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 Car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jens Car - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I have been driving this car for almost six years, its fun, has great acceleration and will drive for over 400 miles on a tank of gas. The five speed transmission is great for passing cars. The resale value once I paid it off (60 months) wasnt very good, which is why I am trying to drive it for as long as possible. I would definitely not buy another one NEW, or finance another one for that long.

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  Stillen Suburban - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By teethdoc - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Had my suburban customized by Stillen. It was great before, but now it is better. Added 4th row of seats, 6 piston brakes, etc. Good people hauler, carries cargo, goes in the snow, takes care of errands, very safe.

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  love it -great price - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Jan & Kathy - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Still getting acquainted with the long list of features. Wonderful ride, great sound system, very quiet inside. No kids...got it for the convenience and for traveling, and couldnt be more pleased so far. Dealership (Feldman/Novi) made buying a really positive experience.

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  Honda killer - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Zoltrix - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car expecting it to be a gutless stock 4 cylinder. I put a spintech exhaust on it and a K&N filtercharger. the only cars that have beaten me were other cavaliers. My best story is of a 96 honda civic with a turbo and NOS. we did the first run and i was expecting to be beaten ...he missed second and i was gone.....then the second run he said i was finished so we lined up again i got a little better start ..he missed second again but found it fast he was starting to pull up to me hit third i heard a terrible noise and he dropped back and i won again....later i found out he fried his tranny and had to drive home in second gear...

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  I Just got it - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Little K - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Well I have had the car for 1mo. And so far so good. We will see what happen in a year from now. Drive Safe and Good luck to all.

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  A Few Changes Needed - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rancher03 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  There are many things to like about the Tahoe. It is a reliable vehicle and a good size.The seats are comfortable and the controls are easy to use. But there are a few changes needed to make me keep this one or buy another one. I have had 2 previous suburbans and a Chev conversion van in the last 15 years.

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  07 Impala Surpisingly Satisfying - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Carl - September 30 - 6:00 pm

  As expressed by others, all my friends told me Accord, Camry or Maxima were the way to go. I found them to be no better than the Impala at higher purchase and insuracne costs. I have only 600 miles on mine, and havent found one thing that was disappointing.

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  I Hate My Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Todd Hong - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I have a Cavalier that gets only 22 mpg highway even with the overspeed transmission. The dealership & Chevrolet will not work to determine what the problem is, their answer is "tough cookies". There are several pickup trucks that get better mileage! Car also doesnt hold value. My recommendation: BUY A TOYOTA COROLLA or SATURN. For the same money you get a much better riding car in the Corolla that holds a high resale value!

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  love it - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TB is a great suv - September 30 - 10:00 am

  Its just great. i got good gas mileage and good performance. good speed and size this car is #1 in my words

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  Thank God I Leased it - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By momstruck1 - September 30 - 10:00 am

  I have had nothing but minor problems but all those minor problems add up. There is a bumping noise in the front end nobody can seem to fix and in two weeks after we got it the muffler system was replaced . there is a problem with the tail lights going out all the time and the wind noise is slightly annoying.The DVD player is in the center of your rear view mirror so you see nothing when it is down. A lot of little annoying thing s not worth the 30 plus thousand dollars and glad that i can get rid of it at the end of my lease.