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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  Nothing but bad news - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Nannygoat - August 26 - 10:00 am

  It has been nothing but problems: alternator, spark plug wires (twice), spark plugs, power windows (twice), power door locks, drivers reclining mechanism, door padding, center console, power steering, transmission. I have sunk about $5-6K into this car in the 4.5 years of ownership. Only 67K miles. Dont bother seeking a refuge with GM "customer service" either. They just tell you to get lost.

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  Not A Happy Camper Today - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By raleigh - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Bought the car with 7,000 miles on it from dealer. At <30,000 had to have the rear brakes (rotors/pads) replaced ($300).The tie rods were replaced at same time (under warranty).Today, I have 36,400 miles and am having alternator replaced ($400)after putting a brand new battery in last week ($75) and also the AC switch panel which may be why your a/c is shutting off and on too)$200. 400 miles ago this would have been covered under warranty. Not today. Im not very happy with my Malibu. Oh yeah, did I mention the tires that were practically shot at 17K. am now totally convinced I should never have bought a Chevrolet

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  Problems, but fun - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DMaze - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Despite the problems that I have had, I really enjoy my malibu. I have had problems with the AC (a electronic problem caused it to flicker on & off - fixed under warranty), have had the rocker arm replaced, and am concerned about the life of my brake system. But despite the problems, I am really enjoying my car.

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  Great product by Chevy - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By C. Thompson - August 26 - 9:53 am

  We bought our van and within 3 weeks took it on vacation. Averaged 24mpg highway and had a smooth ride the whole way. A/C cooled down quickly and with rear air conditioning the van was comfortable all the time. If I had to pick out a weak point it would be the middle chairs dont have arm rests. Sounds silly but this can be important on longer trips. Our van has the DVD system that was great for the kids. I am not sure the back cargo area is as big as some other vans. But there is more space for the passengers so it is a nice trade. If you are going to drop 30K get a Honda Oddesy but for 20K-23K this is a great choice.

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  Conrads Big Red - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By conradkoz - August 26 - 3:10 am

  This car is a brilliant work of auto- motive design. The design of this car,both inside and outside,is just terrific. The looks of this car are outstanding,and are really breathtaking. The quality,versatility and the way it handles the road are second to none. Last but not least, it is priced right.

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  We All Love Our 2007 Suburban - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MK - August 25 - 8:28 pm

  We wanted this car forever. Heard they were changing the body style so we waited another year!! Glad we did. The truck handles great. The traction control really works. I was making a turn onto a wet just paved street and the truck started to spin. The traction control kicked in and set the truck straight! That is the best feature they could have added to a truck this size. The only complaint is I only get 12.5 miles to the gallon. How long does it take for the fuel management system to kick in? I only have 800 miles on it, maybe someone can let me know. Also, we have black leather and light tan looking headliner which looks weird. Other than that we love it, drives so smooth, and quiet!

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  2006 Malibu - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bert Mullins - August 25 - 4:33 pm

  Excellent car. Gas mileage is even better than advertised. Weve gotten up to 39 MPG on the highway, and always get at least 27 MPG in town. Quality is very nice and of a level one would only expect to find from a much more expensive car. The performance is quite nice, even though it is only a four cylinder motor, and it has plenty of room inside. Its not a small car by any means, it just gets the gas mileage of one. We are very pleased with this car.

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  Used Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By teak - August 25 - 12:22 pm

  I purchased a 2002 Avalanche a few months ago. I must say, WOW! I absolutely love it. Probably the most comfortable vehicle I have ever had. Thankfully the previous owner was very very nice to it. Great versatility for a full size truck. I absolutely am getting a newer Avalanche for my next vehicle. Dont believe what you read, this truck is absolutely great.

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  Why did they kill this car--again? - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By John - August 25 - 11:43 am

  I never thought I would enjoy (nay, love) driving a front drive V6, but holy crap! This car will put your backside in the seat and keep it there then stop on a dime and give you a nickel change. The handling is very stable and pretty responsive. Im 65 and fit extremely well in this car once the triple adjustable seat was set. The exterior is as aggressive as the performance; people tend to stare when I go by. When I took the car on the highway, 90 was as comfortable as 40. This is truly a sharp car. Makes me wonder why in the world GM would discontinue such a great automobile.

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  Excellent SUV - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Cmac - August 24 - 4:46 pm

  I have a North Face Edition, and it is a FANTASTIC car. it looks GREAT, especially with the extra lights.