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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  Great Baby Hauler - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By JB - August 2 - 6:43 am

  This car is great for those with babies, and dont want a minivan or SUV. Because the rear seats slide forward and backwards, you can place a rear facing baby seat without losing legroom for the front passengers. With the seats all the way back there is still room in the trunk for a baby stroller plus a trip to the grocery store.

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  I miss it. - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By GreatCar - August 2 - 3:02 am

  This was a great little car for me! I drove it 60 miles a day and it performed great. Good gas mileage with V6. It was very quiet, which I love. Looked great, especially the medium-blue paint. Even with a few hail dings, it was great. Aluminum wheels were a nice feature. I bought it with 153,000 miles! Sold it with 160,000 to a college friend, but wish I would have kept it! Very reliable and economic. Sharp! Looking for another one!

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  Great Sports Car - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Austin - August 2 - 2:23 am

  I bought this car 5 years old, it only had 25k on it. Have owned the car for 5 years and I have done the recommended service on it and it has lasted along time. The car now has 182k and still have original transmission and engine. The car still drives like new. Also this car has a lot of power compared to other sports cars and the trunk is huge.

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  2004 Chevytrailblazer Ext 4x4 - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By EZDA4 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is awesome! It handles great in all weather, especially the snow. It is a very smooth ride, all the way to the back seat. It is a great family vehicle. There is tons of space. We are very pleased with everything the Ext Trailblazer has to offer. The only negative thing I have to say is that it isnt very good on gas but that comes with buying an SUV.They did a great job on all the amenities.

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  The Aveo is the best bang for the buck! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jynx - August 2 - 2:00 am

  This car is the most affordable and well equipted GM car out there. It has the reliability of the GM company but the new stylish design like the more "hip" foreign cars. Even without all of the upgrades the car is great...but the upgrades do inhance the appeal of the vehicle. Overall I would rank the Aveo as my first choice for a starter car with class.

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  VERY PLEASED CUSTOMER - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By johnboy511949 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING THIS CAR FOR SEVERAL YRS AND AFTER PURCHASING IT IT HAS SURPASSED ALL MY EXPECTATIONS AND SO HAS THE SELLING DEALER.

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  great car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By katrina1027 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  My experience with the car has been great. I had a 2000 malibu and i traded it in for the new model. I really enjoy riding in this car and my family does also. It rides very smooth and handles the road good. I can pick up speed quickly and i like that. It is a sleek new design and I enjoy all the stares that I get when Im riding in my car. People have asked me " what kind of car is that, and does it drive good?" , and all I can do is smile. I would recommend this car to anyone who has a family. You will truely enjoy it.

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  Pros and Cons - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By k charland - August 2 - 2:00 am

  A few problems to look out for: The plastic side pannels rub on the front fenders causing rust spots. Just recently hit 30,000 mi. and now getting noise from the lifters and also squeeking from the belt. Oil was always changed on time. Very poor rear visability. Lots of noise and vibration with sun roof open. Poor quality stereo and speakers. Over all a nice truck with great features and pleanty of room for the passengers. Wish they would have put in a power rear window. Pain in the butt to have to lower rear seats and remove rear window. Many new trucks offer powered rear window.

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  Excellent - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Bobbis Ruby - August 2 - 2:00 am

  Awesome vehicle. Absolutely love. Had the Tahoe for 3 years before. Avalanche is sporty and fun to drive.

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  Could have been better - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By tnparrothead - August 2 - 2:00 am

  After my break in period I noticed a significant drop in fuel economy. I went from averaging 14mpg/city to 11mpg/city. Once I hit a little more than 1,000 miles I noticed a problem in my steering. The dealership said it was probably the intermediate shaft but it has been intermittent and because they could not hear or feel it the day I took it down they did not want to chage it out. At about 5,000 miles the service 4WD warning came on. The very next time I started the vehicle it looked fine. It happened a couple more times and the dealer was unable to find a problem with my 4WD system.