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:

• 

  Attractive!!1 - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By wiley - November 16 - 11:23 am

  I bought my 2008 Malibu new.The commercials attracted me to this car. I went looking for a Camry, but that car caught my attention. I get so many compliments on this car. Every one tells me it look like a more expensive car, not a Malibu. My only complaints are the brakes squeak so bad and it wasnt even a yr. old and the replacement windshield wiper blade is too expensive. Other than that, I love my car. Im really a Ford person, but I like the Malibu. So far Im enjoying the ride!

• 

  she is still tickin - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By curtdeznutz - November 16 - 10:30 am

  awesome truck she is at 175000km and no probs other than the back up sens but that quit at 30,000km and never bothered to fix it cuz not needed. drive it rather hard off road. also i work in the oil patch and in the winter i never fret the roads with this truck. only complaint is how wide the box is.

• 

  great style - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ColoK - November 16 - 10:12 am

  I have had my Malibu for a couple of months now, and I have really enjoyed driving it. I get lots of compliments on the exterior styling. I like the interior accent lighting and so do passengers when they arent fumbling for the door handle. I havent experienced the advertised MPG, but also havent taken any long road trips yet. I average 25-28 MPG around town and short trips.

• 

  The Best in its Class Fuel Economy - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By armsdealer - November 16 - 7:54 am

  First off, Why are all of you marking this vehicle down for Fuel Economy? For what this thing tows and hauls, including people, you would need 2 Toyota camarys to haul 8 people. Some interior parts are cheap and come loose from time to time, but the space is better than any of the full size imports. This Vehicle is bullet proof Mechanically, and except for the steering shaft problem ($74 at Autozone) This is the toughest, most economical, Extra-Large SUV on the market, and gets the best fuel economy of all of them (non-Hybrid) We moved from a mini van to this and our fuel expenses only increased about $400 a year, thats only $33 per month. Go Drive one, you will be impressed.

• 

  Good CAr - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By RahRah068 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I think that its a very good car, you guys did a good job with it. Thank You

• 

  my new Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jerryoboe - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my new Malibu for 4 days. I traded in a 1998 Malibu with 104,000 miles. So far, it has been a delight to drive the car. The car is totally different from the 98. I cannot believe that Chevrolet can deliver a car with so many extras for $21,000. The owners manual could be a little more clearer as far as the electronics. Because the car is so new, the dealer had trouble figuring out how to program an extra key. It finally took 10 seconds to program the extra key; one downside - I cannot believe that an extra key costs $61.00.

• 

  mine - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By brian81330 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Drives more like a large car than a truck. Its versatility is the best part

• 

  Fun all over - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By gadawgs21 - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Trailblazer for 4 months and have loved every minutes of it! It drives well, handles beautifully and I love the get-up-and-go. The staff at Yeomans was wonderful in helping me buy my first car by myself. I like the interior much more than the Envoys my friends have, more cupholders, better location of back windshield wipers and better console.

• 

  LOVE IT BABY - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By BJRUTTER@HOTMAIL.COM - November 16 - 2:00 am

  THE BEST VALUE IN ITS CLASS BY FAR

• 

  Great American Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Maxx Promotions - November 15 - 9:47 pm

  I bought my Impala LT2 brand new. It now has just over 46K miles. It is a very comfortable car with tons of luggage space in the trunk. The rear seats are roomy. The 3.9L engine has plenty of power. The only irritating thing is the intermittent clicking noise that comes from the left side just below the drivers footboard. Other than the clicking noise, it is a very reliable car.