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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  They just keep getting better - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By nychevy - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I spent some time looking at Dodge, Chevy, and Ford. Each truck had some good and bad features. The Chevy had the best interior of them all. The rear seat in the extended cab is also roomier than Ford or Dodge. The 5.3 engine stood out head and shoulders above Dodge and I felt it was quieter with a smoother transmission over the Ford. Handling is unbelievable.

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  Dream Come True - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Justin K - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car used but have loved every minute of my ownership. Only real problem was with the electronic steering lock. Phenomenal storage capability, even with the top down. Acceleration is great...able to beat most of the cars I cross. Great handling, even at high speeds (130+ mph). Car turns heads and garners questions all the time. There is nothing in the world like driving an American classic with the wind in your hair.

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  Great Car For Great Price! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Laly - October 28 - 2:00 pm

  Got my Cobalt early this month and totallyl ove it! Personally, I love the look of the coupe much more than the sedan. What caught my eye was its low price. Although the price had me skeptical - coming from a Chevy oriented family - I had to give them a shot! Car is very responsive, great on sharp turns and fun to drive. Getting to know it, I would have preferred an SS - but I got what I can afford. My friends simply say, the more you see it - the more you get to like it. Speaks for itself. Great start off car for a teenager parentals! This is my second and wish I would have had anything similar to it as my first!

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  Great Choice - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By JTK - October 28 - 8:40 am

  I traded an 07 Tahoe LTZ on this hybrid. Its great sitting at a stand- still and still having cold A/C while burning no fuel. The 4WD works great. I miss the rain sense wipers, memory seats, and power tailgate, but I love getting 4-5mpg more than on the all gas Tahoe. Especially since this one has more power than the engine on a regular Tahoe. Ive saved some 25% on my gas useage, and since it was >$4.00/gal last summer and fall that adds up to a lot of money. The ride is great and it pulls my trailer effortlessly. I bought as soon as it was available so I did have a recall to replace something in the hybrid system, but they put me in a Caddy while it was in the shop, so OK.

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  Mediocre Hybrid - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By Mike S - October 28 - 5:20 am

  We have a 2009 Malibu Hybrid as a fleet vehicle in the agency I work for. Weve had it for approx 6 months and put 5000 miles on it. I am not impressed by it. The electric motor assist, frankly, is a useless gimmick. It does not provide electric-only power when you are tooling around a parking lot or in stop-and-go traffic. The total power output of the engine is lethargic and the vehicle has issues merging onto highways without going full-throttle, which is disappointing. We also have a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid which outclasses it in almost every way possible. I suggest driving both before making a decision one way or the other. The Fusion is a couple thousand more but well worth it.

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  Great for its size - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By skudrunner - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 99 LS new in 1998 for business reasons. Now has 138000 miles and still runs strong. Have replaced normal wear items and starter 3 times, blower control, manifold gasket. Service trans every 50k and use synthetic oil change every 5k. It rattles over bumps but not to bad, mileage between 15-17 and requires a mortgage to fill up when empty but will go 600 miles on a tank. Great on the hwy and not bad around town. Would buy another one if I needed the size, which I dont, and will go with a Honda Pilot when this one wears out.

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  REALLY NICE TRUCK - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mattCUBAN - October 28 - 2:00 am

  NICE TRUCK i love it

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  1997 malibu - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By r m - October 28 - 2:00 am

  My 97 Malibu is still running fine - had to replace water pump at 22000 mi- and window control for driver side. Car is OK

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  never again - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By THEBRAT - October 28 - 2:00 am

  hard to handel on the highway when alot of wind or behind 18 wheelers.

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  Above average product from Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By niagra - October 28 - 2:00 am

  I do not own one but I regularly rent it for long trips once a week. It has become my favorite rental vehicle. Excellent fuel economy (average 33mpg on highways) easy to drive and good features. I have spotted minor build quality issues on most of them. One of them with less than 3000 miles had the gas cap not fitting. The information console kept complaining about an open gas cap. Another one that I drove had the passenger side seat back detached and hanging down. Adjustable break pedal didnt impress me much. Generally the controls are easy to locate and use.