. Spacious rear seating. One of the best values for the money. I looked at many different vehicles, but dollar for dollar this one was the best.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JR - January 1 - 9:30 pm

  This Z71 is our first Suburban and everything has been fantastic. 23K miles so far and not a single problem! We tow a large boat and its up to the task. Gas mileage is same as my 1995 Grand Cherokee 6cyl (combined 13.5 mpg), but highway is around 18- 19. No complaints at all - its a first class ride.

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  Nice car, lots of goodies for the money - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By AlpacaSteve - January 1 - 9:23 pm

  We have the LT, but even the LS has lots of goodies for the price. Features not even mentioned include speed sensitive windshield wipers, traction control included if you get the ABS brakes (option), nicely tinted windows, and a drivers information display on the speedo.

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  nice car for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By douglas lindstrand - January 1 - 8:53 pm

  I only had this car for a few weeks but I can tell its a solid little car for the money. IT handles very well and goes thru snow and slush in a sure footed manner. Nice sound system and I just think its a winner. I paid less than 9,000 dollars for it excluding taxes and it is well equiped with auto, cruise, air, and a CD player-am-fm radio. Best buy I ever made.

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  Love it! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dave - January 1 - 1:16 pm

  I have over 52,000 miles on my 2002 Z71 4x4 Avalanche, I also tow a 6,000 lb tralier on camping trips. Never have had a problem since Ive owned it, not even a burned out bulb. I change the oil & filter every 3,000 miles. Chevy got this one right! Best SUV/truck on the road, rides like my Town car. Off road is awesome too.

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  Better than Highlander or Pilot - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By car01 - January 1 - 12:53 am

  Looked at Highlander and Pilot and the Traverse beats both hands down. Has a very quiet and smooth ride. Exterior styling is superb. Overall build quality is very impressive. Dont assume Japanese competitors in the large midsize SUV segment are better, there not. The vehicle shows that GM can produce a world class vehicle for a reasonable cost.

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  Avalanche "the biz - nizz" - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By madspeakerman - December 31 - 2:32 pm

  functionability, biggest trunk in the business, converts into a truck when needed & still has that soft car ride. comfort, mines loaded, a friend of mine has the H2 which has the same steering wheel controls, dash and stereo, door controls (seat heaters and foot adjustments) but you just dont sit at the same angle as the avalanche or suburban H2 more upright and stiff. In the nine monthes ive owned my 04 ive put 25k on it from the beach to the snow. "had the tranny replaced at 20k, warranty covered, bought extended 48 mon. 80k". Around town & local L.A. highways its like youre to only be in this urban cruiser, feeling safe due to size and able to see over traffic, AWSOME! & 14.3mpg avg.

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  So Far So Good! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Big Dog - December 31 - 1:40 pm

  Purchased as an "always wish I had one" car and ours was on the lot with all the goodies. Nav System could be a little easier to use but once you get the hang of it, its great. DVD system too and its been a suprise how often we use it with an 11 yr old. Gas mileage about what we thought, Very easy to drive and comfort is great. Have had electonics issues with the memory seats but handled well by the dealer. Very good trailer tow ability too, suspension is great.