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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  DONT invest your money in these cars - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By cemjr149 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Ive had more trouble with this car than I can describe in this box. 2 alternators, numerous sensors, electric door locks dont work($150 each to fix), electric windows work half of the time, volume for radio turns off whenever I turn the steering wheel, spark plug wires had to be replaced twice. Vacuum pump needs to be replaced now($350.00). Dealer has replaced many other parts to make it idle correctly before determining the vacuum pump was bad and charged me for all of the parts and labor while he was guessing. I wouldnt recommend this car for anyone and my car is not an isolated case. Do your research before buying a Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

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  best damn car for the money - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sfc sarge - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Shopped long and hard for a new car. Searched for good used car, finally for the money, the Cavalier came on top. Noone gives you as much car for the money.

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  Avalanche Reveiw - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jakson - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This truck is a very nice truck i havent had any problems with it yet, and i dont think i will too soon. The only thing is the midgate makes shifting noises when you go over bumps, in the back you can hear it pretty good in the front you cant hear it as well other that that every thing works good, and it runs very nice.

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  Good all around vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Fishing1 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  I like the power of the Trailblazer. The ride could be more stiff to handle a 6500 lb. trailer load that it claims it can handle. The transmission could also have a more solid shift. I love the room and it is priced fair. Overall I like it and wouldnt change much. I personally get great fuel mileage. 22 mpg.

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  Our Little Puddle Jumper - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sid johnson - July 31 - 12:12 am

  Where do I start? We have owned the car since February 2005, purchased new. The reason for purchase was the price of gasoline and a long drive to work. We are getting 32 mpg without A/C and 29 with A/C. The power of the 2.2 Ecotec is incredible. If you need to go, you can go! The stereo is awesome. I really like the fold down rear seats for storage during transportation. Handling is really tight, a very fun car to drive. When doing oil changes, there is no mess with the filter being on top of the engine. It’s kind of nice not having oil running down your forearm for a change. Chevrolet is really pushing the Cobalts, so if you want a good deal, they are darn near giving away Cavaliers.

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  Must Drive - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Larry Hedrick - July 30 - 9:15 pm

  Since the Trailblazier has come onto the market I have admired their appearance and style. Well, not only does the Trailblazier have style, but it is a pure pleasure to drive. Quiet and comfortable. I have not regreted a day since my purchase. Would have gotten the EXT if I have thought about it at the time.

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  My Vette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ARCH - July 30 - 8:24 pm

  The ride is firm but smooth. The body styling is superb, with no wind noise at any speed. The drive train is quite smooth and very responsive. The styling is the best yet for Corvette.

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  My Vette. My total experience - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By john milligan - July 30 - 8:08 pm

  My experience so far with my Corvette has been excellent. What surprises me the most is the acceleration and the superb handling. Its the best Vette ever built. My first new Corvette was a 1963 with two tops.Chevy engineering has come a long way since then.

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  SoSo - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rob - July 30 - 5:54 pm

  After only two years I had to replace the transmission. Very unhappy about this. Warranty covered transmission but had to pay for three days of a rental car and towing expenses. Dont think I will purchase another.

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  Great car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By silverbullet - July 30 - 5:50 pm

  Checked out the Saturn Aura as well. I worked for Saturn for a year and had driven the 08 Aura very often, great car I knew it would be my next. Once 0% was offered almost across the board for GM it was down to the Aura XR 4cyl vs. the Malibu LT2. The one thing I can say from my experience driving this car is if you are looking into 4cyl the 6 speed is a must. The original 2008 4 cyl 4 speed was loud! Pitted local Saturn dealership vs. Chevy dealership and went with who had the better bottom line out the door pricing. I will admit I liked the subtle differences of the Malibu interior, especially the suede leather and leather around the shifter to make clean up easier.