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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  Dream Machine - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RGH - February 21 - 2:00 am

  Driving the 2002 Corvette 6 spd Convertible is the best automotive experience I have ever had the priviledge to experience.Exhilirating acceleration, tight cornering, smooth ride and exceptional feel in a visual package shared by only a few of the elite sports cars in the world. Add to that the fun of Corvette forums, clubs, road rallies, aftermarket equipment, clothing and plenty of helpful advice and one purchases a complete recreational package that no other car can compare with. It is truly awesome.

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  Impala SS - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By rcap - February 20 - 2:00 am

  The seats are uncomfortable and lack support. If you can find Bonneville leather seats buy them and replace. Other than that it is quite a car. Not as quick as my Corvette Z06 -- BUT turns alot more heads and gets more notice!

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  One great truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Chuck Militti - February 20 - 2:00 am

  Fantastic on and off road, quiet, powerful, comfortable and user friendly. Lockable storage is outstanding. Conversion of truck bed is easy and does not leak.

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  ZO6 - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By rcap - February 20 - 2:00 am

  The Corvette ZO6 is a dream come true. Of course mine is red. I am 6-5" and its comfortable. I also own a 1996 Impala SS and the difference is like night and day. But that differnece is waht makes owning both cars so enjoyable. I can either "cruise on auto" in the Impala or stay "wide-eyed" driving the 6 speed Vette. I purchased both new and still paid less than a Porsche -- and have much more fun.

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  The Perfect Car! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By dustyred - February 19 - 6:43 pm

  This car is absolutely perfect. I bought it early Janurary as a second car. I thought I would like my Honda Accord better, but this Chevy has proven me wrong. I drive a lot, so I like to own two cars to spread out the mileage. However, I cannot stop driving my Impala. The Honda sits in the driveway, this one is just that much better. The engine is fast, the brakes are unbelievable. My brother has an LS version, that is the one with the V6, and he says it is still a nice engine. I like the SS look of this car, I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Love It - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Roger Preble - February 19 - 10:00 am

  Immediately drove 3000 miles & enjoyed the vehicle. Especially the AM Radio.

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  Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SPCfromAZ - February 19 - 10:00 am

  My Malibu is a great sedan for comfortable and economical transportation. The engine is a real world work horse that has good torque and all the pick up you need. Theres no apparent performance degradation when pulling the AC and it can climb the steepest hills without having to drop gears and run the engine hard. Runs on regular unleaded with no performance loss. Gas mileage is great. On an all freeway trip driving 1,499 mi from WA to AZ I used 43.8 gallons of gas for 34.2 mpg. Average speed on the info readout was 69 mph, on the highway I usually had the cruise set at 76mph.

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  I love it!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By alandtaysmom - February 19 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome car!!! It is so comfortable and fun to drive! It makes you feel like you are bigger than everyone and yet you feel like you are classy as well. It feels like you can dress it up or dress it down, in other words, you are in luxury yet you can still be casual. I am sooo happy I bought this car!!! I LOVE IT!!!

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  Nice Ride! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By 106632 - February 19 - 10:00 am

  Very capable vehicle, smooth power delivery. Good vehicle for your family outing or vacation. Comfortable on trips and handy for the trip to the grocery store. Very good experience thus far, I highly recommend this vehicle.

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  Awesome - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By pestamistic - February 19 - 2:00 am

  A fast sporty elegant piece of machinery that will amaze you every chance it can. Go ahead and push it it will let you know what you are in for.