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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  Average midsize car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By davidwli - July 6 - 2:41 am

  I purchased my 05 4 months ago. Ive been in for repairs for 3 items 1/ Loose front left strut that was replaced. 2/ Shifter assembly was replaced , the manual shift mode was inoperative. 3/ Rattling sound in the steering column, Its true that GM says they do not have an effective repair yet for this problem. Hopefully the car will be reliable from now otherwise I will sell it when the warranty expires. I decided to buy the Malibu and save the 4 to 5 thousand dollars over what a comparable 05 import would have cost. The car is a great deal used but I wouldnt buy it new as the depreciation is high.

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  Decent - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Wade - July 6 - 2:40 am

  I love driving this thing! However I have had major issues, alternator went once and nearly killed me the way it went off. I have also replaced the controls arms for three wheels. It gets really good mileage on the HW (nearly 30 most of the time) and around 18 for daily around the town use. Ive also had issues with the brakes but nothing major. Good car for the price and after reading other reviews my experience seems to be an outlier. I love driving it though and I would be another if it came along.

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  Its a Great Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By truckdriver - July 6 - 1:03 am

  The 5cyl/5spd Z85/LS Reg Cab more than fills the need for a mid-sized, inexpensive, tow capable truck. The LS version is the best value, having several nice addl features. Ride is excellent. Concerning comments about the Chevy dash: its a truck not a Bentley. Who wants to spend big bucks for a fancy dash? The dash is simple, functional, and durable. Furthermore, the Chevy dash is better than the competing Toyota dash because it is smooth all across the bottom. The Toyota has obnoxious protrusions all over the place.The 5cyl is surprisingly powerful and worth the extra fee. Visibility is great; ride is excellent (for a truck).Silky smooth clutch, great shifter.

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  Malibu LTZ - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Stinkiesx2 - July 6 - 12:27 am

  I traded an 05 Escape for the 06 Malibu LTZ. I absolutely love it. I was worried about stepping down from an SUV but with more options at an affordable price and O% financing, you cant go wrong.

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  Best and safest little car for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bonnie - July 5 - 11:24 pm

  I bought this car had it for 2 years never had a problem ever just regular maint. Saturday June 17th 2006 I hit something in the road and lost control of the vehicle. Crashed into telephone poll and fliped over. I am happy to say that all I had was some bruises and even though the car is no more, I can safely say that car saved my life. I am buying another one.

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  Family Van and Cargo hauler - 2001 Chevrolet Express
  By boili - July 5 - 9:48 pm

  Bought the van to have more cargo space. Mission accomplished. Cavernous room after to take out all seats. Easy to drive und relaxing ride on long trips. High seat position give a good view. LT trim very appealing. Enjoy stepping in every time.

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  2001 Camaro V6 - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By RPD - July 5 - 5:57 pm

  This car is amazing. what a great deal you get a powerful v6 great styling and cargo room and pretty decent gas mileage!

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  Great everyday car - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kenneth Hanke - July 5 - 1:48 pm

  Car has good looks, plenty of room both front and back, very low cost to operate and is very dependable. What more could one want.

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  2005 Monte Carlo LT - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By keaporsch1 - July 5 - 7:13 am

  I have extremely enjoyed my Monte Carlo. It is powerful, reliable, durable, and stylish. It handles awesome in snow and ice. So far, the most expensive repair has been a replacement instrument cluster. Ive had nothing but good times with my Monte. I plan on keeping it forever.

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  Great S-10 - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Rick B. - July 4 - 9:46 pm

  Bought new with 6 miles. TB V6 auto Red over Back. In 11 years, have replaced EGR (2 mo), A/C Comp., Evap., muffler. Thats it. Drives and handles great, rides great, fun to drive. The ABS is something else. Hard to brake & stop. Upgraded the rotors, calipers, drums and shoes to get it working properly. You can put a ton of stuff in this 1/2 ton and still have power and comfort. The worst thing about this truck was replacing the flasher for the turn signals. The engineer that placed the part is still laughing to this day!