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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  Chevrolet has cheapened the Impala - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Charl - April 7 - 12:01 pm

  I was very disappointed in the newer Impala as I owned a 2005 and loved the vehicle (my fault for not researching). Chevrolet has left out many of the old standards of comfort and the gas mileage is very disappointing. We have owned at least six Chevrolet cars and Im sorry to say I will think twice about purchasing another.

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  Not a good choice - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jay - April 6 - 1:03 am

  My parents bought me this car when I graduated but I wish they went with something else. Ive owned one for 3 years and now selling it. It is very reliable and doesnt have many mechanical problems at all but the entire interior design is made from cheap easy to break materials. Even the seats are VERY uncomfortable for driving for long periods my back would actually start to hurt after 3 or so hours and id have to get out and stretch, the cup holders are ridiculously placed right behind the cup holders. Dont expect the CD drive to last long either. Not to mention what car nowadays doesnt have power doors OR windows??The brakes also stink on wet roads, the steering is loose.

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  handy liitle thing - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Dom - April 5 - 6:37 pm

  Just a handy cute little car. its comfort seating sit high like a truck good visibility. rides good very fuel economical have done 6.9l/100km in ideal conditions. winter driving affects it i do closer to 8.9/100km. over all very satisfied. except a few front end noises, has to do with suspension, but i had no problem getting them replaced (stabalizer bars)and they could be removed for someone that does not want to be bothered with replacing them.

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  2002 z24 - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ANAKIN50 - April 5 - 12:48 pm

  excellent vehicle. the only bad things about it: dash parts (cracks with the sun light too fast), and the original paint job its too poor. but i love my z24.

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  182,000 and still going strong - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Artsy - April 5 - 10:35 am

  I bought this car when it came off a 1- yr lease and had 11,000 miles on it. Over the years have replaced alternator, gasket and thermostat (2x) Did basic oil changes, new tires. Now at 182,000 and the darned thing wont die. Currently getting 33mpg. Drives great, I feel safe in it, and it can plow through the deep snow of a Minnesota winter. Sometimes Im the only one who makes it to work. Great little car.

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  Has problems.... - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Patrick - April 4 - 8:28 pm

  I bought this car used with only 2,400 miles on it. The engine is up to the task, and the transmission does a good job of using the power at hand. My problems center around the cooling system. This is the second GM car that Ive had in which the coolant is just disappearing. The thermostat is also broken (locked open I think), and will have to be fixed. Dont know where the coolant is going, as there are no leaks. Probably a blown head gasket. Otherwise I like this car, but those are major repairs that the car will need. Air conditioning isnt working now, and hasnt for over two years. Now the fan control is screwed up too (only works on 4 and 5 settings, nothing lower).

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  Bought it New in 92 - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Josh - April 4 - 8:21 pm

  5 Liter V8 in Purple Haze (yes thats the actual factory color) with T- Tops. Even at 3400 lbs, with 255/45/16s in the rea and 245/50/16s in the front, this car holds the road like few cars Ive driven. Low center of gravity and fairly wide stance are likely the reasons. In original mint condition, and unique factory color, this car attracts a lot of attention... ...and buy offers.

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  Good and Bad - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By KMH - April 4 - 9:20 am

  The car has a strong engine and looks great in the metallic red color. Satellite radio is great also At 11,000 miles central steering linkage needed to be replaced-disappointing. Overall the car is a 7. It still does not measure up in quality to foreign offerings although they have slipped in quality and GM is finally moving in the right direction.

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  Basic, reliable transportation - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By TC - April 3 - 9:29 pm

  Sure, the car is plain and blends in with the crowd. But its been super-reliable and great on gas. Thats all I ask out of a daily driver, commuter vehicle. Bought with 30,000 miles on it, and just turned over 100,000 today. The only major problem Ive had so far is some electrical thing with the fuel pump that was fixed under warranty. The factory CD player quit some time ago, but was easy to replace myself. I also had the problem with the carpet on the drivers side cut too short, causing it to pull away from the trim. Its also worn through where my left foot rests when Im driving. All in all, nearly the perfect car for getting me to work and back every day and around town.

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  fuel gauge - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By your-buddie - April 3 - 12:49 pm

  I see I am not the only one with fuel gauge problems. I guess I will continue to guess the amount of fuel in the tank as many (too many) others have done. Sorry about our luck on this one! The car has been very reliable till now, right after the warranty expires. This sounds like a very common error on Chevrolets The gas gauge just goes wild and finally comes to rest on the temp gauge.From what I read the gas tank has to come out and a new sensor installed and while the tank is out you might as well put a new fuel pump in too. Not going to happen!Maybe once the fuel pump quits it will really become an issue for me. I am sure other people who read these dont bother to enter a comment