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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  its OK - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By shae weav - January 27 - 2:00 am

  I like the malibu although, it is no eye stopper. I do not have any brake problems now, but i can tell they are coming on. I can alos attest to the rattling noise i can hear deep in the engine. and it does get louder.

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  Chevy HHR Review - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Awesome Car - January 26 - 7:53 pm

  Purchased my Chevy HHR in October 07 and Im totally pleased with this car. Went from a Subaru with a very choppy uncomfortable ride to my 08 Chevy HHR which rides smooth has great storage excellent control panel giving all the stats you would want/need. Example tire pressure, oil life, temp etc. Overall I feel this small SUV gives far more space then PT Cruiser with better styling and ride.

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  bad car - 1995 Chevrolet Beretta
  By jmm22 - January 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car thinking it would last em for a long time, but that was not the case. Ive had this car for 7 months and have put close to 900 dollars into it. You name its been replaced, such as the heater coil, fan belt, battery, alternator, powerwindor, power lock, egr vavle, spark plugs, radiator. This final straw is a cracked block and blown head gasket.

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  Lemon in the making! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JFPToyota - January 26 - 2:00 am

  My problems since I acquired my vehicle less than 2 months ago. Engine stalls and power failure in the middle of an intersection. Learned that battery post busted and battery acid leaked every where. Dealership paid for this one. While Service was fixing battery, Service notice that the Intake Manifold was leaking. Took 3 days before they could even start on it. Warranty Repair Status was screwed up and STILL IS. Waterpump leaking at weep hole. 30 days in the shop is all I need for Lemon Law .. Im a 1/3 of the way there.. . I just noticed today that the rear passenger windows go only a 1/3 of the way down... Can you say Lemon?

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  very good - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jerry west - January 26 - 2:00 am

  my experience with corvettes has been an awsome ride up and along the roads and I would recommend any corvette to anyone, anytime!!!!!!!!!!!

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  The best in a long time - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Rob - January 25 - 3:10 am

  Having owned many different vehicles and brands, i.e, Honda, Ford, Nissan, VW, Lincoln, to name a few. I can honestly say I have never been more excited about a vehicle as I am about the Silverado Crew Cab. I needed to replace the 96 Towncar and purchased a Honda Element for the wife. Also an excellent small SUV. I look forward to driving the Crew Cab Silverado. I traded a 99 F250 V10 in on it. I hated the Ford. Had a 94 F150 and like it as well as a 1998 Silverado. I thought I would go back and try the Chevy again. I really like it.

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  2005 Chevrolet Malibu LS - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tony - January 25 - 2:03 am

  So far (Ive only had the car for five weeks and 1100 miles) this car is great. Its very quiet and smooth. Interior comfort is great due to the power seat; adjustable pedals; telescoping and tilting wheel (with all those features theres no way not to find a comfortable position). Fuel economy for a 3000+ lb sedan is great (I average about 27.3 mpg overall). The only thing I think could be changed is the gas pedal. To me, it feels like you have to push it down a little too much before it throttles up. Theres plenty of power after you do, but it feels like it could use some adjusting. Overall, my wife and I enjoy the car a great deal. You can feel the touch of a Saab in the drive.

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  Old Faithful - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By FenderBender421 - January 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my 3rd Astro van, having driven my previous vans 160,000 and 99,500 miles, I am obviously very impressed with the reliablility and quality of these cars. Interior design is very utilitarian and practical. 170 cubic feet of cargo space! Cant beat that with a Chrysler minivan. All- wheel drive is very good in the snow. Engine has torque galore...very fast off the line and when towing a trailer.

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  Great - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jason88 - January 25 - 2:00 am

  GMs suburband and yukn xl models are the best. Very powerfull and plenty of room. Very luxuious for a truck. Love it

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  So its kind of fun to drive, but..... - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By realcarguy - January 24 - 4:46 pm

  I have never had a car that promised so much, but delivered so little! The design, fit and finish on the exterior is ridiculous. Side door trim pieces falling off and roof trim poping up are more than just an aggrevation. The rear drivers inner wheel welll now has an ugly screw in it to keep it from gaping away from the fender. Both heated seats still dont work (they are working on it folks - I expect a "software" fix in summer since the hardware change didnt). The windshield washer still sprays low after two replacements. You would think a real 40K drivers car would come with complete gauges. The gas mileage stinks at 22 hwy on a good day downhill with a tail wind and a drafting partner!