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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  Better than our Grand Voyager - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Steve Buckwalter - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Ride and handling blow our previous van away. The power sliding door is a nice feature, and I also really like the way the radio stays on even after you turn off the ignition and remove the key (it stays on for up to 10 min or until you open the door). The seating for 8 configuration also allows us more options for carrying passengers and cargo at the same time with our 3 kids in car seats.

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  i like it so far - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sak713 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  just got my malibu just over a month ago so far it is wonderful. bought it with only 36000 miles on it. i had to have a valve cover gasket replaced but other then that it is a wonderful car good power great room for the car seats in the back. i care for a person in a wheel chair and he can easiely get in and out of the car and there is plenty of room in the trunk for his wheel chair plus anything else that we buy in the stores great truck space:)

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  my black chevy cavalier - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By janet english - February 18 - 2:00 am

  This cavalier is a great on road handling and is a pretty fast car. It has a lot of power for a small car, and is great on mileage. The car also has a great sunroof, tinted windows, and sporty chrome rally wheels. It looks like a little black corvette, except it is not as expensive. It rides more quiet than a vet, and is certainly better on fuel. The smoothe road handling and body style is what really impressed me.

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  Great Looking Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By HHR HAPPY HOTROD - February 18 - 1:40 am

  I love driving this car. It has a smooth ride and great gas mileage. Highway mileage from 30-35 MPG. The body style is really awesome and Chev. has done a good job here with the styling. I test drove a PT Cruiser after the HHR but bought the HHR, hands down!! Chevrolet has a good reputation of quality built cars. We have always been a Chev. family.

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  Very solid, sturdy, and comfortable - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Larry Dinkoff - February 17 - 10:30 pm

  When my wife and I were in the market for a new car, we decided on the Maxx because of the room, comfort, and standard features, (lots of them). It is the most comfortable car we have ever been in! OnStar equipped, XM satellite radio, lay back and fold down front and rear seats! We just love it! Thank you Chevy!

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  My New MPG SAVER - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By TradedMyTahoe - February 17 - 10:10 am

  This is my first smaller SUV, and so far it has been great, MPG is awesome, ride is quiet, I dont see a need for the V6, unless you tow, if not, go for the standard 4, save money and Gas. The difference in Horsepower and Torque isnt noticeable, less then 1 second 0-60mph. Purchased a 1LT equipped the same as a 2LT, minus the power driver seat and radio upgrade. Wish I could have gotten the radio upgrade, I am used to upgrading my radios in my cars and that would have done the trick. Standard radio seems ok so far, with 2 young kids, I sure it will be fine.

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  Reliable - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By NJ Driver 1999 - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Bought new and after 70000 miles still love it. No breakdowns or problems, just regular maintenance.

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  Unbelievable - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By GentRancher - February 17 - 2:00 am

  This is the most fun vehicle I have ever owned. The attention it gets is awesome. It is a nice roadster that finally has some functional room for taking trips. It is a truck, and does have functional value as one. It wasnt meant to compete with crew cabs, it is a whole lot more fun.

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  Sport Truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Insidus - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Some simple modifications can make these a really great buy

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  Still love it after 7+ years - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By CitySub - February 17 - 2:00 am

  The car has been used mostly for highway driving, but it still rides well for a large truck. We drove the truck from NYC to the Great Smokey Mountains and we couldnt imagine making the trip in another car. Ride is a little stiff now, and the suspension isnt what it used to be, but I really cant complain after 7+ years of reliable driving. If my wife would let me, I would buy Suburbans for the rest of my life.