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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  Chevrolet Impala is an exellent car. - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By FJackie21 - May 4 - 2:00 am

  We already have a 2001 Impala and love it. Our daughter took that car and my wife loved the 2001 so much we bought a 2004. It runs and rides great. Its very comfortable and has plenty of power. We havent had any problems out of our 2001. Its been very reliable. The 2004 seems to be on the same track. Great car!

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  Love the SS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hotruck - May 4 - 2:00 am

  Get lots of looks in this truck. It is very fun to drive and it handles snow and other nasty weather like a champ.

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  (Not So) Proud Owner - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Will - May 4 - 12:16 am

  I am the (not so) proud owner of what I thought was a nice used car. Bought this with 47,000k fully loaded, which isnt bad for a 2006, only to discover transmission problems two weeks and 300 miles after purchasing. I like the car, but am disgusted with its performance. It slams into gear from park and hesitates to get into first, often jerking into first gear. Was told the car had a warranty when purchasing only for the dealer to have no record of the warranty. Lucky me for purchasing a car out of warranty. After dealing with the Chevy dealer (seller) and GM, I can say the two have lost a longtime and formerly loyal GM customer. NEVER AGAIN!

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  The honeymoon is over - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By packrfan4 - May 3 - 7:58 pm

  My wife and I bought our Nox used in 06 with less than 10k miles. Initially we were pretty pleased with it, but as weve put some miles on it, were not such big fans anymore (and it only has 38k miles on it). The turning radius is very big. Pulling into parking places is more difficult than it should be. The cupholders that slide out of the console are very flimsy and interfere with the parking brake lever. Lastly, at 21k miles the drive shaft snapped during normal highway driving and had to be replaced. The V6 engine is pretty peppy and I really like the exterior styling. The sliding rear seat is a great design, but those things cant overcome some of the items I mentioned above.

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  Happier than ever - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By excellent car - May 3 - 2:29 pm

  This is the kind of car that these manufacturers are producing. Good on gas, drives like a big car, fun to drive, most specially, very practical. For a single mom like me, there is no car in the market that is comparable with the quality, prize for your money and so far no major problem. I just follow the maintenance schedule and voila, the car just simply perform and does its job. I will highly recommend this as a good buy

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  A JOY to drive! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By slonaker - May 3 - 10:00 am

  What an outstandingly well-built car! I have to take issue with the editors comments about "wallowy suspension," and "low-buck interior". Our Impala LS is tight, roomy, comfortable and just flat FUN to drive! Someone here mentioned its not meant for those 5 7" and over. Well, Im 6 3" and this is one of the few vehicles I can actually stretch my legs in. All this AND a 5-star rating for safety?? Why would anyone consider anything else??

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  Chevy is King - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By KennyA - May 3 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Silverado for two years now and have 28,000 miles on it. I continue to be amazed by this truck. It is the most powerful vehicle I have ever owned (285 hp), the passing gear will give you whiplash, and at 70 mph this thing isnt even turning 2000 rpm. The ride and handling are oustanding. Fuel economy still averaging 20 mpg. Whats not to like?

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  Love the Car - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ben - May 3 - 9:50 am

  I just bought this vehicle and my wife and I love it! It is sporty, yet big and has lots of room. And the best part is the v6 3800 engine. It provides very good speed and power at the same time getting excellent gas mileage on the highway. Driving is effortless and fun!

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  Fun little monster - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By murdog - May 3 - 7:02 am

  I bought my HHR for my wife in 2007 for a nice car to drive back and fourth to work. Mileage has been solidly in the upper 20s with mixed city HWY. When we are on the open highway I have gotten as good as 33 but stick around 31 most of the time. The car is solid it is just a base but the auto start was a deal setter for my wife. Great little car. But just a few weeks ago i got a safety recall on the little beast. Come on GM get your heads in the game. This final recall is the last nail in the coffin for my GM purchasing days. I just bought a Ford fusion for myself. And my wife pretty much stole it from me. Looks like GM just cant seem to build something with out needing to recall it.

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  First year of the Colorado - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By EDP - May 3 - 1:45 am

  Bought my Colorado the first year they came out with it. I find that its easy to drive, reliable as heck. Thought that I wouldnt be able to take it off road but its proved me wrong many times. I drive 48 miles to work one way and its held up. I change the oil, tires and make sure not to buy cheap gas. Ive even run E85 in it a couple of times when Ive been in a pinch. Chevy made a great truck.