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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  Solid Transport - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Fred - June 23 - 5:42 pm

  Runs great, got the basic model but comes well equiped without costly options. Sure it may not be as good as a Honda or Toyota, but costs thousands less. Doesnt get as good gas economy as imports but thats due to more powerful engine. Just drive easy and you will get good economy. After 2 yrs bought another one for another family member.

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  Wish it was better built - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By John - June 23 - 4:47 pm

  Great car. I wish Chevy had put a little bit more Chevy heart and soul. This could have been the best light truck/full sized sedan car ever made. My two biggest complaints are the fact that whenever it rains the car leaks on the floorboard If you own one keep an eye on this. The other thing is the fabric they used for the for the seats. Dont let a drip of water touch, it will stain.

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  Very good car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By anderson - June 23 - 2:44 am

  I bought my 1998 Cavalier new 10 years ago. This has been a great car. Very reliable. The only money I have put into it is basic maintenance and exhaust. I have 170,000 miles on it and I am still on the original engine, original tranny and this car leaves no fluid stains on my garage floor. I have been so happy with this car. My only complaint with this car is that that traction is not that great in the winter even with new tires. They spin very easy even on a snow packed road. Its like the car is too light. Overall this car has been a great purchase for me.

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  Some things questionable - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Vaughn - June 22 - 10:34 pm

  I have had the same problems as a lot of Z71 owners had, the instrument cluster is going dead, and the front suspension/shocks are brutal. I have always been a Chevy guy, especially going for the Suburban for size and comfort, but GM should know better than to compromise on this simple engineering.

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  Must have stood in the lemon line - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Mike of Va. - June 22 - 10:03 pm

  I love the style, handling, and fuel mileage[30.9] but Ive had nothing but trouble with it. Pedals wouldnt move up or down. Fuel cap light on. Transmission chain adjusted? Rear hatch release didnt have safety pull on it and latch wouldnt release. Some type of poping noise when making slow turns. And now with 111,816 miles on it, the transmission has failed. If you are wondering I take care of my stuff so no jackrabbit starts or pulling/pushing with this car.

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  E-nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By zoltar - June 22 - 7:08 pm

  I purchased this vehicle as a work vehicle and have been surprise by the performance and mileage. Miles from town and in the dead of Kansas winter, I have busted through 2 snowdrifts. Then in the spring with the snow melting, I have slip-slided a full mile on a minimum maintenance road at 3 to 5 MPH. I dont recommend this as several times I thought I was going to end my adventure in the ditch. I only wish Chevy had spent more money on the paint used on the dashboard and where did they get the material they used on the seat covers? Spill water on them and they stain! All in all for a used vehicle with 36k on it and $16k Im really satisfied. It now has (8 months later) 57k on it.

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  Great car for a small family - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Robin - June 22 - 12:02 pm

  This is a good car but too small for us now. It drives real nice and smooth and was great in the snow too.

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  nice car - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By jd mac - June 22 - 10:00 am

  The car would be more fun to drive if it could speed up faster. Itwould be better all arount if it could top out at a higher top speed, around 130 like my other car (Ford Contour).

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  Trailblazer is very good choice - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kwillaf878 - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Handles very well.Plenty of power, especially to pass or merge in heavy traffic. Quiet smooth ride that is very enjoyable. Altogether fun to drive.

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  Ol Mally - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By carluver - June 21 - 8:15 pm

  Got this car brand new. currently has 140k mileage. Great acceleation with the v6! Very roomy, great car for the price! Have had some problems as its gotten older like the fans only work on high levels, ac turns on and off front speakers got blown out due to eccesive use. Recently replaced the alternator. Had one coolant leak but overall, it has been very good to me