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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  Best Car I Have ever owned - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nathan Sweeney - September 7 - 2:00 am

  This is by far the best vehicle i have ever owned. I have had a 93 Honda Civic and a 95 jeep Wrangler before the Z24. This thing gets 30 mpg with a mix of highway and city driving, goes 0 - 60 in like 8 seconds, and corners like a mofo. 100mph comes up easily in 5th gear and feels completely stable and in control. Insurance is the same as the 93 Civic for me, a 19 year old male. Had I owned this first, i would have never had the YJ or the Civic. Build quality is flawless in the Z24 except for the paint. Scratches easily. I just want to drive around as much as possible. Its a great car! Looking for a first car? get a Z24, you wont regret it!

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  A surprise car! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By derks - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I was originally looking for a bigger car but after the test drive in the Aveo, I was hooked! This car is so much fun to drive and I was soo surprised by how the small engine provides good performance. I was also surprised by the amount of interior space, I thought it would be small by looking at the car from the outside.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Cherryk24 - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my car for a month now, but its great! Gas mileage is excellent, the ride is quiet, and the car is safe and confortable. Its even big enough to fit my snowboard in the back! Great price too!

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  Sleeper Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Nameless - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Just picked up the car. Roughly 500 mi on it now. It has excellent power with great fuel economy. We got the LT loaded with nearly every option including DVD. The kids love it. (My daughter especially likes the "warm bottom seats", my son the DVD) This car is a "sleeper". Kind of boring on the outside but absolutely packed with every possible feature on the inside. The Malibu will be my wifes car. She believes it has all the features of her previous Honda Accord with none of the negatives. She is also more concerned with function over style and in pure functionality this car shines well above the others in the mid-size "pack"

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  I Love My Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Beckie - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I enjoy driving my car. It handles the curves real well. I get awsome gas mileage both in town and on the highway. It is a spprty looking car, but is big enough to ride comfortably in it. This car as a lot of get up and go. Its great!

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  Feels and looks more European - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Francisco Corrales - September 6 - 2:00 am

  The new Malibu feels and looks much more substantial than the previous model. The LS V6 has a spirited feel and is quick and agile. Even though it lacks the power of the V6 Accord, Altima and Camry in terms of horsepower it feels sporty and capable. Before buying this car, I test drove all three other models and could not convince myself to spend nearly 30 thousand dollars for the imports. Also, I have driven my car over 10,000 miles in three months and have had no mechanical, or any defects despite hard driving conditions in the mountainous regions of the desert Southwest and heavy traffic of Phoenix and Los Angeles.

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  its just perfect - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SUSANNA - September 6 - 2:00 am

  this car cuts corners at 40mph perfectly, not that i do that all the time...the ride is very smooth. The audio is great. Long travel trips are perfect in this car!

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  WE LOVE IT! - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By LJMESTE - September 6 - 2:00 am

  I have owned other SUVs but I will never drive anything else.

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  The Best! - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Marilynn - September 6 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful vehicle if you have a need for a lot of passengers, take kids to college or like to travel in comfort. This is my second Suburban and it wont be my last!

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  BEST ALL AROUND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By GEORGE SELBY - September 6 - 2:00 am

  WHEN LOOKING FOR A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE THAT ANSWER OUR FAMILYS NEEDS WE DECIDED ON THE SURBURBAN. #1 GOOD LOOKS #2 GOOD RECCOMENDATIONS FROM FRIENDS WHO OWNED THEM #3 ROOM FOR OUR FAMILY ACTIVITIES, SPORTS,GOING TO AND FROM THE BEACH HOUSE AND HUNTING TRIPS #4 SAFETY, I FEEL THIS SUV PROVIDES MORE SAFETY TO MY FAMILY WHEN ARE ON THE HIGHWAY