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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  Malibu - The car you knew GM WOULD build - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MikeMac - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Malibu LS new in August 2000. I have had to replace the brakes and rotors on it a few times, and the brake work was covered by the dealership while under 36000. I have had some minor problems with the AC, the blower motor went and I had lost the two lowest fan speeds. I have had to replace the tires and battery. Overall, its been a dependable car and my dealership, Cloverleaf Chevrolet, has been excellent. Not sure if I would by another Malibu, but I would definately buy and get service from the same dealership again.

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  So much fun - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By mikee - June 26 - 6:26 am

  This car is so fun to drive. I used to have a Sentra Spec-v and this Cobalt SS is so much more fun. I love it

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  2002 Corvette Convt. - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By foursix4v - June 26 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely fantastic car. This recently replace a Mustang Cobra as is by far a better car in terms of comfort and performance.

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  Cool car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By lovinchevy - June 25 - 4:36 pm

  The new 2006 HHR is everything wede hoped for and even more. Outside of the design or arrangement or number of cup holders, we have very little that we are displeased with. The road handling of the vehicle on a whole is terrific, as are the brakes. Chevy has done an outstanding job in the production of the HHR, although it would be nice to have seen the engine produced in USA, we are pleased with the engine. The leg room for both driver, front passenger and rear seem to be adequate. This was a great purchase, having made our decision to down size from a mini-van. The basic standard model allows its owners to personally customize, showing their own personalities, not the Chevy producers!

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  Best sports car for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By glen alexander - June 25 - 1:00 pm

  This car will have you on the road at 3:00 in the morning. It calls to you from the driveway. This car handles like its on rails!! The 0 to 60 times are nothing short of wicked. The car is sexy and turns heads so fast it causes whiplash!!.

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  Not enough credit - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Cool - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I love my new Monte. I dont think credit due has been given, this car is in a catagory with mercedes and bentley. Some people live on a budget.

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  Pretty much new - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By thebru - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Pretty much a new rig so I cant judge reliability accept that I havent had an issue yet. I pretty much like everything about this vehicle. I used to have a blazer and this is light years past it in terms of quality and features (but quite a bit more money).

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  Way to go CHEVY! - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Drum Dawg - June 25 - 2:36 am

  This has been a great truck. Great gas mileage(20 MPG around town) and performance. The stepside looks great and the stock rims look nice! The front fold down bench seat is really useful! I have the 4.8 L and it has power to spare. It tows my car trailer with ease. I looked at all the brands over a couple of months and am glad that I picked a chevy.

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  Mailbu worth the money - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Shawn555 - June 25 - 2:00 am

  For a peppy fun to drive car under 20,000 test drive a chevy mailbu. My car is silent only when you blow the doors off civcs and other punk cars cant you hear the car make noise. Also the factory sound system is very simple to use while driving. The best part is the cup holder next to the steering wheel it has already come in handy many times.

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  Quiet, Stylish, Handeling, Great Value - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By High Rollers - June 24 - 6:30 pm

  I bought this car a few weeks ago. I like the sound the doors make when it is closed - feels snug and tight. The standard safety options are great: stability control, air bags everywhere (curtain, torso, and front), traction control / abs, and OnStar. The car is quiet, corners very well, and takes bumps in amazing fashion. It is stylish, the lines are nice and the wheels/times are too cool. The seats are comfortable. The 4 cylinder engine is plenty for me. I had a Honda Civic that I traded in during the purchase of the Malibu. This car is by far superior. The Malibu rides so smoothly that I steer to the bumps and you cannot feel a thing. The Malibu is quiet too.