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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  I love this Car! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By BQuicksilver - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Its perfect, thats all I can say!

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  1998 malibu LS - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Anthony DOliveira - December 10 - 10:50 pm

  car rides well expecially around curves.has very good passing power,also,shifts gears smoothley.Ive rented taureses and sables, this car out performs them by far,in comfort,speed, and its great looks

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  Dads new truck ! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Tom Morin - December 10 - 1:18 pm

  Best crossover truck on the market for all weather use. Great power for towing, from small boats to six-place snowmobile trailers.

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  PURE FUN - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Don - December 10 - 5:36 am

  Absolute thrill to drive. The quality is outstanding. Chevrolet has finally developed a Corvette that looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. It is easier to get in/out and more comfortable as a daily driver than previous models. Highly recommend it. The power is inspiring!

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  Great Truck, Terrible MPG - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Tim - December 9 - 9:56 am

  I too am expericing the terrible mileage. 12 in city, 17 on HWY, V-6. Chevy must have been testing this truck downhill when posting the MPG. Great to drive and up high. Quiet, great audio sound, OnStar is a first for me and love it.

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  Great Car for the Money! - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Josh - December 8 - 8:17 pm

  We bought this car new in 94, it has been a great car but recently got rid of it to get a two door. We put 98K great miles on it. We had minor repiars thoughout the life on the car. We had to replace the water pump which was something that always goes wrong with GM cars, nothing new, great ride, great handling, good gas mileage, pants is excellent ours was torch red, car held up great, not a dot or rust, 3.1 Liter engine is great. Never buy a GM 3.4 Liter engine sucked on this car.

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  Great SUV! - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By cf - December 8 - 6:33 pm

  Have put over 140,000 miles on this SUV and it is going strong. Have had no major issues mechanically. Very dependable and functional.

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  Chevy Aveo Good on Gas Good For Life - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jessica - December 8 - 3:23 pm

  I currently own a Chevy Aveo. The gas usage is excellent. Not to mention the incredible steering. Looks are deceiving, the Chevy Aveo looks small from the outside but on the inside its everything but. The interior is huge, spacious and best of all,comfy.

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  My 2005 Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dammitjim1 - December 8 - 11:08 am

  I have always admired the look of the Z71 Tahoe, particularly in black. IMO, no Tahoe and not many other SUVs look better than this. When I was notified by GMAC that I could "Pull Ahead" 9 months early on my 02 Trailblazer lease, and they gave me some other incentives as well,I jumped at the chance. The comfort, ride and handling of the Z71 is outstanding - equal to or better than any car Ive ever driven. At 75 MPH, the ride is smooth and quiet, with the engine positively loafing at less than 2K RPM I am very pleased after nearly 1 month of ownership. If the reliability holds up over the 48 month Smartbuy, Ill probably be driving a new Tahoe off the lot at Bast Chevy in 2008

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  Need to list options - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Thomas sheridan - December 8 - 4:59 am

  Its a Lt1 with all wheel drive has auto sunroof and panoromaic rear sunroof