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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  2008 Corvette Convertible - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By cleo299 - March 23 - 8:22 pm

  Amazing car - impressive acceleration and handling when driven hard. Smooth and quiet when driven soft. Surprisingly good fuel economy - 23-25 mpg. Good trunk space - even with the top down. Low cost insurance. Zero problems after 24K miles.

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  Z71 Off Road - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Hunter - March 23 - 6:43 pm

  We absolutely love our Tahoe!! We bought it in November 2009 knowing it had a few problems from the previous owners neglect. But after maintenance and repair, it runs fantastic!! I would definitely recommend this truck to anyone looking for a full sized SUV.

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  Awesome - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jomman - March 23 - 12:16 am

  this car is great, wish it had just a little more hp though but its still fun to drive and quick to respond

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  Seriously fun !!!! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jason - March 22 - 5:56 pm

  Only had the car for a week and I cannot get enough !! I now love to drive at any speed or on any road. I have a few more miles to go before the motor is broken in so I have not yet felt this monsters full potential. Its truly a carnival ride - so fast. My first muscle car and I could not be more satisfied! The car is a magnet for attention and I got a victory red one to boot so it is unavoidable to the human eye.

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  Great Buy - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kycutie - March 22 - 2:47 pm

  Had my Malibu for 2 months now. Love the interior and leaving in the snowlands have had wonderful experience with the handling in bad weather. I have no trouble with visibility at all and think this car is a GREAT buy for the money !

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  Near perfect for its purpose - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By eikl - March 22 - 9:27 am

  Chevy really hit the ball out of the park with this car. Its really near perfect for what this car is designed for. Its got the looks, the muscle and the comforts. It rides too well for a sports car and yet manages to be firm in cornering. The power is amazing, I have the v6 version and that is ALL you need, it beats most sports cars out there off the line and at rolling speeds. Get used to seeing most people in the rear view mirror. The best part about this car is the look. I have the dark grey with black rims basically it looks like the old bat mobile. I get compliments almost every day, all age groups, sometimes it gets annoying. Excellent value as well.

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  fun eco box - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jimmy - March 21 - 4:04 pm

  I had the SS Cobalt a little over a month now. It is a blast to drive. I handles great and has a bunch of power. It gets great gas mileage. Has little turbo lag. Its got plenty of room in the front. Very comfortable on road trips.

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  Love my 2010 Malibu Great Car - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By willjoegreen - March 21 - 8:04 am

  Ive had my 2010 Malibu LTZ (4 cyl engine) for 3 months now and absolutely love this car. I replaced my 2001 Grand Am SE (6 cyl eng) which I had purchased new in 2000. The new car "wow" feeling of this Malibu is still great after 3 months. Performance of 4 cyl engine is very good. If you are inclined to think you need the 6 cyl (like I was) I recommend you at least test drive a 4 cyl. Car is so quite and ride very smooth. Quality and fit and finish all seem excellent. Interior very spacious. Im getting 27 mpg in mixed driving and got 34 on my one pure highway trip so far. 8 way adjustable seat for driver is great. Cant imagine anyone not finding a good setting.

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  Dont be bashful! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Charles - March 20 - 8:45 pm

  This car absolutely rocks! A total homerun from GM! I cant even drive to the grocery store without getting at least 2-5 comments on how awesome of a car Im driving and theyre right! Im very grateful and appreciative that I get to drive such a fantastic piece of craftsmanship and design as this.

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  Another Chevy - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Norma & Jim - March 20 - 4:39 pm

  Weve owned quite a few Chevy cars over the years and some were better than others. We bought a 2005 Impala in 2006 and it`s been one of the best. Then we bought this 2008 Impala LTZ used. It is stylish, comfortable, quiet and just an all around nice car. It has 40000 mi but still drives and looks like new.