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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  SS Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By doubletap 407 - May 7 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE 32000 MILES ON MINE AND I STILL LOVE IT! HAVE HAULED IT WITH THE BED LEVEL FULL OF DIRT, AND WITH 30 SHEETS OF 1/2" PLYWOOD, AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF COURSE BUT IT DID GREAT! I HAVE PUT ON A MORE OPEN EXHAUST, AND NOW GET 19 MPG ON THE HWY.I ALSO HAVE A 2002 SUPER CREW 1/2 TON FORD AND THE AVALANCHE IS 4 TIMES THE TRUCK. BETTER RIDE BETTER HORSEPOWER AND GAS MILEAGE.

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  What a car! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By brad walters - May 7 - 2:00 am

  Wow, what can I say. A true sports car!

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  Simply HHR-appy! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By bernard - May 6 - 9:06 pm

  I bought this car to replace my everyday driver. The wife liked it so much she quit driving her van, which was over twice the money, and started driving it. I dont like driving a van everyday so I traded it in on another HHR with more options, which she has now taken over and I am back to my original one. I have owned some very expensive cars in my time but I am really impressed with the quality and quanity of the HHR for the price.

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  Tons of space! - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Christy Stratton - May 6 - 1:05 pm

  Love the space in the vehicle. Rides nice. Easy to get kids in and out, even in the 3rd row. Great for families!

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  Quality Outstanding - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By John/Kathy Parsons - May 6 - 5:33 am

  Our Camaro is Black and any flaws would be easy to see. The fit and finish is outstanding in all areas. I am a retired C.N.C. Machinest from Boeing Aircraft, and a Very Picky Person. Every 2010 Camaro that i have seen is closer to a handmade custom, than a production car.I am totally Awed.

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  2000 Venture Plus - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Al Pyle - May 6 - 2:00 am

  7 passenger seating arrangement very inconvenient for adults...rear seats for children only. Front passenger seat too close to door and not heighth adjustable. Will not buy another GM vehicle equipped with Firestone tires. Firestone replaced three of the original tires at different times due to failure but I have never had four good smooth running tires at the same time and still do not. No more relying on the tire supplier. wind/engine noise.

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  I Love this Car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ann Abbruzzese - May 5 - 10:30 pm

  The last car I bought was a SAAB convertible, last year of the classic design. I loved that car....called it Sven and we were together 6 years. Now I have an Equinox, and I love this one even more. I call it Heifer because Im in wine country now & it fits in with the cows.

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  Solid Vehicle for the Money - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By dlewis - May 5 - 9:50 pm

  I previously drove a 2001 Monte Carlo SS after owning two T-birds (hated the 2-seater style change). Went with the 2008 Impala as there arent many full- size 2-door coupes on the market these days. The 50th Anniversary Edition is basically an LT model with more sporty features, the car looks a lot like the SS (including same 18" wheels/rims). The car rides smoothly, gas mileage is pretty much what the sticker says (it all depends on how you drive it). I like the two-tone interior. Front seats could provide more "lateral" support. Like the heated leather seats and garage door opener. Would have liked 6-disc CD changer and premium sound system, standard sound system just ok.

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  Great car for little out of pocket - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By Cronin - May 5 - 2:00 am

  I am a student, so this car is awsome for me. Less insurance and less gas to keep me going. Only thing I had to redo to the car is new alternator. But thats because I added subwoofers.

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  ratings - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By braveheart - May 4 - 2:00 am

  I love driving it, but the insurance is high