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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  steering, ball joint, - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Gil - September 9 - 12:10 am

  I purchased this vehicle new and the first year was great. Power, handling, comfort, no repair. Then it started. I now have 90k miles, I replaced the rack and pinion steering column at 70k, the struts at 78k, the ball joints at 90k. The cruise control started giving me problems at 50k miles, goes off by itself. The shifter automatic stopped working right about the 50k miles range. I drive like a little old man, careful and slow and I maintain this vehicle at every squeak. I wouldnt buy another one.

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  Awesome car...I love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By HLMcD - September 8 - 8:06 pm

  I bought this car because my son thought it was "sick"...being a good thing....I needed a fuel economy car and havent had a "car" for many, many years to drive on a daily basis...except for my Corvette. This is a really comfortable, sporty, fun car to drive and Im very happy I bought it! The stereo with Pioneer speakers kicks and its got quite a lot of spirit for a 4 cylinder car. I love it, love it, love it!

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  not bad for money - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By abou_omar - September 8 - 10:46 am

  I bought only for my self to go to work 15 miles away, I love its design interior & exterior, nice head space, very comfortable. But it got slow acceleration and noisy in the begining but you can go 70 mph on the highway. I got it on smart buy program with low monthly pymnt

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  Overall quality is lacking - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dave - September 6 - 4:26 am

  This was my second Chevy pickup, my first being a 57 stepside. Since that old Chevy, I had evidently been spoiled by a few Fords, two Nissans and a Dodge. No complaints on any of those other pickups, but this Chevy mustve been a lemon. Everything from the battery to the temperature control to the transmission gave me trouble in the 9 months that Ive had it.

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  2005 2500HD First 3000 Miles - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Don Underwood - September 5 - 4:13 pm

  Good basic work truck. This is a 2005 2500HD 4X4, regular cab, 6.0 w/manual trans. The manual transmission helps the fuel economy if you keep your foot light on the gas pedal. The first 3000 miles (first month) has been very satisfactory. Highway fuel economy is been slightly over 17 when running 2300 rpms or less. City average about 13.5. Weekly average of mixed hwy/city about 15. Towing (boat) at highway speeds about 13/14.

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  Near perfect... - 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Cap’n Phil - September 5 - 3:09 pm

  This Silverado replaced a 2003 GMC SIERRA that had proven reliable and comfortable and had a ‘17 GMC in similar trim to the Silverado I purchased been available I’d have gone with another Sierra. The ‘17 Silverado is a big step up from my ‘03 Sierra. The ride is much better, the interior far upgraded and the new technology and safety features much advanced. Fit and finish is truly handsome and the LTZ Z71 in white makes a stunning truck. However...it’s not perfect. The 8-speed tranny can at times make strange shifts and occasionally the included GM On Star disappoints, in particular the navigation routing is really troubling. But overall this truck deserves a 4 Star Plus rating. As to reliability...time will tell but I think it will be around average for a pickup this size.

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  Nice for the Price - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jim Flesher - September 5 - 2:40 am

  As an owner, I am pleased at the handling this car has to offer. If I were to go on what this site said the car had to offer, I wouldnt have purchased this car. I am well pleased with the countless features that are available at this base level. My wife and I enjoy XM satellite, anti lock brakes, rear spoiler, OnStar, nice aluminum wheels, power seat, remote start, not to mention the interior room. The car has enough zip with the V6, that I would not have considered a V8 for the price difference. This car is driven about 80 miles a day and is quite comfortable. As for negatives, I would like to have seen larger mirrors for better visibility and, the styling is boring, not like the old ones

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  You have to drive this car! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Easter - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Ive driven Malibus before, but the new restyled 2004 had some pleasent surprises. Great new body styling. Im a big guy and found lots of head, leg and shoulder room. The pedal adjust for shorter drivers. I love the telescoping steering wheel. Fits like a glove. Interior comfort, all the bells a whistles I have enjoyed with larger, more expensive models. I got the XM/On-Star option, nice. Extremely smooth, quiet drive. Large truck. Split, fold down rear seat, and front passenger seat that fold down for transporting. Even my 22 year old son thinks its "fly". (He said that means its a nice car.) A great car at a great price!

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  best suburban yet - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By jiminca - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Thus is our 4th suburban. Everything I ever wanted in the way of improving the previous models has been implemented in this model. The driver convienence features exceed anything anyone would have dreampt in a "Chevy". The gas mileage is up and the 5.3 engine is smooth as silk with an increase in horsepower, not to mention it has the same EPA rating as a Honda Civic (ULEV). I also would highly recommend the autoride suspension as it handles great with no bounce or jounce over bumps and sharp curves. The standard XM Radio is worthy of note as well as the standard On-Star system on my "LT" model

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  The bad outweighs the good - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By came0kid - September 5 - 2:00 am

  This would have been the perfect SUV for me if not for the mysterious electrical problems they cannot fix. It started to break down less than 3 mos old, and has been in the shop 7 times in 11 months. Problems have involved 4WD transfer control module, A/C, Ignition switch, Rear springs (to fix a frequency rumble/vibration at 55mph), passenger door not closing properly, Radio presets mysteriously disappearing, poor gas mileage, rough transmission shifting; computer updates needed; safety recalls. If you want a sunroof you are forced to purchase OnStar for $900 with $14.95 monthly fee.