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:

• 

  Very Pleased - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Colorado76 - June 15 - 7:34 pm

  I purchased a 2008 Colorado 2wd regular cab 4 cyl. 5 speed about two months ago. It is Victory Red with fog lights, aluminum wheels, and monochromatic front and rear bumpers. So far, I am very pleased with this truck. The 4 cyl 5 speed combo is fun to drive and has plenty of power even with the a/c on. I am getting 26-27 mpg on the highway and about 21 in the city. Also, the 4 cyl. is fairly quiet and idles smoothly compared to other 4 cyl. engines I have owned or have ridden in. After nearly 2,000 miles, the only changes I would make are: a little more lumbar support in the seats with reclining seatbacks on the models with the LS trim. As far as ride, its much quieter than my 04 Silverado

• 

  A Home Run - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cforider - June 15 - 2:48 pm

  I got lucky a month ago and found a 10,000 mile used 2010 black Silverado LTZ with every option at less than market price. My 1998 4Runner was still running good, but not enough guts to pull my boat. This is the truck ive always wanted and couldnt be more happy with all of the features. The 4Runner consistently (without boat) got 18 mpg, now I get 15-18 for the tank. The ride is awesome, the heated seats are the envy of my wife, and the look is the best on the market in my opinion. Yes, Id do it again. Have not pulled the boat yet, but have no doubt it will do just fine. I plan on keeping this one around for a while. Ive owned Fords before, but probably not again after this one.

• 

  My new car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kristine - June 15 - 12:04 pm

  Bought this car because I read a lot of positive reviews on it. Then the test drive came and I loved it. I used to drive a 1995 Jeep Cherokee Laredo but I was a victim in a car crash and it was taken away from me. So safety was my key concern and let me tell you, I feel safe in this car!

• 

  Nice car with lots of "extras" but ... - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By juzt-me - June 15 - 10:47 am

  The 2007 has lost of neat extras and they are mostly driver enhancements such as direction, mpg avg, mpg instant, temp outside, etc. I will be honest and say that I like the interior lay-out of my old 2003 Impala much better and this car seems smaller inside. But, I do like the steering wheel in the 2007 over the 2003 model, more comfy on the hands. The trunk is definitely smaller and does not have the back seat pull downs that allow access to the trunk or longer storage for those items that just dont quite fit in the trunk. The exterior of the 2007 is more sleek and sporty but I really like the look of my old 2003 better. The car is still amazing on mileage as I generally avg 30+ mpg.

• 

  Dont Drive It Unless You Want To Buy It - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By natron - June 14 - 11:10 pm

  This car is pretty much the whole package. It has power, looks, sophistication, and a good list of features. Gas mileage is not exactly close to what the sticker says but I am hoping that buyers would anticipate that since the gas pedal is so enticing. I strongly suggest the SS to anyone who has the need for a large car but still wants to DRIVE! I can pretty much guarantee that the power and the thrill will make up for the lack of options. Some features that arent mentioned... When you tap the blinker, it lights three times for a lane change and also, the OnStar phone voice recognition is immensely better. Depending on what you are driving now, the seats may seem flat and unsupportive.

• 

  Basic transportation - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Michael Kinney - June 14 - 4:06 pm

  Three years we have been driving this car. Its is hard to hold on the freeway with any kind of side wind. I can say that is is basic tranportation. Mileage is nothing to speak of. I wished I still had my Metro. It was a better car.

• 

  Seems great so far - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sdencar - June 14 - 3:13 pm

  Great car after only 2 days. Im 63" and this is the only car in the price class that I can comfortably fit in. Merges onto the highway very well, even from uphill on ramps. Very little room for rear seat passengers. Cheap plastics inside, but you get what you pay for in that area. I havent ridden in the passenger seat, but my 510" girlfriend said its plenty comfortable.

• 

  Love it! - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By kelly08 - June 14 - 10:23 am

  I absolutely love this car. Even though it is a V6 they have a lot of power! Its fun to drive and always turns heads. Its never had any problems and gets an average 24mpg. I would recommend this car to anyone!

• 

  Love My Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jenn - June 14 - 10:12 am

  I got my Impala in early 2006. I was stopped at red lights, car washes, and everywhere else by people complimenting my nice car. It is the best car I have ever driven. The only negative that I can report is that the tire monitoring system is extremely sensitive about the tire pressure being just right. The only option that the car doesnt have is automatic climate control. Other than that, it is the best car. When my lease is up, I plan on getting another one!

• 

  A lot of truck for the money - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Kyle Rodrigue - June 14 - 10:00 am

  Duramax diesel is worth the option price!