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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  Precision Red - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ALD - April 17 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned it ten days, but I enjoy everything about it -- the style, build quality, awesome power and handling, with a much improved interior.

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  Just try it... - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Liam01 - April 17 - 10:00 am

  dont judge for this car before driving, driving is smooth and powerful, you feel great behind the wheel. i had a nissan altima 2002 and a toyota camry before that, they are not comparable with this car, after hours of driving you still want to go more and more! you never tired when you drive this car. i have my 2003 impala for 2 years and everything still works fine and even better than before! all i know is i dont want to depreciate myself with driving a japanese car anymore.

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  2004 impala ss - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Khaldun Everage - April 17 - 10:00 am

  fantastic car. fun to drive. great excelleration

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  One nice truck... - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JGreen212 - April 17 - 10:00 am

  my past three vehicles have been SUVs 2 Tahoes and 1 Denali. Some may say that going to a Silverado is a down grade and I say your wrong! This truck is incredible to say the least. The Crew cab gives you the interior room of any SUV and it still has a 5 1/2 ft. bed to haul stuff in. The Ride w/ the Z71 package is amazing, especially when Im pullin a 24 box trailer w/ the 5.3L passing every Hemi and Triton is sight. Best buy in quite awhile.

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  This is a great car - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jason - April 17 - 8:00 am

  This car has been better than expected. Lots of room very nice ride and gas mileage has been outstanding the first tank we got 33.1. I have an 85 mile daily commute 75 hyw and it averages 33-37 mpg all the time and its an auto trans. Saved thousands over Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. Drove them all and this car is just as good.

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  My little hot rod - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By mnconstr. - April 17 - 12:03 am

  This is my wifes car but I think I put 60% of the miles on it. Bought in 11/06 and have 16,000 miles and I love the way she drives. My wife just mentioned the other day about getting new car with better gas mileage, it is hard trying to be light footed it is to much fun driving even for her. She got her first speeding ticket recently after 28 years of driving. not one problem with this car yet. Hope to have for many years.

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  Great car for a great price - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By brooklyn - April 16 - 11:57 pm

  This was my first new car and I have not been disappointed. It is practical in terms of price, but very nicely designed as well. It is a small vehicle, which is perfect for fitting into small parking spaces, but inside it doesnt feel cramped. Additionally, Chevrolet offers a great warranty, which I havent had to use yet, but it good to know it is available if needed.

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  My 2007 C6 Rocks Chevys in the Game! - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By wrb - April 16 - 11:31 pm

  Ive had a lot of different sport cars and roadsters which includes MGs to 1967 Firebird, 1972 Chevelle SS, 1967 Triump, BMWs Z-3, Z-4 and the 3 series which then led me back to machines that can perform like my Harley Davidson VRod with a few mods pushs over 120hp. Nothing even comes close to coming back to an American made quality product like the Corvette. You really need to start looking at what GM has produced its better quality than any foreign car that Ive owned in the last 20 years. Chevy, you rock.

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  This SUV is OK - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kyle2004 - April 16 - 8:32 pm

  I purchased this car 8 months ago, and I am already looking to trade it in. It was a fun car at the beginning, but with 14 mpg and 16-18 on the highway, it is not worth it. Also, my 2003 looks exactly like every other Blazer model. Not complaining, but I would have liked some exterior updates to show some kind of evolution. I will hopefully be able to get some money out of it to trade it in.

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  Still a great car - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gmcbride - April 16 - 6:25 pm

  This is my second Tahoe and its still a great car. I am driving a 4.8 liter two-wheel drive model that is delivering some incredible highway gas mileage. Plus, the interior creature comforts make it a real joy to own. I bought this one with only 31,200 miles and it is just like new. Oh yes, OnStar rocks!