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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  Not a good purchase - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By msouth85 - April 28 - 10:06 pm

  We bought our 2008 malibu with 4 miles when we test drove it. After driving across country a few times, at roughly 26k, the vehicle information control module had to be replaced. Now at just under 40k, the catalytic converter is plugged. Also, when cold the transmission will not shift out of first under heavy acceleration, causing the car to say service traction, turn off the traction control, and make the transmission shift very hard. This is the first chevy we have bought, and it will be the last.

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  Its A Sad Story - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Joan - April 28 - 8:54 pm

  Purchased this car in July of 2006 brand new.When I took it for a test drive I instantly fell in love.Little did I know what I was headed for. Turned into a full blown relationship with the dealership.I dont blame them.The service department is great!!! 9/06-Rustproofing was done. Its rusting. 1/07-Crankshaft was replaced. 11/07-Need new tires already. 10/08-Steering I-Shaft replaced, new rear brakes. 11/08-I-Shaft replaced again! 8/09-Replaced strut mounts, bearings and ball joints. 3/10-I-Shaft,ball joint,shaft kit and alignment.Tires are "Cupped" and need replacing due to road conditions. Bull, researched and found the problem is due to the struts and suspension.

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  Interior Design Flaws - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sophia - April 28 - 3:22 pm

  Interior shiny chrome features near gear shift and dash area blind the driver during daytime driving. Matte silver would be a safer design option. Radio buttons on steering wheel should be on LEFT side, since most people utilize their right hand to do other things besides drive (talk on phone, drink beverage, get items from passenger seat, etc)

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  The LS is a Very Good Value - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Scott - April 28 - 2:52 pm

  Got the 4cyl. LS. Although the LS is the base trim the car is well equipped. I spend a lot of time on the interstate driving to work. The Malibu excels in this type of driving: it is very quit and gets good gas mileage. I have 35000 on my Malibu and have had zero problems. The OEM tires are still good. The driver seat has a small wear spot wher my wallet sits in my back pants pocket. For the money, this is a very good value. I need a reliable and pleasant vehicle to drive 90 miles everyday to work. The Malibu fits the bill.

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  Impala LS base model - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ryan - April 28 - 1:05 pm

  I bought my Impala LS feb 2009 with 33,000 miles as a used rental car, the car now in april 10 it has nearly 60,000 miles. The car drives just as a large GM car should - smooth and quiet. The car has better road holding abilities than some older large GM cars Ive owned. Some say the handiling of an Impala is poor but I can go around any turn at or slightly above the posted speed limit with out any issues. If you take recreational or business trips you will like this car alot. Fully loaded with 4 adults and gear I was 200lbs over max weight (about 1,200 lbs) and got 27mpg on a 150 mile sight seeing/camping trip through the hills of NY and PA. Its a good commuter car also with25- 28mpg avg

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  2006 vs. 2010 - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By deljam - April 28 - 12:15 pm

  Just got my new 2010 HHR, traded a 2000 Blazer and the interior size is comparable. My son has the 2006 HHR model and I enjoy the interior changes made. Body Style is identical, which makes sense since it is fashioned after the Heritage 51 Model. They moved the window controls to the door. Cup holder positioning is still a problem - trying to reach around behind to access. Seems solid and really quiet (I chose the bigger engine). After the initial lag (1 - 2 second response delay)on take-off, runs great. Hope it lasts at least 10 years!

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  2005 Chevy Tahoe 4x4 - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Blueinboro - April 28 - 12:15 pm

  Biggest reliability issues have been with the Encoder Motor for the transmission. Net search shows these are problematic with all Tahoe 4 wheel drive vehicles They are expensive to replace and need replacing every 2-3 years.

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  Went for seconds! - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sonnidaze - April 28 - 9:48 am

  I owned a 2006 LT and it was a very safe and fun car to drive. I loved it so much I had to drive to Newnan Ga, from South Florida to purchase my 2010 as dealers here didnt want to deal. This one is essentially the SS..heated leather seats and all the bells and whistles but with an automatic tranny. I have noticed it seems the turning ratio is not as tight as the 2006, but getting used to it. Best car around for the buck.

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  Best Big Family Rig.... HANDS DOWN!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Matt M. - April 27 - 8:46 pm

  Bought our burb with 85,747 miles. We were nervous about buying one with over 75k, but now Id buy one with 150k on it... Previously we had a 2005 dodge ram 3500 long bed, we needed more room for the kids and this was the first obvious option. After owning this one Ill definitely buy another. It pulls our 23 travel trailer with ease and the whole family is comfortable. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS whatsoever, and 161,982 miles later weve done nothing more than maintenance and tires / brakes. the MOST DEPENDABLE VEHICLE IVE EVER HAD!!

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  lets do it again - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Happy Camper - April 27 - 6:59 pm

  Okay, here we are with almost 10K, and with have no complaints. MPG is rising, as expected. Took a day trip two weeks ago, and averaged 38. Got my letter from GM re: steering motor, and so glad they FINALLY claimed it. Also still happy with the dealership. Took the little car in recently for its third oil change, after having been there a week earlier for a nitrogen refill on the tires. Noticed that somehow, they left grease on the interior, mentioned it, and it was gone when I picked the car back up after the oil change. Little things do matter...