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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  Good Choice - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Hehn - March 9 - 10:23 am

  Purchased 2009 LTZ V-6. The V-6 has outstanding performance. Mileage is avg 19. The fit and function are top notch. It has too many features to list. The Malibu is a smooth, quiet 1st class automobile. I would stack it up against Honda, Toyoda, and Ford any day of the week. I have 1800 miles on my Malibu. Changed the oil recently. Filter is reachable from top of engine compartment.

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  Cost Per Laugh Still Going Down - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ziggy - March 8 - 10:16 pm

  Got all the toys V8/2SS/RS, 21" black rims, black ground effects, hood stripe and sun roof. Its not yellow or red (its silver) and yet people see it coming from a mile away. And OMG its a kick in the pants to drive! With properly placed mirrors, there are no blind spots when driving down the road. But when backing out of a parking spot, hopes and prayers work best because you cant see squat. And it takes a little practice getting it into a tight spot in the garage. But who cares!!! Did I mention how much fun it is to drive? I went to a coffee shop close to a police station the other day and by the time I got back to the car, cops were circling and gawking. Now THAT was fun!

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  best i ever had . - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Victorvall - March 7 - 1:53 pm

  this was bought in 2002 and driven until a horrendous car accident in 2010 no one was hurt due to the safety of this car but it was totaled , i guess the tree wasnt to forgiving neither was the rain , best car ever though on the lookout for another one .

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  Fun to drive, very reliable. - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Daystrom - March 6 - 11:04 pm

  I bought my Cavalier new in March 2002. Still gets great gas mileage even after eight years. Smooth and quite. Handles nicely. Lots of storage. Back seat folds down so you can store long items through the trunk and along the back seat. Only problem have been the power windows. Replaced the front driver side window motor after three years. It has been working fine for the last five years. Now the two back windows are now starting stick. Which is strange, since I dont open them much. Still a great car!

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  Only 1 Regret... - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Joey G - March 6 - 6:31 pm

  cant afford the ZR1... yet. ive had the car for over 3 years and approaching 50K miles and aside from the noisy roof, clutch pack replacement for the "diff," leaking water pump and dead battery - all taken care of during the warranty period - this car is solid as a rock! Its my DD - still enjoy driving it as well as looking at it in the garage.

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  Best Value on the Road - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kristi Fuller - March 5 - 1:12 pm

  Although I just purchased this car I can say that it is confirming all of the research that I did on it before hand. In comparison to the other sedans in its category and price range it really beat them in terms of the reviews that I read and the safty crash ratings. My husband and I were looking for something new, affordable and safe to drive for years ahead. He and I will be putting alot of mileage on it between working and school. We also wanted something safe for the kids when we dont take them in the family minivan. We bought the most basic version of this model and there is nothing cheap or basic about it. You also cant beat the warranties on it.

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  Its 3/5/2010 and I have driven+236,000m - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jeremy - March 5 - 12:36 am

  On 3/5/2010 I have driven 236,000 plus miles in this car. Over 22K/yr. I have had to do some maintenance but nothing more than usual. The only major repair is the new transmission at 170K. This has been an extremely reliable car throughout and I obviously do a lot of driving and has been comfortable to travel in, I am 65" 260lbs so I need some space and this car has plenty. Radio works fine, Blows cold AC, down here in Florida that helps.I had to car in Ohio for the first 10 yrs of its life and the ice/snow/salt did nothing to the outside or anything. Did well in the snow could not be happier with this car overall.I mean everyone has something to complain about but I got my $s worth

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  Couldnt ask for more - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By old-farmer - March 4 - 10:37 pm

  Most of my miles are hiway and at 65 mph Ive gotten 20 mpg while at 55 mph Ive gotten 22 mpg! The ride is great, looks great and its been pretty trouble free. What else can I say!

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  Sturdy Small Car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Elaine - March 4 - 5:34 pm

  I was recently rear ended in my Aveo and sent forward about 4 feet from a dead stop. although My Aveo has to have the bumper replaced the larger car that hit me is written off.. hood was crumpled. You can see the imprint of his logo in my bumper. I suffered no real injuries just a little stiffness from a whiplash type injury.. I had loved the Aveo before for its handling, fuel economy and pick up on the highway but now.. am totally impressed by how well it is constructed.

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  One fun packed ride! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Brett - March 4 - 11:49 am

  Im still very much in the honeymoon stages with this new purchase but Ive been very impressed so far. The exterior lines on this car are hard to beat with the big 20" wheels. Interior comfort was not compromised in this design either. Have not had a chance to really test the big V8 just yet due to break in mode but that time will come soon. I must say that I already like this machine more than my 2003 Z06 Vette. The smaller side windows create a couple significant blind spots but that is something that one can get used to with appropriate mirror settings etc. These windows are a big part of the cars overall appearance from my perspective ... giving it an almost chopped look.