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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  Fast Fun and Economic - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Venkat - March 24 - 3:16 pm

  Cavalier Z24 2dr Coupe is fun to drive, fast and economic.. i love this car.. it wont empty your pockets and maintenance wise till now i didnt got a single problem with the car.. ( with regular service ).. Coming to resale value this car doesnt fetch more.. (recently i checked in kbb :-( ) Overall good car with good performance..

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  Most economical car is based on price. - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ron Wagner - March 23 - 10:01 pm

  We purchased this LS with air and auto for $9,340. We have been looking at Aveos since they came out. We love the way they sit. They sit high, so you dont have to fall into the seat and clamber out. The mpg is disappointing so far. Just 22 mpg city. I figure I can afford at least $10,000 worth of gasoline before I reach the price of a hybrid. I dont think that the hybrids would ever match the overall economy. We really do like this car. It could be a little wider for large people though, and I dont understand why little cars dont have arm rests for both front seats, or one that is big enough for both people. Right now, I would say go for the best priced non hybrid to save the most money.

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  Gets the job done - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By okeydokey - March 23 - 12:44 pm

  Good Gas mileage and decent room. Quieter and more solid feeling than the Vibe. Merging onto the express way can be a challenge as the little motor tries as best it can.

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  wish i could drive it - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By david mcdermott - March 23 - 1:45 am

  well so far ive had my trailblazer almost a month and ive gotten to drive it for two weeks of it. only 500 miles on it and already in shop 3 times for check engine light comming on. first couple times they thought it may be a gas cap, now its been in shop for several days for same thing however now its because a bad sensor that they had to pull gas tank to get to. hopefully that fixes it, thank god for 36,000 mile warranty, after its over come talk to me if you want a 08 trailblazer for cheap as is. anyway, i like my rental car

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  Awesome car! - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By JBaz - March 22 - 8:40 pm

  I bought my 97 Lumina, two years ago at 160,000 miles! It still runs today, and Im at almost 203,000 miles. The only problems I have had was the alternator needing to be replaced. Other than that, my car still has pick-up for having the mileage it does. Its definitely a great car, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

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  Doors are a Warning! - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Mark Colbert - March 22 - 4:43 pm

  My wife and I love our Tracker. It had a cracked hub when we first bought the vehicle. The dealerships(3) in this area kept putting the car on the computer to find out why it would just stop while driving down the road in gear. We finally took it to someone outside the dealerships, He would not let us drive it for fear the brakes would catch on the crack and flip the vehicle. We argued and finally got paid by Chevy. Now the door handles, the inside are faulty and will not hold up to normal wear and tear. The outside are absolutely no good if you get a little ice on them. They will break off easily. Ours did and at $90.00 we have to wait and save for this. Inside handles dome twice.

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  Rotors need replaced at 31,831 - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sue - March 22 - 11:30 am

  Car was serviced Nov 10 2008, winter tires, oil change and general check, everything including brake pads were ok. Returned vehicle March 2009 to change tires back to summer and have oil changed, I have now been told that rotors are so bad that they are dangerous, replacement cost of $325.00/axel. I am a city driver, I drive with 1 foot and my pads were fine just 4 months agoit wasnt even suggested that the pads be changed. Ive not had any squealing, pulling or shaking, so I have to wonder...? I drove my last car for 14 years and only had to change the brake pads. Are GM parts of such poor quality? Rotors are not covered under GMPP total plus, even obviously faulty ones. Unacceptable

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  if I could do it over, might not buy - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Angela - March 22 - 11:12 am

  Okay, if you have two kids then you need a larger vehicle. The trunk is deep but not high enough to get a double stroller in and out and it takes up half of the trunk. In fact you cant get much in due to the height of the trunk :( The shiny trim blinds you when the sun hits it. The mileage has not been great and have never got more than 26 mpg. As far as the paint job, its poor! I have several factory runs. Chevrolet let that one slip through the factory. Are they sleeping on the job?

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  Solid Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By JEByrd - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I have alway been a Ford person, but my purchase this last week of a Silverado LS/4.8 V8 was more because of the finance manager from the Ford dealership than my love for the Chevrolet truck. BUT...this is a nice overall truck. I like the standard features and the V8 is crisp. Overall quality seems respectable - and it is very roomy inside, which helps with 2 kids in car seats.

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  Drove It Through 15 States - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By David Duffer - March 22 - 9:16 am

  Just got back May 23rd after leaving on the 14th of May to Memphis TN,and out west to Arizonia to the Grand Canyon, and over to Nevada to Las Vegas,Hoover Dam, then to Wyoming to Yellow Stone National Park,before heading back to Bowling Green KY.... While pulling a 2,000 lbs of a Pop-up Camper. I only got 16 miles to the gallon while towing camper trailer... But can honestly say that mechanically,driving,and the ride was excellent,didnt have any problems drove 4,995 miles including the trip back to Bowling Green KY... And I will add that we didnt let any grass grow at speed at 70-73 miles an hour even when we went through light rain showers.. It went right through the wet roads just fine..