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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  I love my car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sweater32 - January 16 - 7:21 pm

  The LTZ Malibu is a dream come true car for the price. I love the way it handles going slow and fast. It can turn on a dime. I love the data that you can see readily: mph, how many miles you have left on your tank of gas, when oil should be change, The average mph you are traveling, two trip mileage. The direction you are traveling on the mirror (NSEW) Onstar for free for one year. Heated seats, leather seats and steeriing wheel. The radio can be accessed on the steering wheel including mute.

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  Its just okay. - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By KevinJ - January 16 - 5:46 pm

  When I purchased the vehicle, I was relatively impressed. As much as i would love to say that I am still impressed to this day, I simply cannot. I have had to drop the car off to my local Chevy dealer multiple times for reasons like the car stalling randomly, running on 4cyl, broken rear defroster, a shot transmission, speakers not working, seat heater not working, sunroof broken, condensation in the tail lights, etc. To put it quite frankly, it has been a lemon. I do thoroughly enjoy driving it when it works (a rarity), but it needs more power for such a large displacing V6. I also enjoy the strength of the seat heaters(when they work.) I only have one more gripe. THE UGLIEST WHEELS EVER.

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  The best car Ive ever experianced - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Hubert - January 16 - 2:23 pm

  The 2004 Chevy Aveo LS 4 door sedan, is by far the best car Ive ever driven and/or owned. I have been abundantly surprised at how reliable, comfortable and durable this car has been. It is small enough to get into tight spots and large enough to carry all things necessary and ride in complete comfort. My husband is a tall man and most small cars he has to slouch in. The Aveo allows him to sit strait up and have all the room he needs, without leaving me (who is a foot and a half shorter) swimming. I highly recommend the Aveo to all I encounter.

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  Displacement on Demand doesnt save Mileage - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Steve - January 16 - 4:16 am

  Please dont take the MPG ratings on the window sticker as gospel. I believe mine was rated at 17/22. I was averaging 14.5. Never got above 18 MPG even during travel of all highway miles. Other than gas mileage, the truck was well built. Theyve done a good job with the 07s. This is coming from someone who swore they would never purchase an American car. However, gas was killing me. Just traded for a BMW. Just got 31.7 MPG last week on the highway.

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  Fun in Florida - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Joe in FL - January 16 - 3:28 am

  Ive had the truck for about 6 months now and it is awesome! The 3.5L is worth the money... if you like performance and fuel economy, that is. My city and 80mph highway driving continually averages better than 20mpg. This is good for me because I have a lead foot. The A/C is cold, and cools quickly (and I live in Miami). It looks very, very much like a Honda inside, and classy with silver accents, which is to say better than a Honda. Maybe Im easily pleased - go to a dealer and see for yourself. Im trying to think of something bad to say about it.... (nothing yet).

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  02 Camaro SS - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Phillip Reynolds - January 16 - 3:00 am

  These cars are absolutely wonderful. They are a blast to drive, especially on good curvy roads!!! I would highly recomend this car to any performance enthusiast out there that wants a sports car.

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  5000 miles - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By corvette Jim - January 16 - 2:22 am

  I have owned a Jag, Mercedes, Nissan & Lexus. The 05 Vette has by far the best sports car peformance & style. The C6 really is a beautiful machine inside and out.

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  Finally Got My Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rdvideo1 - January 15 - 7:41 pm

  After 25 years of wanting a Suburban, finally got one. This truck drives like a car. They have really improved the ride, noise dampening, and creature comforts. Live in an area that has a lot of hills. This truck negotiates them like they werent even there. Some of my passengers have complained about the 2nd row seats not adjusting but not too much else. Traded in a high top conversion van which had more room but was terible in the winter for traction (2 rear wheel drive). The front bucket seats are a little tight when the arm rest is down. Find myself resting my arm on the center flip up console. Gas mileage is around 14.5 around town (with a lot of hills). Does better on the highway.

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  Reliable Car - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bobber - January 15 - 3:52 pm

  I bought the car in 2002 new. I now have 112,000 miles on it. I live in Iowa and drive on pavement, gravel roads and even farm fields. This car runs like a Swiss watch. I have the 3.8 engine and highly recommend its excellent combination of torque and fuel economy. This car is heavy so it feels extemely solid in snow, ice or rain yet is still will average close to 30 miles per gallon in highway driving. The car has a huge trunk and it it does a great job of transporting my young family of four with all our assorted luggage and toys. Traction control, ABS, Airbags, and the cars solid feel all give me a sense of imense safety when taking my family on the road. A value leader!

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  90 day review - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By SSH - January 15 - 10:00 am

  Traded in 97 Astro for 04 LT EXT. Expect a truck like ride, 3rd row seating is easier and sits better than Tahoe. We like it overall. We live in Texas, it does not produce cold air until it is moving. Dealer says that is how it was designed, still looking into it.