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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  Got Pulled into this one - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By hksunshine - October 27 - 9:40 pm

  Compared vs the Camry, Accord & others. Chevy gave me best lease deal on LT2 with V6. Great looking car & comfortable drive. Loose motor mount problem on delivery. First time locked the windows, the switch blew. Was a week before the dealer could get it fixed. Very dramatic and dangerous torque steer from a stop or on hard acceleration. Have been to 3 dealers, involved GM mgmt office but response I get is that it is "normal" for this car. Drove another & it was not as bad. I love the toys- bluetooth, XM, remote start etc. Onstar O.K.(have had wrong directions). To sum, major safety flaw-if not for that Id love it. Glad its a lease. Had to do again Id go for 4 cyl. MPG Hwy 30+ City 17.

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  03 Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By dave711 - October 27 - 6:48 pm

  Never had it back to dealer for anything. Change the oil and put in gas and go. Very smooth and quiet ride along with the largest trunk of any vehicle ever made. The heated leather seats are very comfortable and great for long drives. Definitely the ultimate utility vehicle.

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  05 Pocket Rocket - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By geebsz - October 27 - 4:26 pm

  This has been a wonderful car for me. Im a bit of a spirited driver, and this little car with the upgraded suspension and wheels makes it a trip to drive. Ive added a Magnaflow catback exhaust and a K&N filter, but even before that the car was great. Going from a Tahoe to this was a treat in the gas mileage department too. With as many miles as Ive put into it and as hard as Ive driven it, its done very well. Some things to watch for: The shifter may have to be replaced to fix the problem of getting the key out when putting it in park. The passenger rear quarter window seal leaks. The sunroof switch bezel fell off. All of these things are easy fixes for the local dealership.

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  BartMans Z71 Silverodo - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bart De Coro - October 27 - 3:20 pm

  This truck is a looker! Good power. Fun to drive. Needs a better upgrade on the Bridgestone tires. Had defects in 200 miles. The ride is fairley smooth being a four wheel drive. XM Radio and OnStar is a must have! Got a pretty fair deal on this truck.

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  love it - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jkh6148 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  i love this car - the engine and transmission are quiet and smooth - breaking is smooth

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  Great truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Chris99 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  Im not sure which truck I picked from the list but I have the 4WD, Duramax with an Alison transmission. The truck has great power starting off and is quicker then my 2002 F250 Power Stroke. This truck is much quieter and more comfortable. So fat I have driven +20000 miles and have had no problems. I love my truck!

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  2003 Trailblazer LS - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Exiler069 - October 27 - 10:00 am

  After driving the trailblazer for 4 months now, I have found virtually no problems with engine, interior, or exterior. It is definitely a fun to drive vehicle for long trips as well as everyday driving.

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  Best higher mileage car I have ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Austin - October 27 - 4:31 am

  My Cruze 1LT has 92000 miles and still performs like new! A couple of months ago I was T-Boned by a F-150 on the drivers side and I walked away without a scratch. The car held up very well, I elected to have the car repaired and its back on the road like nothing happened. The only repair was a new waterpump under warranty at 90000 miles. The interior remains rattle free and quiet. The 1.4T has plenty of power and still averages 36 MPG and I dont baby it. I have gotten as much as 46 MPG on the highway. It has never let me down, even with no coolant when the waterpump failed it still got me home (I didnt realize all the coolant leaked out.) It starts the first time everytime without any drama. I was very surprised by how awesome it goes in the snow even without winter tires. Im 6 foot 2 and 270 pounds, I have plenty of room in this car. I got a 2015 Impala as a loaner when my Cruze got its waterpump replaced, the Impala was a great car but the Cruze seems more solid. Looking into a 2016 Cruze for my next vehicle.

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  Best vehicle I have ever had! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Molly - October 27 - 1:19 am

  I bought this vehicle in 2004 for only $8,000. It was the best purchase I had ever made on a vehicle. I have owned a Mazda and Corsica and had nothing but problems. When I purchased this vehicle it had 17,000 miles on it and I was working at a state agency so I did a lot of traveling. I now have 83,000 miles on it and the only problem I had with it was a couple weeks after I got it the factory CD player stopped working but I was in a the process of getting a CD player installed anyways and all I have needed done is brakes changed twice and oil changes. Mechanically I have had absolutely no problems and it drives smoothly.

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  Put the fun back in driving - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kevdog - October 26 - 7:50 pm

  At 67", this car fits great. The ease of getting into and out of is outstanding. Tons of legroom with the seat slightly reclined. I looked at all makes and models, including full size sedans, and of them all the Malibu was by far these easiest to get into. Plenty of options for the money. More than enough power and great fuel mileage, even if Ive got that lead foot. Used to have a 98 F-150, now enjoy driving again.