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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  de Mexico - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By salvador - June 5 - 2:00 am

  I love driving my 2004 malibu, but I found some annoying noise when in bumpy roads

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  Dont get the 99 - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dan1 - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Many problems, get the 2000 I hear they worked out a lot of problems.

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  2004 Avalanche Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By rmnord - June 5 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased it and took on trip of 2000 mi. Loved the comfort, handling and looks. I have owned pickups, Cadillacs and other GM autos and this is by far the best vechicle I have owned. It has as smooth and quiet ride as any vehicle I have owned. This is the first 4WD I have owned, yet the ride is unbelievable.

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  Avalanche to Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By dennis headrick - June 5 - 12:33 am

  Good handling, good pep, good brakes, very versatile. Good gas mileage. Traded an Avalanche truck for the Maxx. Was tired of 11 mpg in city. If this car is as reliable as my Avalanche truck I will be very satisfied!

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  Love it - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Debbie - June 4 - 8:26 pm

  I needed something bigger to haul my kids friends around. This was the coolest way without getting a mini van. I love it!

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  2000 SS. Best Ive Ever Owned - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By chasd3 - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 2000 Monte Carlo SS new in 2000. This is the best car Ive ever owned. I put a lot of miles on it each year simply beacuse I love to drive it. It has been on two Cross Country trips from Texas to New York. The Monte Carlo is comfortable, reliable, fun to drive and just excellent all around. I hope to purchase another one soon.

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  Bad, Bad Malibu!!! - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By badmalibu - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Malibu 3yrs. Brakes replaced 3xs/yr. Im do for a brake job now after only 4 mths! I only get about 20K mi. on 60K mi. tires. I have 93K mi. on my car & purchased at least 3 new set of tires since buying the car. 60K mi. * 3 set of tires = 180K mi. total. Not including the original tires that was replaced around 30K mi. Maybe we should all complain to GMC & get a recall on the brake system & the suspension for the tires. CD player doesnt work anymore. Get ERR each time CD is inserted & the systems kicks the CD back out. Sometimes sensor light comes on & I would have to turn the engine off, & restart the car hoping it would reset.

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  Exceeded my expectations - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By AndyRach - June 4 - 10:00 am

  I have done nothing to this car except change the oil and tires. It has performed in an excellent manner.

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  Expensive to drive! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mpsrent - June 4 - 10:00 am

  In 18,000 miles (30,000 km) this car has had three front brake jobs. Rotors were turned at 7,000 miles, replaced at 11,000 miles and front brake bads entirely worn out at 18,000 miles. The car is not driven much, with many miles on the highway. The dealer claims the brake issue is a design flaw. The front strut bushings have been replaced. The JD Powers quality control rating is based on defects in the first 100 days. What about after that time? The long term quality is what youd expect of a 1970s car. Very disappointing, I wish I purchased an Impala.

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  My Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ctskirm - June 4 - 10:00 am

  Poor audio system, lots of road and engine noise. I am going to add insulation to lessen noise.