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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  The Best Car to Drive - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Cam - September 14 - 10:00 am

  Tired of feeling cramped in those long car rides? Try the Chevy Impala. The handling of this vehicle is more like a mid sized car then a full sized car. But the spacious interior and the smooth ride is just like a luxury vehicle.

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  A big improvement for Chevy - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By D Vera - September 13 - 4:16 pm

  Overall, my Malibu LS is a great car. I just drove it from New England to New Orleans with no problems reported. The Malibu gets great highway mileage (30 mpg at 75 mph) but is dismal in the city. In normal city traffic with stop and go congestion, I am averaging only 18 mpg, a downright terrible number for a new midsize sedan. If you are planning on buying a Malibu LS mainly for the city, I recommend you test drive one first to see the mileage. Pickup on the highway is poor (especially when the vehicle is packed) but OK for normal driving. Just dont try to pass trucks on the interstate. Besides the city mileage and pickup, my only other complaint is the poor radio reception.

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  Great Compact for your Buck - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Dawg Davis - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great car for the money. Handles wll, plenty of zip. Stylish and roomy yet economical.

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  kick a** car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By aveo man - September 12 - 10:00 am

  i drive this car from bakersfield to tehachapi daily. it is a 40 min drive up hill and I have plenty of power. I do 80 mph and have reserve power still.

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  Excellence from Chevrolet - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By T and Ls car - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My wifes car turns out to be an excellent choice for a family car. She just loves the warmed up cabin on cold mornings { she just loves the remote start }.When she changes lanes she claims the car just glides to her spot. She likes the sunroof and adjustable pedals as well as the power adjustable seat {shes 4 11 tall} I like the side head air bags, abs, traction control and the 200 hp engine that got us 31.8 mpg to LA to Vegas then home to Campbell. Were extremely pleased with our purchase of this Malibu LT.

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  I love it! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rm2177 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I just bought an LT and we love it. The look of the exterior is best in its class if you ask me. The interior is well placed, even though the materials could be better. The I6 engine is very smooth and powerfull.I dont think well have a problem towing any toys.Wind noise could be a little less, but not bad overall.

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  1500 W/T - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By F5Tiger2 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great truck thats fun to drive and enough horsepower to muscle out of most anything. Even the work truck interior is better than most competitor midrange models.

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  2016 chevy cruze - 2016 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Wilver mundo - September 11 - 8:42 pm

  I just bought 2016 chevy cruze I am only getting only 24 mpg this car sucks I am sorry I got this car please dont waste your money in 2016 cruze

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  I dunno - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By wabbit - September 11 - 3:00 pm

  I just love my HHR and feel good that I got a lot of bang for my buck! I spent a month deciding between HHR and Vibe (similar crossover vehicles) and option for option I got the HHR with remote start (which Vibe doesnt offer)for $2K less than the Vibe!

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  I love my car! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By ska - September 7 - 9:16 am

  Got this car in November 2006 and I love everything about it. Not a gas saver, although it does have flex-fuel management, but thats okay because I love it and I love driving it.