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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  zoom zoom this - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By space nurd - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Owning Italian and British performance cars in the 80s and 90s. I converted to my absolute favorite - the Corvette. My C5 roadster is MY BABY. I confess that it shares the garage with the old Maserati rag top I decided to keep - the Corvette is my favorite. Nothing like a top down drive on the California coast. (see favorite features and improvements)

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  Kick But Car - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CavalierZ24 - June 28 - 2:00 am

  I love my Z24 since ive had it i havent lost a single race

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  98 Malibu LS - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Memsec - June 28 - 2:00 am

  Problem with noisy Affinity tires 2 years ago. Early problems with sgueaky suspension and brakes. Good car once we got the bugs out.

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  driving the h*ll out of it - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chevy lover - June 28 - 2:00 am

  31500 and counting. most miles on highway. havent had a single problem with the exception of one. change my own oil got a free change from dealer the first time. the mechanic must have been king kong. took it back and the dealer loosened the drain plug. no sqeaks, rattles,etc. same motor as was in my 90 s10. should be good for over 200k and i never changed the oil in it after 150k (dumb move). very good vehicle if you get it from the right plant and its not built on a monday or friday!

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  Finally a fun Chevy - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Hexxman - June 28 - 2:00 am

  We have owned ours since they first launch and have had very little concerns. Fun to drive and still gets looks from those of all ages.

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  2000 Chevy Monte Carlo LS - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By montewithproblems - June 27 - 8:36 am

  I bought my Monte Carlo used with 98000 miles. Granted it wasnt new, since I have owned it I have had many problems. Heater blower motor and resistor went, ball joint, thermostat, transmission is starting to hestitate, power mirrors only work when they want to, and now the car is leaking antifreeze. I was told by my mechanic that the head gasket is going. I have only put 10000 miles on it. I would worn others to be cautious buying a used one with higher miles. The seats are uncomfortable. The car does look great though and does turn heads. Just wish it was more reliable. This is probably my last Chevy!

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  Equinox not quite equal, but solid. - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Stephen Bates - June 27 - 7:35 am

  If you value rear seat room for adults over cargo space, look at the Equinox. The seats are comfortable and the ride is smooth. Most everything is fine, but not spectacular. There are compact SUVs with more pep and fuel economy, but the Equinox is reliable.

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  Malibu - The car you knew GM WOULD build - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MikeMac - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Malibu LS new in August 2000. I have had to replace the brakes and rotors on it a few times, and the brake work was covered by the dealership while under 36000. I have had some minor problems with the AC, the blower motor went and I had lost the two lowest fan speeds. I have had to replace the tires and battery. Overall, its been a dependable car and my dealership, Cloverleaf Chevrolet, has been excellent. Not sure if I would by another Malibu, but I would definately buy and get service from the same dealership again.

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  Power Door Locks - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By silverado_sd - June 26 - 2:26 pm

  The right rear door does not work either automatically when the shifter is taken out of park, or with the key fob, or from the drivers door control panel. It must be locked and unlocked manually, and there is no place I can find that explains what the cause could be, and cant get much help from GM unless I take it to the dealership to have it troubleshot and repaired, instead of letting me do it myself. I am affraid that the other doors will eventually end up doing the same thing. Also the brakes shimmy when going down hill and pulsate too.

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  So much fun - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By mikee - June 26 - 6:26 am

  This car is so fun to drive. I used to have a Sentra Spec-v and this Cobalt SS is so much more fun. I love it