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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  The SS is Back - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By DSP - June 3 - 4:20 am

  Chevy is on the right track this car deserves the SS tag. This car is such an upgrade I traded in my 2003 LS model to be driving the SS again. The car has great power. The options available with it fully loaded are plenty for most people, and the best part is they have managed to keep it at a low price point compared to other luxury sedans. After comparing to many, the SS stands up to ones that are much higher priced. They body is sleek and the interior as well is classy with great controls and availability. For those who knock the gas mileage (which is not that bad) should not buy a V8. You pay a little for the power and know that going in. This is as happy as Ive been since my old 64 SS.

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  malibu 1998 lx - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By diskiedog - June 3 - 2:00 am

  If your are buying be aware of the following item I had to replace. Theft alarm-$350, when out at 40,000 miles. will not allow you to start car.Rotors- replaced 2 timms. Air conditioner control block-replaced at 35000 miles and 60000 miles-cost was $250 for the 2nd. Water leak on intake manifold- cost $573, this was the 150,ooo mile non replacement antifreeze chevy was proud of. Alternator-cost $241.

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  Fun To Drive! - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Starchild - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This car is a lot of fun to drive. By far the best thing this car has going for it is the acceleration - this car goes! The car is a bit tight fitting for anyone over 6 feet tall (I am 510" and it is snug). On long trips over 3 hours your ass will be hurtin for sure. Mechanically, I have had a new problem with the car about every year. The water pump went out around 30K miles which from what I heard is common on GM vehicles. I also had some sort of hinge joint go out under the front driver side wheel which gave me a lot of creakin, a problem with the front breaks, and there was water leaking into one of the front headlights.

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  Not too bad for a platform this aged - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Daveee - June 3 - 2:00 am

  It is well known that the Cav is based an an aged platform. They have made updates, which can be seen in improved performance and the like. The car is relatively fun to drive. On the reverse side, the car rattles like no other, makes unusual noises, and does not have the most forgiving of manual transmissions. The car has rather poor fit and finish, and certain signs of age are already noticeable. Compared to my 2001 Chrysler Concorde LXi I would expect better gas mis mileage to be better.

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  Road Tripper - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By roadjoy - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Bought with $4K rebate in April. Put on Dunlop A2 Sport tires. Drove to Dallas from Phoenix. 75MPH+ at 35MPG+. Thin paint on inside of bottom of Passenger door. Otherwise, perfect. Less than an hour at the dealer ...

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  Daughters New Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Frank Roldan - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Purchased car as gift for over- achieving daughter. Wanted a good reliable vehicle with a reasonable fun factor and numerous airbags. Six-CD player a big hit as well as power drivers side seat.

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  2003 Trailblazer EXT LT Model - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sydracer - June 3 - 2:00 am

  We just purchased this SUV. I drove this vehicle and never looked back. We love it! Its like sitting on the couch going down the road.The 5.3L engine has alot of power for the size of the vehicle. I like the monotone interior as opposed to the Envoy. With all the options it has, it was smart thinking to give it that look. We are die hard Chevrolet fans but even if we werent Id challenge anyone to find a Ford that handles this well with all these options in the same price range.

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  Laser Blue Malibu Maxx SS - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Nate - June 2 - 7:50 pm

  Love the engine power and options. The contrasting stitching on the seats and steering wheel is nice. Its an extremely versatile vehicle that has great performance and fuel economy. On average, I get about 22 MPG with mostly highway driving (pretty acceptable as the 2007 is rated at 24 MPG highway). The Laser Blue looks great but, according to my dealer, is hard to match if you need paint work done. After 1.5 years, Ive only had to deal with a burnt out taillight bulb. I didnt really like the sunroof deflector that was made of a mesh material, so I removed it and put on the factory sunroof deflector from the 05 Malibu.

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  This Car is awful! - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CavalierHater - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this cavalier for 2 years now and I just cant get it out of the shop. Besides it being ugly and small, the car has had bad brakes, bad spark plugs put in, very bad gas milage, engine mount problems, alignment problems, bad computer system, oil leaks, cracked air seals, not to mentino all the other problems ive fixed. DONT EVER BUYY A CAVALIER, EVER!!

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  Honda/Toyota may be worth it - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Fat Gary - June 2 - 2:00 am

  Be wary of this car. Warrant work will regularly take place and yes, a couple weeks out of warranty soemthing that would never break on a Honda or Toyota will break or require service. Depreciates like a rock. Nice car in form but not in function due to quality issues. Most Impalas (and GMs) have awful Brakes. Problems to expect: Steering, Alignment, Tie Rods, Brakes, AC, Electrical, Computer, Transmission, etc...... I had an Accord before this and it was problem free (only oil changes) for the nearly 50K Miles I had it. I will get a Honda/Toyota and never look back.