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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  2008 Chevy Cobalt - Great Value - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Andy - December 8 - 2:50 am

  I chose the 2008 Cobalt LT based on its standard features, fuel economy, and low price. The Cobalt has nice sleek lines and a very simple aesthetic appeal. Its super peppy for a 2.2 liter and has an awesome turning radius. Highway noise is minimal and has a very smooth ride. Im getting 34 MPG highway and about 26 MPG city.

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  1500 Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By hiteq - December 7 - 6:48 pm

  I bought this Suburban w/ the Z71 option for my wife. I believe it has everything except for the Nav System. It is an exceptional truck. We have a little less than 2000 miles in 5 weeks. The ride quality is sound, the power good, and features excellent. This is a VERY nice vehicle. Its comfort levels are excellent, and the kids love it. My teenage son can sit in the 3rd road seat while his little sisted occupy the middle row. He can work on his PC, listen to his music, etc. w/o being bothered. The girls can be in the middle and watch a DVD on the entertainment system (wireless earphones.) Mom and/or Dad can be in the front and listen to CDs or the XM radio (wife loves this feature).

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  The Best Vehicle Out There - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jo - December 7 - 10:00 am

  I thought the Chevrolet Tahoe Z71 edition was one of the most fun vehicles to drive.

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  Quite Satisfied - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By BJ Mahoney - December 7 - 10:00 am

  Replacing Caravan, needed 7 seating,but not all the time.Pro- reviewers talk of leaning in corners,so dont drive like a teenager in a Miata.Drive normal and the ride is great,engine quiet,and the suspension fine.I am hoping to get sticker mileage,and was very careful to buy one that came with the standard axle ratio,as other ratios will get worse mileage. My wife likes the 4 wheel drive,for snowy weather.Hopefully we wont miss the cargo space of the Van.Great standard towing apacity,comes pre-wired.We like this thing,it is the first new Chevrolet we have owned.Our last 2 were Chrysler products.

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  LTZ Rocks!!! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JEP - December 7 - 10:00 am

  So far, so pleased. I came from a Honda---a big difference. Love all the bells and whistles that came with the Trailblazer. I havent had a reason to need or ask for anything more because the LTZ has it ALL.

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  awsome - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By gyl - December 7 - 10:00 am

  runs smooth. A lil loose on the corners.

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  excellent value - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tdk - December 7 - 1:36 am

  We have now had this car for a year 17,000 miles and it has not disappointed. The ride is excellent and the gas mileage for a v-6 w power is great, about 25 in city and 35-38 highway. The 4 cylinder Accord we had in the past never got this kind of mileage and the power was not in the same league as the Malibu. The price is also much less than the imports.

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  Loveit - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dudao90 - December 6 - 6:22 pm

  I bought the car in February and have already had the chance to take it on 3 long road trips. I love it. Power is there when you need it and when you are cruizing on the open road its not uncommon to see the fuel range in the 33-35 mpg. I had an issue with the steering column a couple months after I bought it but they replaced it with no questions and its been fine ever since. Id definitely recommend it to anyone.

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  Good Decision - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Diane - December 6 - 5:58 pm

  My husband and I just bought the car earlier this month but we researched it a lot prior to buying it and test drove many cars before making our decision. So far I am really enjoying it and we are very pleased with it.

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  SS Pickup - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ron - December 6 - 11:33 am

  I cannot find anything wrong with this truck. Everything works and all the fits are tighter than anything Ive seen on a Tundra. Everyday I find more stuff it has and neat litte "toys" that make this a really fun truck. It also is great for towing... I had to pull a trailer back home (1100 miles) the first week I had it and never even knew it was there. Great Truck!