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:

• 

  Finally a real SS - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By red64chevelle - June 12 - 2:00 am

  Let me start by saying,"I love my Silverado SS." It has all the power I could want, great style, and has as nice of an interior that I would want in a truck. The milage is kinda poor (12-15mpg range) but the power and stability provided between the 345hp and the All wheel drive more than makeup for it.

• 

  Really a decade before its time..Great car but ... - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By J. Cobbs justhangin inthere - June 11 - 4:06 pm

  Hello. Ive owned GOLDIE ( my gold and tan interior maliboo-boo) for over 14 years, and to the cars credit havent been impressed with many new cars because of the inivations on this malibu in 2000. Try these standard features on my car with the cars of 2016 and see why it was way ahead of is time.... Engine small v-6 3.1 liter and still gets 25-26 mpg combined...thats right.. full size chevy heavy steel frame car that gets 26 mpg combined and its quick...My wife had a 3.6 liter pontiac GRAN AM with 210 hp and I beat her every time...go figure. I have carbon fiber on my dash..free no add on cost. One of the most powerful heater/AC systems Ive every felt ( even over my FORD F250 work truck ) and very comfy seats even for my bad hip ( Im 60 years old and crashed by cycle a few years back) Add full AUTO HEADLIGHTS, ENGINE HILL HOLDER EVEN IN SAN FRANSICO(impressive) and a simple engineand even self-adjusting brakes and a trunk you can almost fit a full size bike into( with the front wheel off) and you have a car that lead the way in many ways and even to this day and the paint even looks fresh as the day she came off the factory showroom too. The reason Im writing this is because of my medical issues( Diabetic, eye sight, nerve issues) I cant really drive her any more and Im donating her to a needy family nearby. If you find a CHEVY MALIBU just be aware that engine seals can be a issue with them and need to be replaced every few years...Hell it still has the factory stereo speakers in it and have gone thur 3 hi powered dash radios...She will be missed as the innovator of the GM lineup for the NEW CENTURY ...many imatators have come but no-one did it better...Good bye my fathful stead ...my you live on...but never forgotten . with your gentle seats and your powerful horses...A DEW...Jay Cobbs

• 

  Gas? - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Nur2652 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Great car, very happy with it do far. Love the style of the body, if you catch it from an angle it looks like a BMW, really nice interior, love the 2 tone color (black & red) nice dash gauges pretty easy to use. Im 6,0 315 and I fit very comfortably. Metallic black paint color looks great. Very quiet ride, only 1 problem. Ive used 3 tanks of gas already and avg only 18 mpg. 810 miles in 45 gallons of gas. Where is the 24/36/29 they claim? I travel city and highway plenty. Did I get a fuel lemon? I really really like car, but pretty disappointed in gas mpg. Also new cars need an easier way to raise and move seats, not a fan of the pump system.

• 

  Economical Luxury - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Houston Gal - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I came across the Cruze by accident while looking for a small car with good gas mileage. Well, it is a a luxurious, smooth driving, economical car.I could not have asked for anything more. I looked at the Jetta, Corolla, Mustang, and even a Saab. All were more expensive with fewer perks and luxury.

• 

  Bye bye CR-V. - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kadi D - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I was hesitant about going American but Im so glad I did. At first I test drove the Acura rdx, Ford escape & edge, I looked at the hyundi (but couldnt make myself drive it, just looked to cheap) than. I drove the Chevy. Love at first drive. The car is smooth, quiet & looks are impressive. My biggest complaints on the Honda were road noise & overall feel, it started to feel clunky after awhile, so the Chevy was a welcomed change. It also has features the other cant touch. Like when I saw a fire, I hit onstar & was able to ask them where it was in proximity to my location & my home. The rep was able to get me around all the drama & made me feel much better to know it wasnt my complex

• 

  Pretty good half ton - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 4bangerOZZY - June 8 - 7:53 pm

  Pros: this is a very dependable truck. the 5.3L that i have in my Z71 is bulletproof compared to the Prone to head gasket repair 5.7L. The powertrain is a good 4 speed trans with a single stage torque converter, it shifts smooth and in tow/haul mode very strong and fast like you want it. The interior has plenty of room for an extended cab and the ebony leather is a nice luxury touch. For a half ton pickup its a great strong ride thats stiff like you want a pickup but softer than the other halftons for its time. Im definitely sold on the Z71 silverados, my wife wants one for her next vehicle so it looks like shes sold on it too.

• 

  Wow!! Thats a Malibu - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ryan - June 7 - 5:00 am

  I cant believe that I bought a Chevy vehicle! I used to own a Camry; however, as long as GM continues to build quality cars like the Malibu I will continue to buy Chevrolets. The styling and handling of this car doesnt compare to anything else I have driven. This car is far superior in all aspects and a great value as well. This car looks and drives like a $40,000 vehicle. I have had several people come up to me to ask me about the car and I love it!

• 

  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Dan - June 5 - 8:06 pm

  The power plant could be more powerful, but Chevy has addressed this in new models. Great build quality, have owed car for 2 years 3 months, not one problem. Very reliable, looks great, drives well, gets a lot of looks. Highly recommend it.

• 

  All Around Very Good Performer - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By James Tiller - June 5 - 3:06 am

  Dont let the snobbish reviewers sway you about the exterior styling. This is not a cookie-cutter car for conformists. It was designed to look different than regular commuter-cars, and i think its features are very distinctive and memorable. Very good performance from FWD 3.8 litre V6. A great engine, great transmission, and great handling/suspension characteristics. If you miss 1960s/early 1970s sporty/luxury 2- door coupes, then this car may be for you. And keep in mind, this car produces more horsepower than any production Monte since 1974, when they still put had the big-block as an option. I recomend this car for those who want to live a little, and still have a sense of practicality!

• 

  de Mexico - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By salvador - June 5 - 2:00 am

  I love driving my 2004 malibu, but I found some annoying noise when in bumpy roads