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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  Fun Chevy Blazer ZR2 - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Grant F - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Just a fun 4x4 for city and off-road driving. Being a 2-door, it is nimble in city traffic and a great off-road vehicle, with its skid plate protective undercarriage. With the Factory 3" lift and 3" wider wheelbase, the ZR2 is the most stable SUV, that I have ever driven. The Chev Blazer ZR2 is a total fun SUV to drive !

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  alright - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Msm32490 - May 1 - 2:00 am

  My review is its not the greatest but its ok.

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  think twice - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kixfix - May 1 - 2:00 am

  2002 malibu powertrain good economy good. Handling ok. Quality is not very good and other than the engine and transmison the rest of the car is falling apart!!!!!! The warranty is to short and GM does not stand behind what it builds. Biggest complaint the brakes are poorly designed and i can"t keep a set on the car. i om fixing to be on the 3rd set in 51000 miles.

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  great car for a 4cyl - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sxyladyluv - May 1 - 2:00 am

  i think its a great little car for a 4 cyl..alot of get up and go...the cup holders could be in another space... a very smooth ride..BUT the engine sounds kinda loud..but i love the car..but im happy with it

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  consumer - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By patrico cobalt - May 1 - 2:00 am

  this car has a quick and responsive engine and it very quiet and smooth. i am very impressed with my stereo system which is a cd player. the cars a/c unit cools off very quickly. this car is a great buy and this one that i now have is my 5th one i love them. they are a beautiful car.

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  Poor Dealer support - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By minnesotaoldie - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Factor recall resulted in a false alarm and damage to my vehicle

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  Heading to the Honda Garage very Soon - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By huskerh8er - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Purchased this beauty a little more than a year and a half ago. Loved the van at first. Still dont mind it too much, but its starting to show the good ole American quality. @ 60,000 miles the manifold gaskets went. So, after contacting my warranty company which is belly up, (thanks, National Warranty and SmartChoice 2000) and shelling out a cool $425 to fix it, the airbag light goes off and on intermittently and now the drivers side control for the passenger window decided not to work. Goodbye GM, Hello Honda! Never again will I buy a GM vehicle!!

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  2004 S-10 4x4 CrewCab - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By damon96782 - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This mini is an absolute joy to drive! Its excellent for the Islands and the beach.

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  Malibu Challenges the Imports - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mark Davis - April 29 - 8:46 pm

  My new 2008 Malibu 2LT with the 3.6L V-6 is truly a standard-bearer for GM. I was not considering purchasing a domestic car until driving this amazing automobile. This car boasts 252 h.p. coupled with a versatile six-speed automatic that has quick, sure shifts and propels you quickly from zero to sixty. Ive owned Nissans and Hondas and this is just as solid with marked improvement in quality control, performance and materials. My wife has a BMW X-3 and 525-I and this car compares favorably to those vehicles which are twice the price. I love the XM and OnStar which only adds to the incredible value in this sports sedan. Chevy hits a home-run and levels the paying field.

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  How I feel - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Vanessa Roberts - April 29 - 5:23 pm

  I love this car, its very comfortable to drive. I think that it eats a little too much gas, but since I bought it, I dont seem to mind driving. It has plenty of leg room in the back, and the exterior is gorgeous.. I think that all of the cars should have a six-disc CDchanger. I would definitely recommend this car to someone to buy.