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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  Great little car - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By miles - June 16 - 11:05 am

  I just stepped up into my 99 prizm from a 97 ranger. The name Prizm doesnt inspire anything good, but this car far surpasses my expectations. It is a 5 speed stick and insanely fast for a 1.8 4 cyl, it is fun to drive and gets excellent gas mileage. I am a mechanic and I know a good car when I see one, this is by far the best car for the money, being a corolla, with unbeatable reliability. A great car.

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  Perfect 1st TEEN car - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By justin - June 16 - 3:05 am

  Produces a decent amount of power from the 4.3L v6. It pumps out about 190hp, perfect for a teenage driver. Plus with the 4X4, it makes a pretty good off-road SUV. Pretty bad gas mileage The 4 doors are very convenient. And the big v6 gives it plenty of passing power. The cheap material for the interior rattles sometimes when you go on bumpy surfaces. And because its a Chevy, its gonna be in the shop alot if you drive it hard. I woulnt pay more than $6000 for a used Blazer. Its a good teen SUV, but thats about it.

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  Recommended Buy, But Research First - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Good Truck So Far - June 16 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck so far, and have attempted to give a fair review. I love the styling, Cadillac-like LTZ interior. The truck rides great, and on the highway, I regularly get over 21mpg, and average almost 17mpg overall. I love the look of the truck, and have consistently received compliments. I went for the 20" wheels too, and would recommend that option to anyone who would not regularly take the truck offroad, as it really fills up the wells, which is a complaint I have seen several times. I am worried about a recent dead battery. I went to start the truck in the morning (sat for 10 hours) and it was dead. There wasnt not even a click, gauge movement, or dim lights.

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  Matches or Exceeds Expectations - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Otto Piechowski - June 15 - 10:44 pm

  Recently, I drove my Malibu 2500 miles from Kentucky to South Dakota and back. The overall fuel economy was just under 31 miles per gallon in spite of a couple hundred miles of country road driving at slow speeds, highway driving at 75 miles per hour (at times with the air conditioning on), and with one full tank of 10% ethanol. // Acceleration was both quick and sufficient when required. Handling was crisp and pleasant. When a quick turn or maneuver was required, the Malibu was responsive and gave me a sense of substantial control of the car. // Good dampening of outside sounds and a very good speaker sound quality. (However, the bass on a rear speaker failed in the first few months)

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  Review - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jim - June 15 - 1:31 pm

  I bought a used 08 ltz, 6cyl with 21k. I like the look and the fit and finish of the interior with leather. The ride is impressive for a medium size car. The car handles well and the 6cyl pulls very good when asked to perform. I have put 5k miles on it and avg 25.5 mpg with a combination of city and highway driving. Overall I am very impressed with the car and only have two small complaints. One the roof line is very low and getting in and out you have to keep your head down (I am 6ft 1). Two when really pushing down hard on the gas the tires feel like they are in a groove and pull no matter what type of surface your on. Chevy has a winner in the malibu and there are no disappointments.

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  Very Impressed - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Austin Cali - June 15 - 3:47 am

  The 09 Malibu is fun and sporty yet very economical for my family of 3. I enjoy the clean simple look and the price point is very reasonable. The interior looks sharp however it has a plastic feel about it. Overall, I am very happy with the purchase.

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  satisfied but could be improved - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By dgclrk - June 14 - 1:12 pm

  I have the 4wd work truck and bought it new and have not had any mechanical problems except that sometimes it wont start on first turn off the key and the check engine light comes on periodically though the gas mileage is slightly less than advertised and it is hard to park in a tight space due to it having a 40 foot turning radius

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  BEAUTIFUL MACHINE - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By grny 5x - June 13 - 10:43 pm

  Van has performed very well during its 1st 41,000 miles. Everything in this loaded LT works well. Very few repairs after 1st visit - front stabilizer links replaced at 40k and sliding doors adjusted at 10k. Engine power is adequate, smooth, and reasonably quiet. Smooth quiet ride. Transmission shifts are smooth - up & down. Good gas mileage: 18 city & 25 highway at 75 mph. Original tires wear evenly, are well-balanced and should go 60k. Brake rotors and pads replaced at 20k. No shutter with 21k on ceramic pad replacements. 2nd row legroom is inadequate, seats lack armrests. Entry to 3rd row is an effort. Manual removal of 3rd row is old design - competitors seats fold under.

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  A base model isnt bad - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Revolver - June 13 - 4:40 pm

  I really like my chevy the design is basic enough that you can change out parts easy. Plus all the parts are pretty cheap, the coolant system absolutely suxs. However, if thats all you have to worry about I suppose thats okay. Many people buy cavaliers because they are cheap if you get the base model. Youll be surprised what these things will endure. My went through a flood with no issues, if you keep up to date on the coolant system if will work in many different heats and colds. Mine is a 2.2 liter which sure beats a 1.9 or a 2.0 only thing is I wish the car where a little bit bigger in the front for easy access to parts other than that a good cheap car!

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  Good car, but room for improvement - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Justin - June 12 - 7:53 pm

  I liked this car a lot when I first bought it. As time tells things start to happen. I have had the sunroof replaced, shift knob, and a vacuum pump in the gas tank, because the car would idle rough.