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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  DO NOT Buy a Chevy Uplander - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By momof2 - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Had it 2 years and now the battery goes dead for no apparent reason. Sometimes it starts, sometimes it doesnt. The dealer will make you pay just to look at it.

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  great little car - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By p - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I really, really like this car! Fun to drive, got it with 14500 K miles and still in warranty with all the bells and whistles. Wont say I love it cause it is just a material object but really, really like it. So far no problems with anything. MPG would be great if I didnt have a lead foot, but that is what the cruise if for! I would recommend it to others.

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  2007 Impala LS - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bob - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car in 2010 with 32,000 miles on it. GM Certified, in great shape. I was worried about the rear tire camber issue that is all over the net. This car has the original Goodyear Integrity tires on it. With 32,000 miles on them, they are only about half worn. So, I can conclude that not every 2007 Impala had that issue. Perhaps its only on the 3.9L models, as those were the ones that were used for Police vehicles. Very pleased with the car. Mine is black and looks like a very masculine sedan. Being a truck guy, its one of the very few sedans that I actually enjoy the looks. Handles very well, is quick, and very comfortable to drive.

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  Interior needs re-engineering - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By ed - November 26 - 2:00 am

  Interior needs HELP! Center console lacks good design. No place for park money. Cup holders inadequate & not well placed. Rear seat center head-rest obstructs rear view (inside mirror ).The stamped metal parts of front seat are very sharp. (don try to slide anything under the seat.

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  What a deal! - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By SoCalMarine - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in Los Angeles for $8795 brand new. $9600 out the door. You just cant beat the value. As for the gas mileage, I drove round trip from San Diego to Lake Tahoe and got a consistent 34-35 mpg. I have noticed a sharp decline when city driving more like 25-29. People need to rate this car by its VALUE. If you are paying $10k for a new car you cant expect it to look or preform like a $30k. But for the price this car has far exceeded my expectations. Perfect eco car or commuter.

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  Best Vehicle in 40 Years of Driving - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Allen - November 25 - 2:00 am

  This Chevy Avalanche is the best vehicle Ive owned in more than 40 years of driving. It is reliable, comfortable and versatile. Ive changed the oil regularly, put on one set of tires, one battery and a set of shocks - no other maintenance or repairs in more than five years of ownership. Truck is like a rolling fortress safe and reliable in all weather. Ride quality similar to our Jag XJ8 but with the capacity to haul the Jag on a trailer. Incredible vehicle.

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  the car that makes me nuts - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By zectbu1 - November 25 - 2:00 am

  Okay, lets see where to start. I thought this car was going to be amazing and fun to have. Well it turns out it is the complete opposite. I have been to the dealership 6 times! And now lets talk about the customer service, it is unprofessional and rude. I have had so many problems with this car it is incredible. It even has warranty so it shouldnt be a problem but no, they dont want to change my tires they didnt even want to give me a rental car. I have a weird rattling noise coming from them and they wont change them. I am incredibly disappointed with this car and I do not advice this car to anyone on this planet. Here is a list of all the things I have done to this car, steering etc.

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  Extremely good car - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ski - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I find this to be a very comfortable and quite car. It handles very well and I think it also looks very good. It also has very good mpg. I drive around 70 miles every day and this car makes the drive very pleasant. As a whole, I am very happy with this car and will certainly recommend it.

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  Known defects - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MattH - November 24 - 2:00 am

  This GM vehicle has suffered from some of the "known defects" by GM. The instrument cluster has been replaced under warranty, fuel pump became weak and been replaced, the actuators that control the airflow into the cabin become flaky and will start blowing hot air out (you have turn off the car and restart-Ive gotten good at doing this while going down the road). The final straw with this vehicle - excessive porosity in the cylinder heads (again, a known issue with GM suppliers CasTech heads) allows steady leaks into the valve train and gets mixed in with the oil. It has gotten bad (1 gal/month) and now at 105,000 miles, this vehicle has to go unless GM steps up. TBD.

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  Freakin sweet - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By TyBong - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car off of a friend for 500 bones as a beater car (I hate car loans! never again!) to get to work and back. Got the car at 230,000 miles, now have 245,000 and still runs like a champ! Starts funny, struts are messed up, but still runs great like the first day we signed the title over. Ive owned a 2002 camry and got less value off of that than my little cavy. That Toyota was junk, go GM!