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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  2010 Malibu LTZ - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CMD - May 30 - 2:00 pm

  This has been an excellent vehicle. For the price, the LTZ model is unbeatable in the luxuries it offers. Heated seats are great for the winter. For a four cylinder, the performance is excellent, it feels like it could be a V6. Handles just as well as my Saab. I am currently averaging more than 29 miles per gallon (about 24-25 city, 32-33 highway). It really looks like GM has improved their quality, no problems thus far. I am now back to buying American cars.

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  Little truck that could - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Ridinforever - May 29 - 9:41 pm

  I have abused this truck with off-roading, burnouts and aggressive street use, hauling up to 1700 lbs and towing 5000 lb trailers. I have 165k and stills runs the same as when I got it. I only changed out the seats cause those were the worst things that came with the truck. I am glad I bought this truck.

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  Dependable, Comfortable - I like - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Bob - May 29 - 12:35 pm

  Bought 3 years old and is now 4 years later and I am very pleased over all with this Chevy. Had to replace the manifold gaskets, but no problem since. No other major problems. Minors: wheel bearing, spark plugs, cat converter, tires - nothing major. Now at 104,000 mi, I plan on keeping it. Have recommended to family members since resale is low. Great mini-van!

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  Overall Good Car - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jim garcia - May 29 - 8:52 am

  I bought this car and drove problem free for about five months then, at 63,000 miles the transmission went out. luckily the car was still under warranty (It would have cost me $3100). since this replacement in December 2008 I have had no major problems with the car. The Trailblazer is very comfortable and has plenty of power, even for towing light loads. The steering and engine are both very smooth feeling and make it pleasant to go on long trips across country. This car does very good in the snow and in very light off road applications. overall the gas mileage is good with about 20 on the freeway in town is 14 mpg.

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  The Granddaddy of SUVs - 2010 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dan - May 28 - 11:54 pm

  This is our second Suburban. After watching people use and enjoy these big rigs for years, we finally joined the other Suburban owners and we love them. For a "do everything, go anywhere and do it in absolute comfort", it is really hard to beat a Suburban. A/V controls are not as easy to use or see as the 2005 model and I really dont like the seats as well. But otherwise, everything is improved, especially the structure of the chassis, fit and finish and especially the addition of the 6 speed automatic transmission. We really planned to buy a new Expedition EL and test drove both of them several times, but the ride and quietness of the Suburban won out.

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  Still love my Bu! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Wick - May 28 - 1:14 pm

  I have put over 54K miles on my Malibu in just over 2 years and still have zero complaints. I LOVE this car! It still turns heads and I find the interior features nicer than that of my friends BMWs. The MPG has been better than expected, even with my lead foot. The V6 is nice and I love the sporty feel while driving. I would recommend this car to anyone. Chevy did an amazing job with this design and I couldnt be happier with my purchase.

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  2008 Tahoe LS 2WD (4.8L) - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Nick - May 28 - 12:29 pm

  We recently purchase a 2008 Tahoe with 9000 mi and traded in a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. With the sudden acceleration concerns, I didnt feel comfortable with my family driving that vehicle. We had a 2003 Tahoe in the past and loved it. We should have just bought another Tahoe, its now the only car we will own. We prefer the 4.8 L engine since gas mileage is reasonable considering the size of the SUV. We also prefer the LS since it doesnt have the cumbersome cup holders between the front and passenger seats - we prefer to have the area open. We also dont like the fake wood accents, the LS has chrome accents which we prefer. So far our car has been stellar. I would highly recommend it.

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  I love my Aveo LS Hatchback. - 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By patrick - May 28 - 11:45 am

  I have driven a 2004 Aveo LS for 6 yrs and have not had to replace any parts except a gas cap (19.50). Mileage is great, seating comfortable and can hook up a canine seat belt to the back or front seat belts apparatus. I plan to drive it 2-3 more years.

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  2010 Corvette Grand Sport Convertable - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ryan - May 28 - 9:54 am

  This is my second vette to own. The Grand Sport s quality is outstanding and the power rivals my friends Z06. He wishes he would have waited for the Grand Sport. Both the interior and the exterior quality are superior to my old 2007 vette. This vettes scary fast and stops on a dime. This Vette Rocks! Germany, France, and Italy, America now has a real contender.

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  My wife loves her bee - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By meanolhubby - May 28 - 9:02 am

  Let me preface: Im not the primary driver. We have had a blast with the car since we bought it, though we have to keep a close eye on the speedometer. The 19 mpg in city is no surprise, but we drove from Omaha to Atlanta and got almost 29.5 mpg on every tank (91 octane or higher). We have driven it through snow and ice (though not on those P- zero tires) and had no issues the vehicle weight, positraction, and traction control systems kept us on the road with very little problem. The car grabs attention wherever you go, and you just have to smile.