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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  Excellent Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Brooks, M. - November 8 - 11:24 am

  I have had my Impala for four months and I think it is a very fun and reliable car, so far. It is so comfortable. My family loves it, especially my son. It is great on gas and handles well. I look forward to the future with my car.

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  Love this car! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By roxcat - November 8 - 8:23 am

  I had a 2000 Malibu and liked it. But let me tell you, this car is so much nicer. I love the power, the quietness (I swear you cant even tell it is running if you are sitting still!) The interior is beautiful, I have the 2 tone gray, microfiber/leather. The heated seats are great too. I love all the lights inside when you drive at night. It is luxurious!

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  MY LAST TRUCK - 2003 Chevrolet SSR
  By ALLLEN BROWN - November 7 - 8:47 pm

  IVE DRIVEN A TRUCK FOR 40 YEARS AND THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING AND SHARPEST AND ATTENTION GETTING TRUCK EVER. IVE HAD PEOPLE TAKE PICTURES, FOLLOW ME HOME AND ASK ME TO SHOW THEM HOW EVERY THING WORKS. I LOVE IT.

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  cool truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By goalloutK37 - November 7 - 7:52 pm

  looks really sexy day and night and has a great mean front end look.

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  Everything PERFECT--but - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By John Sailer - November 7 - 6:46 pm

  After one year of driving the 04 Z71 Tahoe, I find thet this SUV is everything I ever expected and wished for. From the paint job and interior to the engine and drive train the QUALITY is obvious. I thouroughly enjoy driving this vehicle and would definitely buy the same model again. General Motors has built this one with superior design and workmanship.

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  stinco - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By stinco - November 7 - 4:14 pm

  excellent value--american built by an american owned car company--cargo space superior--handles very well.

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  Avalanche For President - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Striker - November 7 - 2:24 pm

  I just recently purchased a Chevy Avalanche. I have wanted one since I laid eyes on one for the first time. I finally was able t obuy one, so of course I got the exact one that I wanted....a Dark Blue Metallic, loaded with everything but a DVD System. I get lots of looks with it, and everyone that gets in it loves it. I have shown people the Avalanche, and most have never actually been inside one, or dont know what it does, with the drop down "midgate" which turns it into a pickup. I am a SCUBA Diver, so the Avalanche is the perfect vehicle for me, with the secured box to keep all my dive gear locked up and secure. I love the way the interior is laid out also. I cant say enough about it!

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  Tahoe 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By fhdewitt - November 7 - 11:15 am

  Traded in Mercedes ML 320 and think the Chevy has better quality and much more room.

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  Not my 71 Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By cmeastern - November 7 - 10:00 am

  While this is not the hi-performance, head-turning, muscle of our dark blue 2004 Maxx has drawn looks, even from a group of teen boys who said it was "a cool car." The technology is quite a step up from the 1991 Grand Am it replaces, or our 1994 S-10 Blazer, so it has taken some getting use to, and a lot of checks of the owners manual to figure out everything in it. It handles almost as good as our 1987 Z28 and has very good acceleration for a V6 of only 3.5 liters (big step up from the Blazers 4.3-liter V6.) Got about 33 mpg on our first 900-mile trip at mostly 65 mph four-lane travel. Very quiet, low road noise. A fog light optio

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  my truck is the best - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By preskoolma - November 7 - 10:00 am

  second and third row seats fold down in a snap. so easy my three year old does it all on his own. extremely comfortable. would trade it for anything. my husband can trade his truck in for another four door truck.