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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  2009 Cobalt - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By RickD - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Have 27,000 on mine and have had no problems. The car has great acceleration and very quiet and smooth ride.Gas mileage averages right around 28.5 to 29.0 MPG. Seem like a good little car with lots of quality built in. It definitely compares to the Corolla and Civic. Ive owned both.

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  Just a warning - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Edna - November 16 - 2:00 am

  The car is new, so too soon to tell if it will stand up to the test of time. I like the look of the car. Seats not great, could be more comfortable. Love the on star feature. When I needed help with getting a spare the Chevy dealership, and the Chevy corporate headquarters was very unresponsive. I would hate to have to deal with them over a really serious issue, they just dont seem to care once your out the door and they have your money.

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  Dont buy - 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Not Happy - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Do not buy this vehicle. If you only have a 10 minute drive to and from work OK but as long as it doesnt snow. Dont worry about talking on your cell phone. There is so much interior noise at times you cant. Only good thing, I didnt have to pay for it. The price is our of line with quality. Poor gas mileage, only gets 19mph with the inline 5cyl. Rough ride and uncomfortable seats. Could this be one reason why Chevy needed a bail-out.

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  Great Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By LTZ owner - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Great truck does everything I ask from hauling my boat and landscape materials such as rocks, yet is good looking enough to hang with the Mercedes and Lexus at high end restaurants. The only cheapness Ive found is the plastic door handles which look and feel like chrome both inside and out, tend to break and fall apart in the FL. heat, as well as some failures in some of the electronic sensors over time. The plastic wings behind the windows also turn from black to light gray if you dont constantly maintain them with a protectant.

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  Used to be the best SUV - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By catlover - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought this new in 07, after having a 2001 suburban for 5 years. Dealership is great and has wonderful service - so NO complaints there. Controls are confusing. Seating very uncomfortable compared to 01 SUV. Now that I have 101K on the Tahoe, it is giving me electrical problems. Thought I would get another 70K out of it, but afraid to keep it much longer before it decides to leave me on the side of the road. Very disappointing...way to go GM, your unions will be the death of you yet..

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  Actually, a decent sedan - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Stavros - November 15 - 2:00 am

  own for 3 yrs. & have 116,000 km. I have to say, its not BMW 5 level ride & style, but I gave it good ratings cause, for what it is, it does well. it has plenty of power and reasonably responsive and hwy. power is great for passing anything. fit n finish is a bit cheap and lines not perfectly matched up...interior is not so stylish, but functional...front seats are not bucket enough, so they dont hold you on sharp turns, but very comfortable for everyday and long trips, rear seats, very comfortable (according to my passengers). for big car, actually handles pretty good (LTZ model)as engine got broken in, I get 10.5 L/100 km.AVG. Good Family Mover. Drives & feels solid on hwy. speeds.

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  Great truck great price - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Dougdu - November 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck new and have 150,000 on it. I have not put anything into it except the ABS brakes had a problem and I put new rotors and sensors on. That is it besides tires and oil changes and I did change the serpentine belt because it was nine years old not because it was shot. For the average Joe to haul things around and get from point a to b this truck is great. I get 27 MPG with gasoline and 21 with E 85. I will sell this truck but I will be sad to see it go.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By cafeteriagodess - November 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this car for almost 10 years. Great car drives quiet and with ease on the highway without road noise. The only thing I have had to do is tires, battery, headlights tail lights, belts. Oil changes regular maintaince. She has gone to the mountains three times with no problems on the blue ridge. I dont like the in/out of the seat as it is low and my hips have had enough. Dont care for the windshield its had to keep clean. I would change the rear hatch when its has rained when you lift up the hatch the water runs inside. I would not buy a knew one only because I am ready for a truck, but I have nothing to complain about this camaro has been very reliable never has given me any problems

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  2004 Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Greg - November 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 2004 Impala with 75K. A base base model but it has ABS and traction control. I get 26-27 mpg (80% hwy 20% city). Its roomy, the trunk is enormous, it rides nice and hasnt given me any trouble in the 10 months and 19k miles I have owned and driven it. It will not raise your pulse with excitement, but it is a dependable driver with plenty of room and great mpg for its size. I have achieved over 30 mpg highway over a tankful of gas in the summer with the a/c on.

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  First Tahoe - 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gb44 - November 14 - 2:00 am

  Excellent build quality, nice ride, plenty of towing power for our travel trailer. Even my wife feels comfortable driving it, and usually she shies away from large vehicles, she does not feel intimidate in this vehicle. I have owned several Silverados so this is familiar, but a lot easier to whip into parking places.