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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  A great commuter! - 1999 Chevrolet Metro
  By ABellido - April 28 - 2:00 am

  An outstanding commuter! Great gas mileage! I travel 40 miles daily to work. Is very reliable. I had obly one problem with it after the first year. The ignition coil and wire shorted out. It was a warranty repair. Other than oil changes and new tires, it had saved me a lot of money in repair costs. I am passing it on to my daughter so she can go to school in it.

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  Sweet ride - 1990 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jderen - April 28 - 2:00 am

  The stock car has great handling and power. The interioe is well planned and the T-tops add the feel of a convertible without compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle. Almost infinite possibilities to make aftermarket improvements to the engine and suspension. Absolute best car for the money. With the right after market add-ons this car can run against any foreign or domestic sport ride.

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  1998 Chevrolet Lumina - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By dale061327 - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I have driven this vehicle for 77000 of its 103000 miles. Only parts to be replaced over its lifetime are ignition key lock cylinder and the generator. Other than this there have been no problems. The vehicle has just had its mandatory annual state inspection and passed flawlessly. Its a good car. Too bad they stopped manufacturing them!

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  THIS CAR IS AWESOME! - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By BlindSk8erPunk - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used with 19,000 miles in late september 2002 from bill heard chevrolet.Since then it has been my primary mode of transportation,as well as joy rides.This car will SCREAM.I changed the cd player to c Pioneer Premier 220 watt & put a 1600 watt amp with thwo audiobahn 10 inch subs in there & it sounds incredible.Gas mileage is around 18-20 if driven conservative.Dies off if driven like every now & then a car this powerful requires. Expect to be watched by cops and chased by racer boy teens.

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  2nd Express Conversion - 2004 Chevrolet Express
  By mike1955 - April 28 - 2:00 am

  We just got our second Chevy Express Conversion Van with an Explore conversion package. What a dream boat. With the special Platinum Paint and six spoke alloy 18" wheels this van turns heads. Rides like my Caddy and performance is outstanding, both in fuel economy and power to tow. In the large van catagory, its the best game in town!

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  2002 malibu owner - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ELOZA - April 28 - 2:00 am

  IVE HAD MY MALIBU FOR 3 YEARS AND LOVE IT MY SISTER A 1997 MALIBU THATS WHY I BOUGHT MINE THE TIMES SHE LENT ME HERS I AUTOMATICALLY KNEW I WOULD GET ME ONE

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  Guess I got lucky. - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By FuzzyWuzzy - April 28 - 2:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for 3.5 yrs now, and it has 84k miles on it. Up to this point, I have had no major work performed aside from standard maintainance. The levers for both seats did break off and I had a few fuses blow for the power windows. A bit of an inconvenience, but nothing that wasnt easily remedied. The blind spots are aweful, and the suspension is terrible. There is a lot of rattling and the spare tire is positioned terribly. Pretty poor design and not that great of a ride. Im just glad I got one of the good ones.

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  Love this car! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By RockStarAME - April 28 - 2:00 am

  Before purchasing this car I test drove a number of other cars: Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Dodge Neon, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Echo, and Toyota Corrolla. I liked each of these cars, but as soon as I drove the Chevy Cavalier I knew it was my favorite. I love the sunroof, and the exterior, in my own words, is very cute. I havent driven it long enough to be able to review its reliability, but in comparison with the other cars I think it has the best look and interior comfort. It also has good visibility, which I was having a hard time finding as I was updating from a 1993 car that has great visibility.

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  Solid, sometimes overlooked choice - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Tam Burai - April 27 - 9:10 pm

  Everyone who recommended that I get a Camry or Accord raised their eyebrows when I said I had chosen an Impala. I got it for its E85 compatibility, the wide bench seat and column shifter, and the great fuel economy for a V6. It is quiet, smooth, and looks and feels a lot better, more quality, than an Impala I had rented a few years ago. Im very happy with my purchase, and the dealer was willing to slash the MSRP on this new 2007 model.

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  Malibu Maxx 2005 wow - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Malibu Maxx 2005 - April 27 - 7:20 pm

  I was reluctant to purchase this vehicle due to several reasons. However once sitting behind the wheel and driving it, I was immediately sold. This is by far the best car I have ever purchased, in the meantime I have test driven many different make and models for comparison. None can reach the Maxx with its performance level and comfortability. It handles very well even with high speed, acceleration rate is excellent. One of those secret jewels, once you drive it youll love it. In 2.5 years twice in garage for warranty covered issue. Suggestion: purchase leather only if you have children or buy waterproof seat covers. The light beige cloth material stains very easily. Stains won`t come off.