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:

• 

  Stop whining, reviewers: its a NICE car - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jes2 - August 9 - 10:35 pm

  Heres a story for you: I rented a 2010 Malibu LTZ w/2064 miles on it, and continued to rent it, a month at a time (my job required it) continuously for the next 7 months. At the end of my assignment, the car had 20,600 miles on the odometer, Id become quite fond of it, and it didnt have even ONE DANGED THING WRONG WITH IT. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. No rattles, dings, scratches, scuffs, etc, so, after several phone calls and some help from my buds at the rental car location, I started the process to pull the car out of the fleet & buy it. Bottom line: I made a truly good deal on it, it was delivered at the Chevy dealer w/full factory warranty, and I now own it. Still flawless. Go figure!

• 

  Built like a tank! - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Kara - August 9 - 7:36 pm

  On 7-31-2010, we were rear ended by a tour bus that was doing AT least 60 on the interstate, we werent up to speed yet, the bus pushed us several feet, that truck and the good grace of God saved our lives! there were 5 of us in that truck including my son, Im so thankful we were in it instead of my car! We loved that truck and will miss it. We are looking for another in as good of shape as it was, Im thinking of trading my car for one!

• 

  Great Car For The Price - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By ZCT - August 8 - 3:55 pm

  I was a die hard BMW fan, so winning me over to an American muscle car was not easy. But what we have here is an exceptional car that looks amazing, handles well, is settled and quiet for long drives, but is fun when you get on the back roads and put your foot down. If you want a $30K coupe, then you owe it to yourself to test drive this one. Ive had the car less than a week and already strangers have approached me to ask questions and admire the car. The reactions are astonishing, as if I were driving a $100K super car. Of course I did get mine in Inferno Orange Metallic, that is not exactly subtle!

• 

  06 Chevy Colorado LT 4WD 3.5L Inline 5 - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Corey - August 8 - 3:07 pm

  I have had my Colorado for almost a year now. And so far I havent had any problems besides the fuel economy.

• 

  Great Truck - 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
  By BestShopper - August 8 - 7:53 am

  This is my second Colorado Z71 Crew Cab. Loved my 2004, so bought another one. Based on my research, it has the best mileage in its class. Ride is great for a truck. People often comment on the nice ride. Back seat is very roomy.

• 

  I dont understand - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By overrevv - August 7 - 7:05 pm

  When I read the reviews, most talk about the small interior. If you are under 62", there is nothing wrong with the front seating. And contrary to the reviews, the front seats are VERY comfortable. This car is not designed for adults in the back seat. It is an ENTRY level vehicle. That means a young couple starting a family will have plenty of room in the back for precious cargo. Personally, I like the exterior styling. I have a sedan with a rear spoiler and it looks great. Overall, I am very impressed with the overall quality and performance in all areas.

• 

  Great car, fun to drive - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By roger - August 7 - 12:12 pm

  We have had our 04 Coupe for over a year. It runs great, looks new, and has never had a mechanical flaw since we owned it It is a show winner, having won "best in class" at a recent car show. We belong to Myrtle Beach Car Club and enjoy the events, shows, and cruises. It has plenty of power and gets about 23 to 23 mpg on trips. Great car overall.

• 

  Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By PK - August 7 - 9:35 am

  A good looking, comfortable vehicle. Nearly 100,000 miles and only one major ($600) repair outside of typical maintenance. Great in foul weather.

• 

  2004 Chevy Avalanche 4x4 - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Gus - August 7 - 9:32 am

  My first impression was how dumb it was to merge an suv and truck. I test drove it and I fell in love. Like me, I dont work construction or in a farm and I dont tow heavy but have a good size family. This vehicle is intended for those city dwellers that like to camp, drive on vacation or have to take a trip to the dump. It has been so wonderful to be able to provide such a diversity when needed and GM had given me the tool. I replaced items that I feel I wanted to change to have peace of mind and not because the manual says so. It has not leaked, stopped cause any issues let alone a check engine light.

• 

  Good car for the money. - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Roy "Rocky" Cathcart - August 7 - 6:46 am

  I purchased this car for my daughter, who was on her way to college. This vehicle has served us well, and looks like it will take us to graduation day. After graduation it will probably go to another member of the family who needs a good - serviceable - and economic automobile. We keep up with the maintenance schedule, and have it detailed (inside and out) every spring. I would recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a good quality car in that price range.