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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  SSR 6 speed - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By F Mitchell - October 4 - 11:13 am

  Drives and looks great. The six speed is fun to drive and has plenty of power in all six gears. It gets lots of looks everywhere I go.

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  Unusual - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By C. Taylor - October 4 - 3:34 am

  With aftermarket Michelin Pilots (18 inch), I average 19-20 mpg. This is partly attributable to fuel efficiencies that GM developed over time. I try to tell as many people as possible, since I think the perception is that big SUVs get 10 or less. This is my second Tahoe - I traded in a 2004.

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  2001 Malibu - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jibeho - October 4 - 2:17 am

  Many small problems as stated in previous reviews. Also had MAJOR problems around 50K. Starter failed, Intake manifold gasket failed, and then the engine failed. Even the key fob is poorly designed because you can easily set off the car alarm accidentally. Overall, the 2001 Malibu is a very unsatisfactory car ownership experience. The rapid depreciation tells the story quite well, because the free market effectively values the car for what it is worth (not much). I could not recommend a Malibu to anybody, and will be buying a Japanese or Korean brand next time around.

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  Really Good Basic Transport - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By analyzerlx - October 3 - 11:39 pm

  Ive driven this Cavalier from Vegas to Baltimore, MD. back to Vegas and then to Georgia. Its been everywhere in-between. Ive used it as a pizza delivery car! I think GM did right with this engine and body style. I wish the fit-and-finish were up to Asian and Euro standards, but you get what you pay for I guess. I like the Cobalt, but think the Cavalier has a better look. Cavalier may have been a checkered ast, but it still is one of Chevys best selling cars ever! Cobalt should be renamed Cavalier to keep the legacy alive. I bought my car as a standard 4-door sedan w/o all the bells and whistles inside. Ive had to replace the trunk latch. Overall a great American car!

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  Great SUV - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By FJM - October 3 - 9:33 am

  The Tahoe is fun to drive and with the Emerald Blue paint and 20" wheels is a real head turner! Sound system is great and the vehicle is tight with wind noise being minimal. The only problem so far has been a vibration/noise in the dash caused by engine harmonics when accelerating under a load such as hauling a trailer or pulling away from a stop light

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  awesome vette - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By Richard Green - October 2 - 12:44 am

  Purchased my z51,2lt, singray, last year in feb. 2500 miles at this time. Real head turner, ton of questions, while getting gas. Great ride, performance, handling, good gas milage. The sound in awsome,npp exhaust r a must. Think they really have out done themselves.

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  Pretty solid car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By satisfied customer - October 1 - 11:02 pm

  Awesome car to drive with 0 major problems. Bought used with 102,000 on it and it now has 121,000 on it in less than 6 months. 5 speed transmission still shifts smooth. Only problem has been the brake lights. They shouldnt be integrated with the 4 ways. i have to constantly press forward on the 4ways to keep the brake lights working. Everything works even after being driven hard for the 20K.. Great mileage in city and highway 26/33 respectively. I would buy another

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  2005 Chevy Colorado 4x4 Z71Crew Cab - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By steppen_out - October 1 - 4:59 am

  Love this truck. It is fun to drive, has great power and it makes a great tow!! It is easy to hitch and unhitch behind our RV better than the Saturn that we use to tow. Love the ride. It rides more like a car than a truck. Love the heated leather seats with lumbar support.

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  2005 Chevy Colorado Crew Cab - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By steppen_out - October 1 - 4:42 am

  Love this truck. It is easy to drive, has good pickup and go. Rides like a car. Glad we bought it.

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  Uplander LT - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By John S - September 30 - 7:03 pm

  Wasnt too thrilled with roof rail, thought it was like roofrack where you could put things on roof. Also do not like not having key lock tailgate. Am also not happy with advertised fuel economy, advertised 24/18, more like 19/15 ordered trailering package, only received wiring harness, no trailer hitch installed