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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  Your Basic Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jon - February 10 - 2:31 pm

  I bought my 2004 Chevrolet Impala in 2008. I was reluctant to buy it because of the intake gasket problems on the 3.4 litre V6 engines GM made. So far I havent had any problems with it. What I love about this car is its simplicity, and comfort. It has responsive acceleration, and the controls are simple and easy to use. The steering is tight, and the car overall is solid. I bought it with 57000 miles on it. I now have 98000 miles on it. I have been impressed so far.

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  low miles engine blow - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By 04aveo - February 9 - 6:26 pm

  No Major problems with this car till now. Just driving along and timing belt broke and blew engine. Quotes from 2800.00 to 3500.00 thats almost half the sticker price which 7750.00. I just paid the thing off not real happy. The more I read about this money pit the more I think I should just get another car

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  A lemon - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Molly - February 9 - 5:09 am

  I purchased the car used with 25K miles. I drove it 200 miles on the hwy and could only get my gas mileage average up to 24mpg. Disappointing. I could not get it to accelerate enough to merge with traffic. Other motorists would honk and flash their lights because the vehicle would slow down traffic. After 10 days of owning it, the check engine light came on during a snow blizzard in Minnesota and the vehicle decelerated to 5 miles per hour nearly causing a traffic accident. This all happened without warning. All of a sudden it seemed as though I was riding in a rocket ship. The engine began to die as I turned the heat on and a cracking sound was heard from the motor. I got rid of it.

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  WOW! Worth the Wait - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By orange vette - February 9 - 4:29 am

  What a car. To find a different car that compares with the performance of this car would mean you would have to spend $150,000 dollars. The build quality is excellent. It is tight, no squeaks or rattles. It handles great. The acceleration is truly awesome, breath taking. This car is fun to drive. Styling turns head. Its very nice handling in town and a beast on the open road. My Vette has the NPP exhaust (dual-mode exhaust), Z51 Performance package, 6sp/man and 3LT pkg. Atomic Orange. The performance value of the Vette CANNOT be beat. Its a world class supercar. Hands down. And you will not have to spend world class price to own one. Lots of performance bang coupled with great styling. WOW

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  Would buy again - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By loveit - February 8 - 9:56 pm

  This is our first SUV and it has been wonderful. I would probably buy the 7 passenger now but at the time it wasnt an issue. There is a 12" height difference between my hubby and myself, we are both pretty particular about how a vehicle fits us, and we both fit comfortably. This vehicle has been very dependable, has plenty of towing capability, and lots of space for our cross country vacations with the family. We make sure the maintenance is taken care of routinely and have never had any issues with it. MPG is 16-17 city and 20-22 hwy and thats loaded down. It handles great in the snow and I feel very safe driving around my little ones.

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  GAS Gauge & electrical issues - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Shaniqua856 - February 8 - 11:10 am

  on my 2nd fuel gauge replacement issue. Something failing in the gas tank saying Low Fuel (Always). I cant afford to replace it again @ $500 in 4 years of ownership, so using the "fuel used" meter to tell me when to fill. This has worked very well. Buttons on the radio & console wear very quickly & fuses fail continually so you just deal with it. A great deal of maintanence. When will there be a recall on the Fuel Gauge issue?

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  Very comfortable vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Robert Worsena - February 8 - 5:34 am

  Really love the automobile. Would have liked better hidden storage areas and brake system disk brakes needed thicker disks. Had to have disks ground down twice in 3 years. Otherwise a great vehicle.

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  another Junk Chevy - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ken - February 7 - 8:49 pm

  I have done nothing but put money into this lemon and I only have 95k on my 97 because it is in the shop as much as on the road Alternator tranny calipers disks master brake cylinder twice anti lock brake sensor seat release on back seat radio died lights on dash most burnt out, power steering pump, and NOW head is crack what junk!!!! I will fix it an NEVER buy a Chevy again....

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  Interior and features - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ron Adkins - February 7 - 9:42 am

  Lumbar support knob came off in hand. Very poor indeed. Cable cover by mirror also fell off. Styling has a lot to be desired. Sound system very poor. Locking system locks you out if you leave key in ignition, very frustrating.

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  Fun-Tastic - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Vanna - February 6 - 7:42 pm

  I really enjoy driving this car, its roomy (my tall family members can sit comfortably in the back), the seats are comfortable and it handles EXCELLENTLY on snowy MT roads, although unlike 4/AWD cars, I am unable to stop on snowy/ice covered hills. I had test driven other higher- end Malibus, but this was the only one that didnt have the weird rattley windshield that the others had. The interior is a little plain, but the car is very affordable and is perfect for young adults. Despite it having a small engine, it is still a pretty zippy car. If youre looking for a basic, safe, easy, & fun to drive car, the Malibu is a great choice.