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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  The Best Yet - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By ibereb - February 7 - 2:00 am

  What a head turner. Just a real fun vehicle and a great ride.

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  00 C5 vert. - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mwagne16 - February 7 - 2:00 am

  Best bang for the buck with styling being considered. A few thousand dollars for a supercharger, and instant 700hp with perfect daily drivability. Just how the factory should have done it in the first place to make it perfect.

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  Corvette Z06 is a Classic - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Z06DWS - February 7 - 2:00 am

  The first of the many sports cars that I have owned that I would have actually paid more for. Handles better than the cars that I raced SCCA years ago, yet provides a very comfortable ride, and great ergonomics. You cannot touch this car in terms of price vs. performance.

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  happy - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By joesnuffy - February 7 - 2:00 am

  Most car for the money on the market

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  Great Value! - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Cathy Moen - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Mine looks just like the one on the website too. I love it! It is a much better bargain than the Corolla. I had a Corolla for over 10 years prior to this purchase. Great buy for your money.

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  Greatest Company Car I have ever had! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Vetdoc - February 6 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Chevy Malibu for 4 years and have had no problems. It is safe and has a lot of power. I had a choice between a ford taurus and a Chevy Malibu and I am happy with my choice, The MALIBU!

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  Super Sub - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By hw101 - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive had eight Subs and they keep getting better. Only reason for trading this one is to get an 04. I just hate the so called "professional" reviewers that always knock the size of the vehicle. I say, if they want to live where all you can drive is a match box, that your choice, just dont trash the most perfect vehicle in the world for the real world drivers.

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  Functional Hummer - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mdddsp - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Versatile and fun.The looks convey power and strength and the Avalanche performs to how it looks.

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  2003 Taho - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ljn9156 - February 6 - 2:00 am

  Of all the SUVs Ive owned and driven, the Tahoe is - by far - the best ride.

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  GREAT CAR!! - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 02monteSS - February 5 - 10:00 am

  bought a dark blue 02 monte SS in august. The car is great. I was never a fan of chevy interior, but this time they got it right. The interior is perfect. The drivetrain is great, both gas mileage and power are up there. Also, the car does very well in the snow (traction control). It is built well, the doors are thick (unlike the tin doors on the imports) and it is very save (5 star crash rating)