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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  Would be good. Just TOO MANY problems... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By C Dub - October 3 - 2:00 am

  Funny reading some of these reviews. All the same problems. 3 years, 12 times repairs. Took them awhile to fix the 4X4, the power sunroof, the rear electri noise tailgate, hub cap fell off, seat adjuster broke, would not go into 4X4, then stuck in 4X4. It was deffinatly a lemon. Mechanically, (other than the 4X4) it is an OK good truck. Always started on the first shot... never any engine problems. The rear wheel makes it impossible to see out the back window, and the 4X4 transfer case sits on the floor on the passenger side making it short of foot space. Too bad too cause I really did the look of the truck!

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  leased car - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By zvi - October 3 - 2:00 am

  on the whole it has been a good car. had problems with the brakes- replace pads and rotors at about the 25000 mile mark.

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  Bang for your buck - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Colleen - October 2 - 3:03 pm

  Wed been thinking of getting a family-friendly sedan, and when our tiny convertible was totalled in an accident, we settled on the base 4-cyl 2008 Malibu. The pick-up in the Malibu is not that great (but keep in mind, we got the 4-cyl!), but the fuel economy more than makes up for it. Weve been averaging over 30 mpg, combined highway and city (about 50/50), and we easily get 35 mpg on the highway. The car is fairly comfortable. Its not the sexiest car in the world, but for the money, its a bargain. I would definitely buy another.

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  Good Car - 1992 Chevrolet Corsica
  By mike - October 1 - 2:31 pm

  Well I purchased this car at a car lot in Arkansas for $300. He told me it didnt have reverse and it ran a little hot. Any way this car had lots of power and ran good. I never could figure out why it ran hot. I changed everything that would make it run hot. I figure it was a seeping head gasket. But this car got so hot (that the needle was past the H facing straight down) so many times, and it would start everytime. But you could tell a difference in the power it would lose each time it would run hot though. All in all I would most definitely get another one.

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  Great Purchase as a used car - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By djustice - October 1 - 12:08 pm

  This is my 4th mini-van. Three Plymouth Voyagers were huge headaches. Purchased this vehicle used, new vans are out until the last of three daughters are out of college. The van is very comfortable with 8 passenger seating. The second row middle seat can be folded down to reveal cupholders and doubles as an armrest. Storage is great. Handles well and is very nice to drive. Our grandchildren love the DVD player. Great on vacations. About 24 MPG highway, loaded with people and luggage. At about 65,000 miles it required a transmission overhaul but was covered by my extended warranty. Have had some problems with drivers side power window. Overall we love this vehicle. Great buy as a used car.

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  Great all around car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kevin R - October 1 - 11:22 am

  Love the fuel economy, and quality of leather seats. Only thing I dont like is the front seats are not real comfortable on long trips. Need more lumbar support. Only thing replaced in 100,000 miles are the front wheel bearings.

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  Corvette #5 for me - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By HD Shive - October 1 - 12:34 am

  The Corvette Z06 is a remarkable car. Its fast, beautiful, handles and stops like very few cars can. These cars are priced well and fairly inexpensive to own. Mine gets 30 MPG on the highway and routine maint. can be done by most owners/enthusiasts due to its simplicity.

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  Bad Economy Great Deal - 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
  By FordGuy - September 29 - 4:15 pm

  My 2000 Excursion diesel got totaled. I loved it even with 200K miles. I looked at the expedition XL but the MPG was 25% less then the Burb. I got an LT1 for $30,085 including added GM leather! Plus I got a $500 Lowes card. The sticker was over $40K great rebates! Although the ford rode much smoother and was more comfortable, the burb got better MPG and was about $7000 cheaper so I decided to try the Chevy. So far I really like it

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  40 months of great service - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By mike - September 28 - 5:51 pm

  Average 24 to 27 mpg. Thats 50 hwy 50 city. Hauls all I need, drives great. Had crap general tires I replaced with BFG trail. 4 cyc 5 sp manual. Cheap cost, great value, will probably get another in 8 mo when this ones paid off

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  My Last Chevy - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Tim Little - September 28 - 11:26 am

  Fell in love with the Montes after owning a 98. But now I am ready for a divorce. Paint is flaking off, sunroof no longer works, head light sockets keep melting, random rattling sounds under the car, bad a/c unit and broken seatbelt covers. And what did Chevy do about it when I called them? They gave me a survey about my Chevy ownership history and then told me that I was out of luck, that the paint problem was because of living in New England. Since I dont plan on moving, I apparently am discluded from owning any more Chevys. Of course, after they told me I was on my own with all the other issues, that was the last straw, and I babied this car! Horrible trade in value.