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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  99 Silver Corvette Convt. - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By coutchem - February 25 - 2:00 am

  6 speed transmission had to be rebuilt at 30,000 miles. Fog lights burn out. Couple of recall problems. Smooth ride and goes like a rocket when you want to. Can do 120 +++, but still get 30 mpg on the highway. Drove over 12,000 in two months and enjoyed the ride and performance. Great sports car and turns heads.

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  Happy Driver/Twice Metro Owner - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By soybock - February 24 - 2:00 am

  1st metro was a 97 w/ 49k. Drove it to 100k, NEVER a problem, not one! A lady smashed into the side of me at full speed, outside driver side door was completely mangled and buckled in, but the inside looked like nothing had happened (great car construction). I was amazed, walked away without a scratch. Car even still ran! Once insurance co settled purchased a 2000 w/ 34k. Have been driving it for 8 months, love these cars!

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  Beyond Impressed - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jagrmaister - February 24 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car during the 0% craze last year (was building a 600hp+ Mustang) but ditched that project after 10 minutes of seat time in the Z06. Hands down the most enjoyable ride Ive ever taken. The black one I tried driving off the lot with crapped on me before out of dealers sight, but the Quicksilver has held up very well and the only problem is some infamous GM paint (runs by the lower door panels), a creak here and there in the interior, and a fuel sensor gauge (fixed once, living with it now) that likes to die out. Overall performance and looks the car gets a 10/10, and Id score it higher but might be a bit trite. Everyone deserves a Z06.

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  I love my truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By spt - February 24 - 2:00 am

  Have been a fan of Suburbans for 30 or so years. Bought 98 LT, loved it!!! Just traded up to an 04 LT (fully loaded) - boy what a ride!

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  Traverse Rules! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By BSTinman - February 23 - 8:43 pm

  My wife loves driving our two kids around in this family SUV and Im not embarrassed to get behind the wheel myself. Weve been very happy so far with this car. My 4 year old son throws a fit if we have to take our other car (a Pontiac Torrent) somewhere. I love the bluetooth phone technology and the AWD handles great in the snow. I highly recommend this vehicle for anybody who drives a lot with a car load of people.

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  this truck owns - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By tj sullivan - February 23 - 2:00 am

  every thing owns and it looks great

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  Im driving a cloud!! - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Teresa :) - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely LOVE my White Chevy Tracker!!! It drives like a dream, and Im VERY comfortable in my sweet leather seats!! It was truely love at first sight!! Needless to say, the 0.0% financing (the entire 60 months) and the $1,500. cash back rebate was a blessing!! KUDOS TO CHEVROLET for making my dreams come true!!!

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  Lovin every minute - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By atlglflvr - February 23 - 2:00 am

  I did not consider the Avalanche when considering a truck. My daughter actually suggested I look at one and boy am I glad I did. This is a great multi-purpose vehicle and would recommend it to anyone looking for an SUV but wanting the versatility of a truck.

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  So far, so good - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Von NICKLEBERRY - February 22 - 11:03 pm

  Handles good, nice sounds, OnStar, gas mileage, looks smaller than what it is, trunk space sunroof, tire size. Smoothness!

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  6 months with my LT2 Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By George - February 22 - 6:33 pm

  I bought this car September 30th and drove 5200 miles so far. A good friend bought the Honda EX-L and the Malibu interior is quieter. The onboard computer told me my right rear tire was low, 19 lbs, and when I got home and check it was exactly right. This is something the Honda does not offer as well. The competitors do offer 18 gallon tanks and perhaps a bit better MPG but not enough to trade the pros of this car in for. If I could do it all over I would have bought the Malibu in the 4 cylinder engine due to GM not increasing the gas tank size when increasing the engine size. This is a major oversite on GMs part, in my honest opinion.