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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  saushas review - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sausha - July 27 - 2:00 am

  my blazer is one of the best vehicles ive bought its comfortable luxrious and all out great i would recomend this vehicle to anybody looking for a nice vehicle.

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  Say No to Malibu - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nonew - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE FROM MY 2000 MALIBU. I HAVE HAD TOO MANY SETS OF BRAKES AND ROTORS TO EVEN COUNT. I HAVE HAD A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, NEW BATTERY, NEW FUEL TANK FLOAT. MY ENGINE HAS KNOCKED FROM THE START. MY TURN SIGNAL HAD A BUZZING NOISE AND AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY FINALLY FIXED IT AFTER I THREATENED TO SEE A LAWYER. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH SMALL CHILDREN SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOWED AND I HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION WHEN TRYING TO DEAL WITH GM ABOUT PROBLEMS. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO GIVE ME $1,000 TOWARD A NEW CHEVROLET PURCHASE. (YEAH RIGHT)

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  So-So Car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MassMike - July 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used in 2002. It still had factory warranty left. Luckily, dealer gave me 3,00 additional miles on bumper-to-bumper because the transmission had to be completely rebuilt at 38,000. Transmission is starting to stick again. Mileage on this car in not as good as advertised but it is comfortable to ride in and had lots of room, especially the trunk.

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  cavalier is a nightmare - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By danielles fat - July 27 - 2:00 am

  carv -a-lier horribly built car..no power.no quality.if u have it get rid of it before the warranty runs out..if it lasts that long.everything breaks.transmission rattles (charactaristic, not a defect)..rides like @#%$, For performance leave car at the dealer for warranty services

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  Great family car - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By mjm - July 26 - 4:13 pm

  4th in a long line of SUVs (Ford, Honda, BMW, Chevy). This SUV looks the best and has the strength the others do not (towing). Very comfortable driving position, plenty of room for a family of 6 and everything needed for long vacations. AWD has performed as expected in inclement weather (ice, snow). The qualtiy of this vehicle seems to be better than the previous Chevy I have owned.

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  My little corsica - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By charli_red1218@yahoo - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Well...I got my corsica a yr ago this august. since then the passenger door has stopped opening from the outside and I had to have the catalytic converter changed and transmission work done. Usually its reliable though the a/c is ice cold. I wish it accelerated better but its pretty durable. I wanted a civic but had to settle for the corsica. Ill be sad to see it go now, but it will one day, not too lovable at first but it grows on you! :) I love her

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  AMAZING AFTER SO MANY MILES!!!! - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CypressMJ - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Id have to say I am really proud of my Cavalier VL coupe. She runs great and fast. As a teenager still in the wanna-be fast stage of my life, this baby has all the power I need with a 3.1L engine pulling about 140 horsepower. Other then the lack of stylish exterior and constant rust problems, my car, after 102,456 miles on it, still runs fresh off the dealership. Watch out for that thermostat, though. Shell stick on ya!

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  Great Car - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Frank1003 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  This is the first GM Ive ever owned. I bought this vehicle new and have had it for two years now. Just turned over 50,000 miles. Besides oil changes and car washes, maintenence cost has been zero. Never been back to dealer since driving it home. This is without a doubt the best car Ive ever owned. It makes Taurus, Camry, Accord, Intrepid, etc. seem like junk. Impala has a much more solid feel and has been 100% reliable.

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  NEVER BUY A BLAZER - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Hate It - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Worst car ever, dont ever buy a Blazer. Where to even start, this car is always in the shop. In 2.5 years, everything has gone wrong. Unreliable and unsafe. Know 2 other people with the same car and have the same problems...none of us will ever buy a Blazer again. 4WD, steering, brakes, power seats, windows leaking, catalytic onverter, exhaust system, alternator, you name it, it breaks. 50 miles over warranty, power seats went, 150 over, windows were leaking, 1,000 over, the car jumps when it accelerates. Word of Warning, dont but this car...EVER!

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  Dependable - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By HAPPY40 - July 26 - 2:00 am

  Is really fun and responsive when you have to go. Easy to park. Need the drivers seat a little bit higher for better view.