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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  We tried them all! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hornerfm - June 8 - 2:00 am

  We drove almost every suv with a third row and this surpassed them all! Its the only one with enough room for adults in the third row that was not like driving a bus. It drives like a car, instead of a huge feeling bus! I love the ease of entry in to the third row, you can do it all one handed, which is important since I have 4 children!

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  monte carlo - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By valerie216 - June 7 - 10:00 am

  Considering the cost of this car, it has broke 3 times and qualified for the Ohio Lemon Law. This car was reliable until about 9k miles and that is where the problems began for 3 weeks in a row. i am in the process of a buyback, so think twice before spending a lot of money on a brand new car and thinking it will be reliable.

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  perfect design - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dominic vega - June 7 - 10:00 am

  i love the design of the super charge monte carlo and the interior

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  i like barettas - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By berettagurl - June 7 - 2:00 am

  barettas are cool cars,

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  I love this truck - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By Cougar69 - June 7 - 2:00 am

  This is my first truck and I am just delighted with it. I love its 4 wheel drive capability yet it is still a sweet looking truck. I love my truck, I think chevy may have gotten a lifetime customer out of me

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  A Terrible Vehicle - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By golfgod550 - June 7 - 2:00 am

  Worst vehicle I have ever owned...I have put six batteries and three alternators in the truck and yet GM says there is no electrical problems with these trucks. The brakes failed and I ran into a sidewalk. The push- button 4WD had to be replaced. The heating system had to be fixed and now the AC does not get cold, despite a recent coolent recharging. Oh, and there have been countless recalls on top of these expensive repairs. This the last GM product I will ever own.

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  2002 Chevvy Malibu - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By olumide - June 7 - 2:00 am

  By itself, Chevvy Malibu is a fairly good car. However, when compared to other vehicles in its class like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, it is a crap. Acceleration is sluggish, the interior is an embarrasment and altogether is a non starter. By the time this vehicle is on 80miles/hr, it becomes very light, as if it is going to be blown off the road.

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  Malibu quality problems - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Rich Gamen - June 7 - 2:00 am

  The first three years we owned our Malibu the quality was good. Now the car is 3 years old and we have nothing but problems. Front brake calipers are creeking and need replacement, A/C fan speed 1 and 2 no longer work. Rattles in dash have started. Piston slap on start up is very bad. It may be time to get rid of this car.

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  honey the tahoe is making a funny noise - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dont do it - June 7 - 2:00 am

  Got this angel from hell with 48000 on it. Looked great ran great. Since then have done front brakes three times in 40000 miles, manifold gasket, then the kicker it dropped a rod at 72000. BLOWN ENGINE. Cost of ownership has been more than any vehicle I have owned over 30 years. Would not buy another but the way the resale is dropping on this puppy may not be able to unload it. GM was sorry but of no help with the engine problem even with recorded oil changes and maintenence I will not buy one of these again period.

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  Impala - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JeffGreer1 - June 7 - 2:00 am

  We have been pleasantly surprised by this automobile. The trip mileage is consistently 35 miles per gallon. Much better than we expected for a car this size.