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 for the money - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By bob - July 14 - 7:40 am

  Impala ls under $20k. You cant beat this car import or domestic 4dr sedan this is it. The interior is basic and that is what I wanted. Trunk is huge good gas mileage

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  I LOVE my Truck! - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By malinche - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought it based on the 3rd door and the color (indigo blue)--yeah, it is a "girl" thing, but I am from a true Chevy family (5 Chevy cars, truck, SUVs from the same dealer) and my getting it was no-brainer. I live in the Bay Area and the V6 has served me well go up and down hills. I drive A LOT to SoCal and it is a comfortable drive. Ive have had no maintenance problems other then normal wear and tear. I will buy another truck.

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  watch the engine - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By daddy d - July 14 - 2:00 am

  After owning the car for five months and it being at 70000 miles the engine blew a head gasket. I was told it was caused by the dexcool system not being properly taking care of before I bought.

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  Death (untimely) of a 1996 Lumina - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Lorne Greene - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Routine maintenance was fine - nothing major just brakes, oil changes, nor =mal service. Car was highway driven and not punished. At 85,000 it needed a new head gasket and at 110,000 blew two connecting rods at 60 MPH. No warning on either - just failure. Liked the car but will never buy another one. My 1990 Toyota Camry just went past 225,000 miles and all it ever requires is rountine maintenance, oil changes an occasional set of brakes and one clutch (155,000 miles).

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  02 Malibu LS - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mhj - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Malibu as my first car out of college, So far I am very pleased. My only additions are window vents and XM radio

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  The coolest mommy vehicle on the block! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tiger Mom - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Its a great car for carpooling kids to school, shopping for grocercies and mulch, and road-tripping to Disney World. The leather is comfortable and sporty, and the third row seat allows room for 8 passengers. But this sporty mommy vehicle is no pushover its tough enough for dad and 4 or 5 golf buddies as well! If youre looking for quality, durability, and style under $40,000 this is your truck!

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  Nice car for the $$$$$ - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kwin57 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Good all around car for the money. It has a nice sporty look and with the V6 is peppy enough for city and highway driving. As stated in so many reviews the brakes are a nightmare. The roters has to be replaced right after delivery. We had 3 sets of rotors and front brake pads replaced before 25K. The rotors were replaced under warranty but it was still a hassle. Other problems were a coolant leak and the back power window has a problem. They were both fixed under warranty. The heater/AC fan had a problem also. It did not function on speeds 1 and 2.

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  2001 Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By kendall221 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  Overall very good.

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  Excellent Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By smithpk - July 12 - 6:30 pm

  Incredible features on the "base" model. We just bought within the past month and have been happier than expected with the 4800 engine. The 3rd row is the best available - interms of leg room and 50/50 split for storage. Have used the AWD some in snow and this works great as well.

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  One incredible truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By David R - July 12 - 9:40 am

  Ive driven Chevy trucks all my life, and this one has got to be by far the best. Nice power and exceptional ride comfort from a truck are my top requirements, and this truck fills the bill nicely. After punishing this truck on the Million Dollar Highway, I rode away with a huge smile on my face. The tires stick like glue on wet/dry pavement and can easily climb any mountain with gobs of power to spare. Can tow 8,000 pounds with ease. While it may not be the absolute fastest truck, it is fast, it rides extremely well, is versatile, and will leave you with a great feeling.