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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  Still Under review - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CB - June 29 - 1:45 pm

  Bought the vehicle after trading in 2003 Acura TL. (Point of clarification the vehicle I purchased is V-6 but didnt see the drop down item) The day after I bought the car the odometer read 138 miles, I decelerated (applied the brake) going around a corner and the engine stalled. Coasted then placed the car in park and restarted it. 2nd occurrence odometer reading 160 same issue. Next day returned to the dealership and no diagnostic codes displayed the problem. The dealership along with GM technical assistance believed it to be one of two problems the computer brain (fuse box) or the ignition switch not being properly grounded. Replaced both and problem has not reoccurred.

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  Impala - American Pride At Its Finest. - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By stevenycer - June 29 - 12:31 pm

  Ive got 2 years and 36,000 miles in on my Impala LS and have had an overall positive experience with it. This car is strictly a cruiser with very soft handling and very smooth ride. This car is not for performance enthusiasts wishing for feeling the road as they drive. Im particularly fond of the exterior styling in a mocha brown color and the tail lights are a nicer improvement over the previous design. There have been no mechanical issues with drivetrain, brakes, electric, or any engine issues. Aside from a few minor flaws, I would purchase this car again in a heartbeat. The Impala has proven to be an excellent value for the money, and fuel economy for a V6 is fantastic.

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  Nice for what it is, economical - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By regfootball - June 29 - 12:58 am

  Better engine power than many compacts, very willing to rev. Quiet ride, especially for a compact.Have ebony interior and its actually not bad. Like the gauges and the radio controls. Have MyLink, the USB for music and bluetooth for phone work fantastic. Ergonomics are a bit off, and space is tight especially for leg room in the back, but seats are comfortable enough in the front. A/C works well. Big problems with cup holder locations and lack of storage in general. Tall beverages in cup holders block climate controls. Have to raise armrest to lift handbrake-stupid. Trunk is decent size. Steerings a bit dead -lacks feel but steering wheel with audio controls works great. Looks good in red.

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  Too Much Gas! - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Too much gas! - June 28 - 2:07 pm

  I love everything about this car EXCEPT the horrible gas mileage. I only get about 13 mpg! I have taken it in and they say that nothing is wrong and that Trailblazers are gas hogs. It costs $65 to fill up my tank and if I am lucky I get 300 miles. We have tried high performance oil, but that didnt seem to help much. I enjoy the smooth ride and the power of the engine but it sucks both the oil and your wallet dry! We bought it with 17 mpg in town advertised BUT I have never gotten anywhere close, so we feel like we were ripped off. I have only put 10,000 miles on it and drive average. It handles well in rain and snow when the 4 x 4 kicks in.

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  Love my Ms. Lumina - 1991 Chevrolet Lumina
  By daniellee - June 28 - 12:12 pm

  I absolutely love my lumina. she is amazing love the mpg. usually get like 450 to a tank ^_^ Its a base with a 3.1. I love that engine no rust no tears rips or anything shes scuffed and scratched at my left turn signal comes on but doesnt blink its weird. LOL sometimes she will shudder when the ac is on its weird but it calms down when you roll the windows down but other than that she is amazing new headlamps new tires and were good to go.

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  Too much road noise - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sugar12 - June 28 - 9:56 am

  Too much road noise and the ride is not all that smooth. Not enough get up and go power.

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  EPS Should be recalled! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kate - June 28 - 9:07 am

  There are many things I love about the Malibu, but the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) is not high on my list. I have heard that the component was purchased from Toyota (which should automatically raise suspicion). After many embarrassing noise episodes, the EPS finally went on my Malibu while on the Highway doing 65 mph. The fact that I have strong arms and the traffic was light is the only thing that saved me from a major accident. When is this hazard going to get enough attention to warrant a recall? Who do we complain to, (other than Chevy, they are useless).

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  Buy American - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mark - June 28 - 1:12 am

  This American sedan is great for anything I need a car to do. It has great room, good MPG, safe, nice style and design. The best thing about my American made Chevrolet is that it did not put an American out of work when I bought it! I had a 2003 BMW 540i until the car market went south. That is when I bought American and will again. If you live in Michigan you should think about buying a great American made Chevrolet Impala LTZ or SS.

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  Headrests overshadow all of the good - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By Patrick - June 27 - 7:51 pm

  Everything I like abut this car is constantly overshadowed by the fact that the headrests protrude too far forward. It is not possible to sit back in the seat and up straight - even with the headrests extended to the max. - (and I am only 58"). I have called Chevrolet and have talked to two Chevy dealers. The Chevy help line would only say, "Thats the way we engineered the car." The dealers said that they have had other complaints but they didnt have an answer for the problem. Both did not know that the headrests could not be adjusted forward and back.

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  Chevy Impala 2010 - NEARLY Perfect Car! - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By Anna Sarah - June 27 - 7:21 pm

  Chevy Impala LTZ is the most well & logically designed car on Earth! The controls are intuitive in location & functionality. OnStar is truly astounding,giving voice navigation and on the dash-display! The CAR has its own Phone Number! Back seats fold out to form a splendid compartment for groceries, etc. Ingenious & creative. drives beautifully, as all Impalas do, with excellent handling and pickup. The remote engine starting feature is Way Cool! Seats have good lumbar support and comfort, though they could be a BIT softer and more comfy, which would make them totally perfect. The only Design Flaw is that the Sun Roof cover pushes open about 2 inches short of the glass opening. Why is that?!