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 PERFECT CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lvlyliz - December 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is amazing, dont dis it till you try it.. It rides like a dream.. Oh I cant wait to get up and drive it everyday!

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  AWSOME - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By ripperopen_18 - December 2 - 2:00 am

  since we bought our monte me and the old lady fight over who gets to drive it everyday. we say excellent car and keep making them for as long as you can

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  Great Pick up for Hunting - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By HuntingSouth Texas - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Z71 Single cab for hunting and fishing. I am pleased with the looks and power of the vehicle. I am at 40,000 and it is in the shop for front end problems, nothing major, but it is covered on the extended warranty. my roughness caught up on the vehicle. but it has never left me hangnin. it is a bit rough on country roads, but the overall performance and build is great. i love my CHEVY!!!!!!!!!

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  Happy TB Owner - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DFerrin - December 2 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely no problems. My TrailBlazer is much nicer to drive than a Ford Explorer. Edmunds should test the upscale LTZ model instead of trashing the entry level model.

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  After 8 yrs - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By not a lemon - December 1 - 9:48 pm

  Bought this car new and after 8 yrs still havent had major problems. The only 2 issues with this car I have had are the rear lights (brake/reverse) burn out frequently and have had water pump replaced twice. Other than this, the last 93k miles have been problem free.

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  Couldnt Be More Thrilled! - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kristen - December 1 - 3:52 pm

  This model is much better than its competition. We tried all of them and were not impressed. The 2007 is far better than the 2006 model, they hardly compare. The price is also great, with the incentives out there now it makes it even more attractive.

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  Great Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By VADL - December 1 - 6:13 am

  Weve only had it for a few days now, but love it. Average MPG is @ 15-16 city and @ 21 Highway with no wind (@18 or so with windy conditions) at 65 miles per hour. While the DVD option is nice, we are waiting for a nicer day to take ours in to get the DVD player fixed -- it wont eject the DVDs, and the remote doesnt work. Waiting for a nicer day, so the dash doesnt get cracked when they fix it. Very comfortable and lots of nice features. Love the seat warmers, the auto remote start, lots of room. Not a lot of hidden storage, though; we thought there could be some hidden storage under the back cargo area for misc. items.

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  155k and still going - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dand\D - December 1 - 12:36 am

  Got this with 80k on it and its at 155k now. I cant find a car this comfortable. Love my captains chair. 5.3 V8 is a great engine. Ive had 2700lbs of cement bags in the back of this. Im gonna cry when I trade her away. I figure Im driving this for less than $2000 a year.

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  Great for Family of Five - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Charles - December 1 - 12:26 am

  Very surprising car, but its based an an Opel, after all. We chose it over a Mazda 5 mini-mini van. Big and versatile enough for 3 boys aged 7, 10, and 12 for long trips and has enough room for our suitcases too. The van will stay home unless we take the camper on future trips. Bought it because Bambi wrecked our 89 BMW 325i, so we were kind of spoiled and skeptical, but not anymore! Great features for the price, especially with the rebates. XM radio is excellent, would not have bought it except it was already installed which were glad of. With the 2006 interior updates and more external chrome it looks more contemporary. Hope it proves reliable!

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  Z06 earned my respect - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By seslew - November 30 - 9:21 pm

  I was not until recently a big Corvette fan. But I have changed my mind after owning the Z06 for the last month. It is the fastest car I have ever driven, even faster than the Lamborghini Gallardo ($200gs) a friend brought by to compare to the Z06. The handling is superb and for normal driving it is very comfortable. Everything about the car says quality. Large multi-piston brakes, advanced electronic traction control, design and attention to detail. The Goodyear Eagle Runflats stick to the road like they are part of it. The gearbox seems a little heavy but I havent missed a shift and the throw is short and fast. I have never had a car that attracts so much attention. A great car.