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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  Great car, reliable as ever! - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Jeff Michaels - January 30 - 4:15 am

  I own a 1998 Lumina sedan and it has been in my family since it was brand new. It is holding up nicely! It now has 180,000 miles on it and still starts right up and drives smoothly! Exterior is still in great condition as well. No major problems have occured yet with it, this whole time! Just the minor, cheap routine repairs. This 3.1L V6 is awesome. Too bad Chevy quit assembling the 1995-2000 generation of Montes and Luminas.

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  Could be better - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By ColoradoOwner - January 30 - 12:19 am

  Not quite the performance and reliability I was hoping for out of my truck. Ive been to the dealer several times since buying it to reset the check engine light codes, and have a creaky suspension.

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  Only one major problem - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By rtonon - January 30 - 12:02 am

  I had an F150 before the Avalanche. The Avalanches ride and quietness rivals that of a quality sedan. Bose stereo is incredible. Love the midgate and what it allows you to do. No other truck can do what this truck does. Ive used this feature several times and am glad I had this vehicle. A negative would be having to move the fronts seats foward to allow the rear seat to fold down to fully lower the midgate. A removable rear seat headrest would solve the problem. I now have 71000 miles and have yet to do anything but normal oil changes. Brakes are original still. Still love the truck

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  My 05 Colorado LS - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Terese Foster - January 29 - 8:35 pm

  Fun truck to drive, very sporty & handles very well. Just wish the seats were little bit more comfortable.

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  Gonna keep it! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By madrileno - January 29 - 4:15 pm

  So far so good. I average 5000 miles a year. Only one safety recall for the seat belt clip. I thought the mileage would be better for a small car but the automatic transmission has held mine back. This is a great car for getting around town and for training my teenager. She will get it one day since based on edmunds value of this car I owe more than it is worth but with no down payment thats OK.

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  Luxury Car and Fun to Drive - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tony - January 29 - 2:03 pm

  The 6 speed 2.4L v4 is definitely the way to go. It has great fuel economy and is built as good as a BMW in my opinion. It is great to see that you do not need the v6 (which I had in my last car) to get the quiet ride and good acceleration. I was looking for a good family 4-door sedan that would also be fun to drive back and forth on my long commute to work (on the congested roads of NJ). Based on my budget of 20-25K, I had considered many new cars and also a low mileage BMW used car. After test driving, the Malibu was the clear winner. My wife and I were actually shocked at how smooth and quiet the ride was (though tried to keep the smiles off our faces before negotiating the price).

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  My Son Loves This Truck! - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Wade - January 29 - 10:13 am

  I bought my SS used, as I do with all my trucks, and am very pleased with it. The exterior is so much better looking than the standard Silverado. It drives & rides like a Cadillac. I will never buy any other truck than a GM.

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  Strong Recomendation - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Daniel - January 29 - 9:46 am

  I really enjoy this car. This is my first brand new car purchase and bought it without any research, and to be honest, I almost didnt test drive it. I was very attracted to its design and at the moment, that is all that matter. I was wrong though, there is much more to it. It handles well, has lots of pep, and is extremely quiet. I am a little disapointed in the MPG, but my last car got over 400 mile to the tank so anything is an adjustment. Nonetheless, this is a phenomenal buy and I have never been more satisfied.

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  Thinks its a muscle care! - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JohnTrips - January 29 - 4:09 am

  I found this car as a trade on a backlot, with 80k miles. It was cherry, and has treated me very well. Like any car, you better take care of it though (fluids, oil) if you want it to last. Does tend to run hot by design but you can add an electric thermostat to fan relay to turn on fan earlyer. A little common sense will keep the v6 running perfect to 200k miles no sweat! competitve gas mileage,well built powertrain, INCREDIBLE handling, plus enjoyable power (and exhaust rumble) Get the 5 speed! This makes a great first car for your teenager, good to work on at mome plus with a few performance mods will make this a REAL head turner. Great crash ratings too

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  Dont Blink or Youll Miss the Show - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By bangn the pavement - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Well everyone the end of an era is coming. I can remember new 69,70,70 and one half,71, and 72s rolling off the assembly lines for around $4000-$5000. I have just ordered a 2002 Camaro SS with all the toys I had a youngster. Well I guess some people never grow up. It has been a wife, four kids,two dogs and a job that takes up way too much of my time since I had a machine like the SS. I took a 2000 SS that the dealer had for sale for a ride and once again I was hooked. Now I count the weeks before delivery and hope that many more people find the pure enjoyment that such a unique vehicle offers.