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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  Great Car For Great Price! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Laly - October 28 - 2:00 pm

  Got my Cobalt early this month and totallyl ove it! Personally, I love the look of the coupe much more than the sedan. What caught my eye was its low price. Although the price had me skeptical - coming from a Chevy oriented family - I had to give them a shot! Car is very responsive, great on sharp turns and fun to drive. Getting to know it, I would have preferred an SS - but I got what I can afford. My friends simply say, the more you see it - the more you get to like it. Speaks for itself. Great start off car for a teenager parentals! This is my second and wish I would have had anything similar to it as my first!

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  Great Choice - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By JTK - October 28 - 8:40 am

  I traded an 07 Tahoe LTZ on this hybrid. Its great sitting at a stand- still and still having cold A/C while burning no fuel. The 4WD works great. I miss the rain sense wipers, memory seats, and power tailgate, but I love getting 4-5mpg more than on the all gas Tahoe. Especially since this one has more power than the engine on a regular Tahoe. Ive saved some 25% on my gas useage, and since it was >$4.00/gal last summer and fall that adds up to a lot of money. The ride is great and it pulls my trailer effortlessly. I bought as soon as it was available so I did have a recall to replace something in the hybrid system, but they put me in a Caddy while it was in the shop, so OK.

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  REALLY NICE TRUCK - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mattCUBAN - October 28 - 2:00 am

  NICE TRUCK i love it

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  Cant go wrong - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe lover - October 28 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned other trucks but going back to the Tahoe was the best thing I ever did.

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  Excellent truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jaybird - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I have driven a 1985 s10 blazer for 7 years and still drive today. So as a chevy man, I went with a trailblazer as my first vehicle, that I purchased on my own. It has good pick up with the Inline 6 engine and quiet. I tow a 17 foot boat and the truck has no problems pulling it. The only problem I had was the fuel/air ratio was off and the dealer fixed at to charge to me. For comfort and style the trailblazer is an excellent vehicle.

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  04 z85 LS 2wd,5cyl,auto - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By kbs04z85 - October 27 - 2:00 am

  Im 20 and this is the first new vehicle I have owned and I love it, I have the 5cyl. auto and it gets great gas milage, no mechanical problems, and is pretty quick, I love this truck.

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  Best Vehicle Ever Owned - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By FredTem - October 27 - 2:00 am

  After driving this truck for the last couple of months, it has become my favorite vehicle ever. I have owned 8 different vehicles (Passat, Jetta, Corolla, Ranger, Grand Cherokee, 633CSI, and a Broncho) in the last 14 years, but this is my first GM product and my favorite out of the bunch. GM succeeded in making a believer out of me. Comfortable ride, easy to use gauages, and commanding view of the road as well as a very capable off the showroom floor 4x4 system. I have recommend at least test driving one if you are in the market for a new truck.

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  My Impala - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Don Stansloski - October 25 - 10:00 am

  We are at about 24000 miles with absolutely no problems. The car has impeccable manners. Good acceleration and we get about 28 overall mpg and 32 to 35 on the Interstate.

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  Silverado 1500 SB LT - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By shellbert - October 25 - 10:00 am

  This truck is beautiful. Its performance is outstanding. Acceleration is excellent. The LT package has beautiful leather and features. It handles like a sports car and rides unbelievably smooth.

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  02 Ride - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By kmanion - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Good all around vehicle. Excellent work vehicle.