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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  Chevy Blazer - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blippo - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Blazer for 4 months now. The bad points, it leans around curves, 20 mph highway gas mileage.

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  malibu fun to - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By gwrcurtis - January 24 - 2:00 am

  have had car for over a year now and have had fun driving it traveled a lot- havnt had any major problems except for normal maint. fuel milage is great

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  Chevy Venture - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By wanda - January 24 - 2:00 am

  I have had Chevy Venture for 8 mo. love how it handles. good gas mileage. thanks

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  Okay but not great - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Frenchguy - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Brakes are the achilles heel of this vehicle. Like all of GMs mid-size cars (Had a 99 Alero with the same problem). At 28,000 miles the discs had to be turned and the pads changed. The Alero was worse, in 35,000 miles the brakes were repaired three times. I just dont get the sense that this car will last as well as my 98 Protege.

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  way to go! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Eddie T. - January 24 - 2:00 am

  This is the one Ive always wanted and Im glad its the 2004. Nice sound system and interior! The ride is very impressive also. I feel like buying something big to haul just because I own a Suburban. No regrets!

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  Excellent car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Excellent - January 23 - 7:20 pm

  I have this car since jan 2004, I never had any serious problem, the mileage per gallon is excellent. I drove this car at 60 miles per hour on a wet snow condition, the traction control were impressive, never swerved.

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  More driving more fun. - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Ryan - January 23 - 6:33 pm

  I have never driven a car that has ever been so much fun except for my classical 1962 Pontiac Tempest wagon. I love my car and I love to drive it. My girlfreind loves to drive it. She loves the power. I love the fact that it acts like a sporty race car. The car keeps accelerating when you push on the gas and it out performs any Ford, Toyota, BMW, and Honda that I have ever driven or riden in. The car is worth well over the price of the car.

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  1998 Tahoe LT 4Dr 4wd - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By witterda - January 23 - 2:00 am

  On long trips, I cant get over how comfortable the seat is. I never get tired of driving...

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  Blue Bu - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chel - January 23 - 2:00 am

  Truly a great car.

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  I LOVE IT - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By boonesgurl - January 23 - 2:00 am

  I wouldnt trade my car for anything! It runs awesome, nothing has gone bad, looks great, rides great!!