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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  malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jon catlin - July 17 - 2:00 am

  my 2002 chevrolet malibu is a pretty reliable car . it is very fuel eficent and has only had one break down so far .

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  Much more than a PT Cruiser - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Keith - July 16 - 9:03 pm

  When I first looked at the HHR, I immediately drew a comparison between it and Chryslers PT Cruiser. However, a retro wagon appearance is all they share. The HHR is towable 4 wheels down in an automatic, the PT is not. And although they have similar cargo room (about 65 cu ft., the seats need to be removed from the PT to accomplish this where in the HHR, they fold flat. Additionally, many items, like A/C and cruise control are options on the base model PT, but standard in the HHR LS. Finally, with a larger fuel tank & better fuel economy (23/30 vice 21/26 for PT with an automatic) I will be stopping less often to fill up. So the HHR is not a copy, but an upgrade from the PT Cruiser.

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  2001 chevy cavalier - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By gross - July 16 - 2:32 am

  bought the car for my daughter whos in college. had 92k miles when purchased. her school is a 3 hr drive away. car has been very good for months and then problems with radio. radio was killing the battery even after the car was turned off. After a new battery, altenator, and starter, it took months before a vehicle electrician found the problem. 2 dealerships couldnt even find the problem. cars is running great but no radio but my daughter doesnt mind, says she can listen to music on her phone. lol She loves the car and it seems to be a very good car.

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  Great Car for the Money - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Good Car - July 16 - 2:00 am

  We bought the Cavalier LS new in 1998 and have been very pleased with its performance. There have never been any reliability issues and it surprises us how it always starts with the first crank even when being left out in the cold Wisconsin winters over night. The gas mileage is about 30 HWY and has lots of acceleration. No beefs for the money spent and now it is practically paying for itself.

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  Soured GM Owner - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By JE Clary - July 16 - 2:00 am

  No Bells or Whistles - very little in space needed, and very poor pickup in acceleration. After years of Gm satisfaction - this vehicle was a poor choice and poor dealer introduction to the few gadgets it has. Gas guzzler far exceeded the listing on the sticker, and I will never buy another again.

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  2000 Corvette Coupe - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By sra07734 - July 16 - 2:00 am

  The Corvette has been a great car. Acceleration is phenomenal! I have owned a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS5, and the Corvette is quicker. Minor problems I have experienced include replacement of the steering wheel lock motor and replacement of the passenger side power window motor. There are many available aftermarket performance parts that are easy to install.

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  OkForPrice - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By NoMoreChevyFord - July 16 - 2:00 am

  Moving to a Japan Car/SUV_next. Buy American you get the power, price and problems. Blazer brake lights went out twice before 30,000, power mirrors windows and locks went out before 40000, alt. out at 52,000, fuel pump 77,000. Also chevy truck and 2 Ford trucks numerous trips to dealer for transmission leaks.

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  Overall good value - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ultrabingo - July 16 - 2:00 am

  The straight coupe with a manual transmission is fun to drive with rack and pinion steering, like a little sports car. Interior is cheaply make though. Lots of plastic and generic cloth. Overall a good value for the price.

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  It saved my life - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rev Peter - July 16 - 2:00 am

  6 months after we bought our Suburban, we had an accident that totalled our 26 trailer (it flipped on its side) and did significant ($10,000) damage to the truck. All four wheel remained on the ground and the sherriffs dept told us they had had three SUVs flip earlier in the week. After the truck was repaired, there was only one mechanical problem with the truck, which was fixed in less than an hour.

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  My new chevy Cruze - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Brian Buzak - July 15 - 10:25 pm

  When purchasing or leasing a Cruze. Do all your research first , make sure that you can do all your negotiating over the phone and talk to family or friends that own one. First so you can get the feel of the vehicle. I had just leased my new Cruze and i love it very much it is a great car if you are in collage or just want something that will get you to a to b. Other than that Chevy did a great job on the design and it is a great first car.