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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  Buy an Astro - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By mom of 7 - April 30 - 10:11 am

  My mechanic recommended an Astro to me and he did not steer me wrong. My van has been great, dependable easy to work on and easy to find parts. Good quality interior that stood up to being a true soccer team vehicle. 220,000 miles on the original engine and tranny and both still sound great. Plus with the seats out you can put a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the back.

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  My New Trailblazer - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ed Smith - April 30 - 10:09 am

  Not oversized and not gaudy looking, this truck has a personality all its own. I wouldnt trade it for anything else on the market, and I have only had it a month. Takes me back to the 69/70 era of the 396 Chevelle SS which I owned and had many hours of driving fun, with my friends and fellow SS owners.

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  I love my 2004 MAXX - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By GypsieRose - April 30 - 4:13 am

  I had been driving Saabs for years before I bought this Maxx. I had also owned Mercedes, Corvette, Tahoe, Cadillac and Chryslers. This Maxx is the perfect car for me at 62. I am 4ft 8in tall and the adjustable pedals and steering wheel afforded me to drive for the first time in many years without a cushion and being forced up against the steering wheel. The mileage on freeway is avg 37mpg! Great handling. Kicks butt when you punch it to pass, cruises at 70 like a dream. I love the hatchback for hauling stuff. All are comfortable in seats/roomy. The price was affordable. Next time I will get leather heated seats. I love the lines. Not one hiccup yet! I love this car!

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  The best SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Martin - April 30 - 1:56 am

  Ive had over 25 vehicles and never one like this. Its fun to walk up to your auto and see people just standing around looking at it. It drives better than the 2000 Z71 1500 1/2 ton truck, and I cant get over the look it carries.

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  Nice Car! - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Sebaot - April 30 - 1:26 am

  I bought a 1996 Lumina base sedan and brought it to Mexico City, where I live. The power is good for American standards of driving, but here in Mexico we drive a way faster, so it feels sometimes underpowered, especially at steep climbs. I think is due to the altitude. Suspension works fine and is very comfy, specially on bumpy roads. The seats are good, but drivers seat lacks a lot of lumbar support, so is likely to catch some back pain. The car overall is very reliable. Did the loong trip down here wonderfully, and makes me look different! A long, low, and wide American car at a sea of short, tall, and narrow European hatchbacks and sedans.

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  Cobalt is a Keeper - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kevin - April 29 - 1:23 pm

  I bought my new red Cobalt LS 5-speed 2-dr coupe about 3 weeks ago. This is my first new GM vehicle, and I am very pleased with it so far. It is comfortable and fairly quiet, and has a very nice interior layout. The EPA rates it at 25/34 mpg city/hwy, but I got 33.6 mpg on my first tank, and 35.9 mpg on the second. My commute is 20 miles each way, mostly Interstate highways, but including weekends I expect that it is about 25% local/75% highway driving. I am driving efficiently, but I still keep up with traffic on I95 (70-75 mph). I use the A/C as necessary. It isnt as powerful as my 86 Mustang GT, but is still quite fun. I am very pleased with my purchase.

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  Chevy Gets It Right - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By TC - April 29 - 9:46 am

  The handing is smooth and it has that big car ride quality. The engine is torquey, pulls hard and attatched to a smooth shifting 5 speed making it a blast to drive. The interior and exterior fit and fininsh are comparable to Toyota and Honda. Its got a great stereo and extremely spacious trunk. The gas mileage is awesome. Theres nothing not to like about Chevys Cobalt sedan.

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  2000 Tahoe - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gatordan - April 28 - 9:34 pm

  Great vehicle. Plenty of power but slightly sluggish. Handles towing perfectly. Only issue I have is the engine is noisy when I first start it. Sounds like a diesel. Once it warms up, its fine. Im told that its piston slap and it wont harm the engine. So good so far.

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  Best Buy - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kent - April 28 - 3:30 pm

  I purchased my Malibu Maxx in Dec of 2005 and already have 50,000 miles of trouble free, economical and handy driving. I say handy because the interior layout of the Maxx accomodates a 8 foot ladder with room to spare. I have averaged over 38 mpg several times driving I95 in Florida. I have rented a Dodge Caliber while traveling and find that it is no comparison to the Maxx. The Caliber is noisy and the interior is not nearly as nice as the Maxx. With the deals out there I highly recommend the Maxx. An excellent value that is underappreciated by most buyers.

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  Love it - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By blondie - April 28 - 10:49 am

  I bought this car about 2 years ago and wanted a cheap but yet nice sporty looking car and when I saw this one I knew it was the one! I havent had any problems with it besides very minor knock on wood. Its a good little car and you can add the fun tall lights and tint the windows and let me tell you its a looker!