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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  My Impression - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Cordell - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I bought the Corvette coupe with the intention that this would be my only car. I was wrong, I eventually bought a second car as my day-to-day "workhorse" (a 92 Toyota Corolla). The weather changes where I live in the Washington, DC area was too extreme for me to drive the Vette everyday. Although I have active handling system as well as traction control I didnt use all weather tires. As a resilt having the second car gives me the opportunity of comparing the two going from one vehicle to the other. The only time that I was beaten in a race was when I came up against a Lamborghini Diablo. How often does that happen?

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  My C-5 - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By robert zimolka - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Excellent fuel economy, rides like a Caddy but handles like a Vette. Plenty of H.P. to do whatever turns you on. A head turner where ever you take it. Ive heard all the complaints about the cheap interior and have no idea of what these complainers are looking for. a wood trim on the dash would be a nice touch but I love it just the way it is. By the way, this is my fifth Vette. This one is by far the best yet.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Stephen K. Willi - March 11 - 10:00 am

  The Corvette is all that I have researched, studied and a whole lot more. Its fun to drive, gets great gas mileage and looks great. You get a LOT of car for your money.

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  rockheadds ride - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By ken ward - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Weve onwed an Impala for 2 yrs and have 32k on it. we love the car and has been defect free. We enjoy the way it drives and rides and does not feel mushy at all, Contrary to your opinion, 3.8 delivers good power and mpg 24.5. everyone who rides in this car loves it and considers making it thier next car. A great car and you need to get over your prejudice of GM cars. The amount of space y ou give for a review is not large enought to express the praises of this auto

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  2004 Impalalogic - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By spencerswank - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Overall very pleased with vehicle very dependable and fun to drive.

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  Great Mini SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jason Daniell - March 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a great mini SUV. I love the room.

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  One Great Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By caleros - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Bought this vehicle about 2 weeks ago, and I really love it. I wasnt really thinking about getting an SUV until I came across a picture of this vehicle on GMs website and instantly liked the exterior design and the price range was affordable so I test drove it and was on my way to becoming a new Nox owner.

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  Ricks review - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ricata8 - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I think this new model is stylish and handles really good. Not a bad price.

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  Good car for the money - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By bill of rights - March 11 - 4:38 am

  I do a lot of driving for business so I needed an inexpensive car that got good gas mileage and would be reliable. I got a great deal on the 07 because the 08s were coming to the dealer lots. The car now has 21000 miles on it with no problems at all. 95% of miles are highway and I have averaged around 31mpg at 70-75mph. The front seats need more padding and the car doesnt like the wind on the interstate. Overall the car has been great and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a good solid car and doesnt want to break the bank.

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  Great SUV for the money - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ron - March 10 - 7:52 pm

  I was a first time buyer of a Toyota product and after two years traded it on a Chevy TrailBlazer, best thing Ive ever done. Great ride, plenty of power, good ride even on the long trips, good gas mileage, lots of head and leg room. Just a great fun to drive SUV. Next time I will stick with GM.