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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  Disappointed - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Un-impressed - August 27 - 2:00 am

  My wife and I finally were able to buy that corvette we always wanted.....what a mistake....I should have bought a 60s model if I knew it would constantly have to be worked on. The biggest problem to date are the window seals; they keep falling off. Its an ok car, but for nearly 50K I guess I expected more quality and performance. My 55 Chevy with a backyard 327 can smoke it, and it cost a whole lot less!

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  Good Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bob - August 26 - 10:56 am

  Very good ride. The gas millage leaves a little bit to be desired. Overall an excellant truck to own and drive

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  Problems, but fun - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DMaze - August 26 - 10:00 am

  Despite the problems that I have had, I really enjoy my malibu. I have had problems with the AC (a electronic problem caused it to flicker on & off - fixed under warranty), have had the rocker arm replaced, and am concerned about the life of my brake system. But despite the problems, I am really enjoying my car.

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  Used Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By teak - August 25 - 12:22 pm

  I purchased a 2002 Avalanche a few months ago. I must say, WOW! I absolutely love it. Probably the most comfortable vehicle I have ever had. Thankfully the previous owner was very very nice to it. Great versatility for a full size truck. I absolutely am getting a newer Avalanche for my next vehicle. Dont believe what you read, this truck is absolutely great.

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  Unbelievable for the money - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Phil - August 24 - 4:11 pm

  Has this car almost 1 year. Bought at an unreal price. I am a salesman and have put 27,000 miles so far and not one problem. Last week I got 34 miles per gallon on a road trip. Not one rattle has surfaced, and tires and brakes are still close to their original specs. Peppy for a 4 cylinder. This car has been a real surprise. If this keeps up, I will get another one in two years.

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  Economy Commuting Work Car - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Carrie - August 22 - 9:44 am

  When looking for an economy car that primarily would be used for work/commuting, I looked for in this order: reliablity/dependability, gas mileage, price, and options/looks. Amoung others looked at: Ford Focus, Saturn ION, and the economy one from Toyota (which I cant remember the name of but, not much to be disired either). After test driving and having the vehicle I have which is the Chevy Aveo. I am happy with its performance, maintenance, options, price, and gas mileage, and I like how it handles curves. I feel safe and comfortable. Even though its slow going up hill at the rate of speed I prefer, but its keeping my gas mileage reasonable. Overall, I dont regret purchasing it

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  Economical and reliable - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Maggie - August 21 - 4:06 pm

  I purchased this car with nine miles on it, so all of its miles have been mine. Its solid on fuel economy and roomy for a small sedan. Ive had very few problems with it (an automatic window motor was replaced under warranty and Ive had a tire and battery go, but thats been it). I have two small peeves: the back windows wont go all the way down, which my 11-year-olds hate and the temp control is right where your drink is, which means an extra step when you dont want to be fumbling with a travel mug. Other than that, its been a great car thus far. Im going to keep it until the 11-year-olds get their licenses--if I live that long-- so Im taking very good care of the car.

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  I LOVE my truck! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Mrs. Conway - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I replaced a 1996 Safari with this vehicle. I like the room, the handling, the power. For the cost, its hands down better than my van ever was. It has more than enough power for merging onto our traffic clogged interstate, yet with the windows up, it blocks out all the road noise. The visibility is excellent. All in all, I LOVE my truck!

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  1999 Camaro - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By camarokid1999 - August 18 - 2:38 pm

  I have owned my Camaro for about 2 and half years now and I have loved the car. The power is great and the top speeds are insane. The car has 84000 miles on her and she has had the transmission replace and the rear inner bearings. Other than that the car has been great. The stock air intake on the car dampers the performance, but can be easily and cheaply replaced. The car is amazing stock, but its crazy with some mods. Pacesetting makes a great set of headers for the car that will give it a great sound out the rear end and boost up its hp, but it kinda takes away from the low end torque. Also would recommend getting wider tires for the rear end if any performance mods are done.

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  Nice Car, Well Loaded, Poor Gas Milleage - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Roni - August 17 - 7:46 pm

  Comfortable car. Very nice interior and exterior design, and for the price, very well equipped. On the other hand, poor gas mileage for this engine. Noisy with the struts.