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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  Satisfied Customer - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Satisfied Driver - May 28 - 8:19 am

  I Love my Impala LT, this is my second Chevrolet and must say they are very wonderful calls. (NO RECALLS YET).The Impala LT is a great car to drive, very cozy I sometimes dont wanna get out.

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  Better Than expected - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Brent - May 28 - 6:22 am

  I bought my Traverse almost 4 months ago and have put on 8,000 miles. We took 6 adults from Wisconsin to Maryland on a trip and averaged 19-20 MPG fully loaded. Everyone was comfortable and had room to move. If we would have had to take two vehicles we would have had to have been getting 40 MPG and would not have been comfortable. I drive this vehicle daily and average 22-23 MPG. I am very happy with its performance. During the first 2,000 miles I could only get about 18 MPG.

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  Just bought mine used 2.4 L - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By liltrey - May 27 - 10:27 pm

  Just bought this used. Ive had it for about 3 weeks now and nothing has gone wrong yet just noticed that the passenger window rolls up slower than the driver side. No biggy just hope the window motor doesnt go bad. Good sized 4 cyl got some get up and go. Like the sounds system, its good for being stock. The only thing I want to do to this car is put in a turbo kit and she will fly.

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  Never again buy gm product - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By doug - May 27 - 5:16 pm

  My car broke timing belt at a light and i am now replacing the engine. When it runs again i will trade for almost anything. You have to replace timing belt every 30,000 miles. They should give money back and take care back. crazy.

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  Love our 1994 Chevy Astro - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By Katefrom Canada - May 27 - 5:10 pm

  We purchased our van from family, its been in our family since 1995. Our van has over 330,000 Km on it and we love it. So many of our friends want us to buy new cars like them, these are the same friends who call us when their new cars need towed home when they break down. We love our old van, even with the rust.

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  Just Pour Your Money Down the Drain - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mindgraffiti - May 27 - 10:37 am

  I have owned this used car for 7+ years. Stuck with a 3 year loan, only to shell out more money immediately after buying it! Within the first 6 months, when it hit 50k miles, the engine completely DIED. Spent $4k on a new one. Even after a NEW one, Ive replaced the intake gasket 4 times. Its gradually gained a large 6" round rust hole near the bottom of the fuel door. The ignition fails randomly and after 3 repair shops, no one can find the problem. The A/C needs recharged every month during the summer and on 80°F & hotter days, you cant tell its working. Ive quit making repairs ($6k during 3 yr loan!) and am driving it til its dead. After this car, nothing will make me buy GM again.

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  2002 Camaro Z28 - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jeff - May 27 - 5:41 am

  Its not the absolute best looking Camaro, but its fast, comfortable and gets great mileage in the city and on the highway. The LS1 is an absolute torque-beast!

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  Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By D Jackson - May 26 - 3:45 pm

  Ive had my car for almost six years now and Im still enjoying it. It drives as good as it did when I first bought it.

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  Not disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By imran - May 26 - 12:00 pm

  I bought mine about a year ago with 34k with certified warranty and believe me I used it quiet a few times and ended up buying the major guard warranty and used that about three times already, Ive put 35k in one year always started up ran pretty well all along with good mpg no complaints there, had a few issues, crank seal leak, power steering pump and hose, control arm, coolant leak, but luckily everything was covered, so i definitely recommend buying all the warranty you can do not buy without warranty, Ill give it an 6 out of 10.

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  What a ride! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Oldcar - May 26 - 2:02 am

  Best muscle car Ive ever owned. It was well worth the wait. Chevy hit the nail on the head. I had the dealership paint gloss black rally stripes with the exact footprint of the factory stickers. I also had the Corsa performance exhaust installed at the dealership. The Silver Ice Metallic with the gloss black stripes looks stunning and the LS3 motor sounds absolutely wicked under hard acceleration. Given the reaction the car gets from teenagers who see it, the Camaro is most likely breeding a new generation of car guys. When these hit the used car lots they are going to be snapped up by youngsters who cant afford a new one right now. Do yourself a favor...test drive one.