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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  Had for 3 years - Great car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Garry D - July 31 - 4:16 pm

  I see a lot of the negative reviews, and the only things I agree with are the ease at which the cloth seats stain and the lamps burning out. Apart from these two issues I have put about 70K miles on the vehicle and no issues. Car runs smooth and has pep as a result of the V6. Fuel economy is great and while the looks are now a little outdated I am happy enough.

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  2010 av - 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ford to chev - July 30 - 5:31 pm

  Just bought this av only had it a couple of weeks now so far so good. I will say I traded in a ford F-150 king ranch with a 5.4 the ford got better mileage and lots more power than my av and the nav system in the ford is far superior to Chevy system. But the reason I traded was because the Chevy has a wonderful ride and drive and the ford is very uncomfortable on long hauls and I do a lot of driving. All together I am satisfied with my purchase and really like the Chevy so far even though i only have 1800 miles on it.

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  2011 Camaro 1 LT - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Peter Piper - July 30 - 10:12 am

  So far the car has 1000 miles. In that time the car has performed ok. I have followed the manufacturers recommendation of not going over 4k during the break-in. The drivers seat is creaking and sounds like a spring has popped. The gas mileage fluctuates from 21 to 28 mpg. The visibility is bad but i was driving an Accord Coupe prior and am used to it but the camaro is worse. The interior does not compare to the Accords which was much nicer! The controls on the Camaro are very small fro people who need reading glasses and for those who dont. No interior storage as compared to the Honda. The interior lighting is primitive. The dash lighting is cool. Lousy nonadjustable cup holders.

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  Not what I thought - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By wallen - July 29 - 9:58 pm

  Didnt Actually buy the car, just drove it for a while. Great looking, with the fender flares, special GS striping, and big wheels. But the performance is very disappointing for the price. For a couple thousand more, you are at a ZO6, which is what this car imitates. Or you could drop the price 20k, and get a GT500, which has much more HP. My Trailblazer SS has less power, but jerks you to the back of your seat more when you floor it. Ride was also not as comfortable as my ZO6, which has a stiffer suspension. Also, Exhaust, which sounds really nice, sounds too electronic with how it only gets loud at around 3-4000 RPM. It is a good car, the price just needs to seriously be dropped

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  A LOT of car for the money - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Johnny - July 29 - 11:28 am

  The Aveo is not a Mercedes --we all know that. It also costs a fraction of what a Mercedes costs, and thousands of dollars less than a similarly equipped Honda, Toyota, Kia or Nissan. Frankly, I dont see the value in spending a lot more money for Honda or Toyota badging. This car is roomy, comfortable, very reliable, cheap to operate, and has a good ride. I could not be more pleased with a car that cost me $10,999 + tax that has air conditioning, a great stereo with MP3 connectivity, and even a rear spoiler. Get one. You wont regret it.

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  Best American Option - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rgwaz - July 29 - 2:04 am

  I love Hondas, but decided to give an American car a final chance. I purchased an Equinox for its style, safety, MPGs, 100K warranty, and low costs for the LS model. The interior is comfortable with lots of room. The vehicle says “wow” to the eyes, but “cheap” to the touch (too much hard plastic and fragile controls). The 4cly is quiet and provides great performance in town, but only acceptable highway acceleration. The EPA estimate of 22&32 Mpg seems mythical. I drive in the “eco” mode and make it a game to get the best mileage. I average 19 city & 26 highway. Also, the computer reads 2 miles more than actual mileage. Be sure to also look at the RAV4 and Forester.

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  Changed my mind - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Alex T - July 28 - 9:27 pm

  I used to be a Toyota only driver. I have found a new love with this Chevy. I feel comfortable, and confident. This truck allows me the comfort of knowing that my wife and daughter will not have to wait for a tow on the side of the road. Good Job Chevy.

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  Bad bowtie! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ChevyDemon - July 28 - 8:29 pm

  I have had my 02 3.8 liter camaro for 4 years now. I drive it hard. It is a great looking car and amazing to drive. After a long or bad day just take the T tops off and stomp on the gas and a smile will always come! I plan on keeping this car until it rots!!

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  Better than a C5 Corvette - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Erik - July 28 - 4:50 pm

  Traded in my 2001 Corvette and this Camaro is driving much smoother with still the same grip.Good leather seats and nice interior,could be a bit soft touchier dashboard but fits well.The power is good for a six speed automatic 6 cylinder with open air filter 10 hp more. Like the paddle shifters on the steering wheel to keep the motor in his rpm to power up! Drives 30 mpg on normal driving conditions,not bad for a 315 hp machine.

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  300,000 miles and still going strong - 1994 Chevrolet S-10
  By Brad - July 28 - 12:24 pm

  Bought the S10 in the fall of 1994 because I just relocated to Northeastern Ohio and I needed four wheel drive for the winter. I have never been left stranded by this truck and beyond routine maintenance I have had no repair issues. I would recommend these trucks to anyone.