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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  Solid Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tom - April 11 - 11:52 pm

  I purchased my 2004 Malibu after going for three months without any car following an accident which totaled by 2004 Cavalier. As luck would have it it put me in a great position to wind up with this Malibu. I had never really heard much about them until I found this one at a local dealer. After reading up on it I found that it sounded like it would be worth a look. I took it for a test drive and looked it over and found it was great. I have owned it for three weeks now and the car has been more than what I imagined it would be. Roomy, comfortable, with loads of features that I could only have dreamed about in my Cavalier (remote start, automatic lights, electric pedals and seats etc).

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  SS owner - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By McDonald - April 11 - 1:06 am

  Looks good and rides excellent! The fuel economy is not great, but you have to give up something for style...and style, it has! Everyone stops and looks at this CHEVY.

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  09 Colorado - 2009 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Jviden - April 10 - 9:39 pm

  I feel that the reviewer missed the mark on the Chevy Colorado. The inline 5 has plenty of power and this small truck is easy and comfortable to drive and park. As an owner of a construction company I have driven almost every make and model of pickup and i find that the Colorado gives you the best value for your buck.

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  Honest Value over Status - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By TNtim - April 10 - 2:00 am

  This would be a great first car, second car, or utility vehicle. Value, versatility and more than a little verve. Dont let the price tag fool you.

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  Great Car!! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By orionforstar - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I have only had this car for a month, but it is a pleasure to drive.I actually find reasons to go out for a drive now.

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  `02 Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dixonfam - April 9 - 8:56 pm

  I love this vehicle for the design and ride. Lots of room, heavy towing capacity, lots of cargo room. The ride is smooth. The sound system is not the best in the world, but hey, it beats riding in silence!

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  2nd Colorado in NC - 2009 Chevrolet Colorado
  By dscain - April 8 - 12:23 pm

  I just bought my second Colorado. I owned my first one for 1 1/2 years and would still have it if my kid hadnt outgrown the jump seats in the back of the extended cab. I bought a new Crew Cab, and it is much roomier. Chevy really improved the truck for 09. The brakes operate much more smoothly. Standard OnStar is a nice touch for the price. The new body color trim with chrome accents make the truck look more stylish, and the new chrome wheels look great. The old truck was pretty bulletproof and economical (21 mpg in everyday driving and 27 on trips). As a repeat owner, I am very pleased with this economical, reliable everyday truck, and I would recommend it without hesitation.

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  A big person in a little car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Leroy Kroll - April 8 - 6:30 am

  I bought my Cobalt in June of this year and have put almost 7000 miles on it. I must admit a couple of things. First of all I am 61 and 240lbs, so getting into a small car would seem impossible right? Not so with the Cobalt. As a matter of fact Im very comfortable sitting in it. I especially like the idea of being able to stretch my legs out and not have them hitting the dashboard. We recently drove to Florida and back in it. The car rode beautifully. I really liked the fuel economy I was getting during the trip. I was getting on average 34mpg, and that was doing 75mph on the highway. My wife especially likes the way the seat adjusts. All in all so far, the Cobalt is fun!

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  Uplander is Awesome! - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Donnie - April 7 - 5:00 pm

  My wife and I bought this used van back in March and love it! It had about 46650 miles on it, but drove and felt like a brand new vehicle. We traded a 1998 Chevy Venture. While the Uplander looks somewhat similar to the Venture, it rocks with its vast improvements, especially the 240 horses of raw unadulterated power! Has great punch to pass at highway speeds. Van is much more quiet than its predecessor. It is an LS model with many standard features. Great factory Stereo! I proceeded to flush out the Dex-Cool antifreeze and replace with universal 5 year coolant. Dex-Cool coolant causes major problems! I took and flushed mine 2nd day I had it to protect cooling system.

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  Facts - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Beretta4life - April 7 - 4:05 am

  The fact is yes the car HAD problems, give me the beretta anyday. Both my brothers have them and both are now well over 200000 miles. Needs a turbo thats about it, yes it breaks but its cheap to fix. Never been stranded thats all that matters.