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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  dream truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By James - December 24 - 11:32 pm

  I had a big chevy, but wanted a smaller version of the larger truck (1976)never happened until 94. Then the shortbed stepside was produced. Love at first sight. Brought mine in 05. It has been a treasure. It is driven on the road over 200 miles a day five days a week. it had a 2.2 4 cyl. I overheated it driving with the radiator cap off. It had 288k on it then. Replaced motor & drove it a year on the road. Decided I wanted more horsepower. Upgraded drivetrain to v6 power with automatic and now have the truck of my dreams. started to add a v8 but change plans due to mileage driven daily.

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  like this car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By john - December 24 - 11:51 am

  Ive driven this car for over a year. Its a nice,well built,comfortable car.Ive had absolutely no problems with it. Most of my driving has been in-town. It seems a lot roomier than a good friends new Camry.

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  Chevy Impapa LS - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jerry S. - December 24 - 11:33 am

  I recently purchased a new Chevrolet Impala LS. I wasnt looking for all the bells and whistles, but more for the roominess both interior and trunk. True, this car is a bit generic, but the leather interior is very comfortable, especially with power seats. The interior noise is reasonably quiet except for a minor transaxle whine in 1st and 2nd gear. Coarse roads also bring on some unpleasant resonance. Front spoiler annoyingly seems to hit every driveway. All the interior controls are very legible with a decent sound system. The 3.8 v6 starts and runs flawlessly. with excellent mpg.If your looking for nice comfortable and practical full size transportation, consider the Impala.

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  Pro-mileage; Con-bed. - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By willfly - December 24 - 10:00 am

  Have had our Colorado for 2 months. Very happy with it. Getting 21 mpg with a combo of highway/city driving. Good forward visibility. Heated leather seats the way to go. Clean and organized engine compartment. Engine runs smooth. Z71 Suspension handles well. Had it in the mountains for some light offroad (fire roads & river beds). 2WD with traction control performed well. Rear seats roomy & comfortable. Some problems with fit/finish...a reoccuring issue for GM. Had to have the drivers door realigned. Wish the bed was just a bit longer. The rear-seat cupholders seem cheap/poorly designed, with respect to its mounting.

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  Nice Verhicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Trailbuster - December 24 - 10:00 am

  I looked at alot of mid size and compact SUV before I purchased this one. Of course some had items I liked better but overall the Trailblazer does it for me. My second choice was the Toyota 4 Runner.

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  Comfortable, rattling and unsafe - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Steve May - December 24 - 7:01 am

  The GOOD: No doubt this van is comfortable to sit in and looks quite nice. It accelerates quite fast and steers and brakes well too. It is roomy. That is where it ends. The van rattles especially on bumpy roads. It squeals and/or squeaks at speeds over 70 - ok probably not going to happen too often but still annoying. Build quality is not too good as the outside seat plastic switch assembly was falling apart as well as the plastic liner by the trunk. Worst of all, this van has HORRIBLE OFFSET crash test ratings! Most likely you will drive this in town to haul kids...not the safest choice.

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  Driving a Lemon - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Amanda10 - December 23 - 6:18 pm

  My car handles very well in rough terrain and snow and that is the only thing I like about it. Since I have had it I have had nothing but problems with the engine and with the electrical system. I have no heat in my car and have taken it to 2 mechanics whom said they dont know what is wrong.

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  Good Car for the Money - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By CarCrazy - December 23 - 3:37 pm

  We just bought our used 2007 Impala LT w/ the 3.9L (Active Fuel Management system)engine at the end of September 2009. So far weve put on 4K in 2 1/2 months of mixed driving and averaged 23 MPG (which is not bad for such a large car). The Bose sound system is great, as are the large controls and placement of the controls. My only gripe would be the soft touring suspension (I was used to driving a VW Jetta before) and the seats could be more supportive (could also use Memory seating). Otherwise, this a great car for the money and features.

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  I love it, the wife hates it. - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By RkyMtnBob - December 23 - 10:25 am

  I really do love this car. I traded down from a 4 door Silverado. Really like the exterior lines and style. I drive 35 city miles to work and get 27mpg summer and 25mpg winter. Plenty of room front and back. Fold down the rear seats and the floor in 3x5, which is reasonable to get stuff home. The center mounted window controls take getting used to. Small windows as well, just means you have to actually look instead of glance. The 2.4 engine has plenty of go. The Traction Control can get twitchy in snow and ice. I have had the front rotor warping issue, it was fixed fast but I may have to deal with it again. The wife does not like the looks or small windows, but she loves the heated seats.

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  Love my Malibu - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By First Chevy - December 22 - 2:41 pm

  I come from a Honda/Toyota family, but couldnt resist buying the Malibu after getting in one at the LA Auto Show. The interior design is better than all the competitors, although materials arent as good as some. The ride is remarkably quiet and comfortable. The exterior grew on me. Its a great balance of aggressiveness, class, and distinctiveness. So far no problems except that one passenger door would not open the day I bought the car, but that was fixed promptly. Im giving American cars a chance, and so far I am pleased.