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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  Many Problems - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By freedom_tip - December 26 - 5:25 pm

  Overall I would have to say that I do enjoy the car when it isnt back at the dealership getting serviced. I have had problems with the brakes squeeking, rotors going bad, sunroof sticking, and as a result of the sunroof my headliner has been dripping water like crazy. Also the stereo fades in and out. Oh, and "6 speaker system", dont plan on finding the other 2 speakers, there is only 4. The performance isnt what I figured it would be for an SS, but hey cant get everything.

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  Perfect for me - 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By eck125 - December 26 - 1:43 am

  I wanted to add my 2 cents and give love to my 93 Cavalier that I am trading in within the next week. I have had this car since 1997 and have drive it from Iowa to St. Louis<400 miles> over 50 times! and only once did I have problems with itKept the lights on while eatingI must say this car has been nothing but perfect for me.This car is good for those who accidently forget to change the oil every 3K. I have driven this car to the point of me thinking how many miles can I put on this beauty. I would be keeping it but with a baby in my life I need something a little more NEWER!

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  Last chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dave - December 24 - 4:46 pm

  This truck was trouble free until the transmission gave out. Traded it in three days later, new tranny and all since I refuse to own a vehicle that requires major work with only 51,000 easy miles. I also found the handling kind of loose although that may be typical of this large a vehicle. Otherwise the truck did well.

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  A Good and Quick Commuter - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Matt - December 23 - 1:37 am

  We bought this car with around 100K on it. All it needed was new tires and brakes. Overall it has been a solid reliable car. The only real problems we had with it was a bad wheel bearing and a dead heater fan. The engine and transmission, like most GM vehicles, are solid and reliable. The V6 is quite quick. Im not sure about the 4 cylinder but I hear theyre slow. Fuel economy also isnt bad for a V6. The interior is not a strong point as there was a lot of loose trim panels and the front power window switch cluster broke so the the switches just dangled from the wires.

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  2nd TrailBlazers in 3 years - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mark J - December 22 - 4:04 am

  I do lots of driving. My first T- Blazer (2002) racked up 80K in 2 yrs with only reg. maint. I then purchd an 04. Already has 30K. Excellent ride, ft seats could be better, rears are best in class. No road noise at all. Steers, brakes, corners excellent. Lots of compartments- including sunglasses!! My 02 had an aux pwr outlet in the rear and a glovebox light. My 04 does not. Cmon GM, how much did that really save? Headliner wont stay up. Gas mileage could be better, but it is a truck w/280 HP. 14-16 hard city driving, and 18-22 @ 75 MPH. Not that bad, but I am sure all trucks could be better. Bose radio is a must. Excellent agressive styling. Well laid out interior. Great to tow/haul.

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  Things that are difficult to correct - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tom j. cerniglia - December 20 - 6:50 pm

  Excellent audtomobile for the purpose for which it was purchased. Problems with the fuel tank covered under warranty. Currently problem with engine light constantly on cannot be easily corrected by dealer. Seat and mirror memory is sporadic. Am told by dealer it could be belt noise?

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  Great vehicle - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Erik - December 20 - 12:37 pm

  I bought my 1991 RS with the 305 V-8 from a private owner. Never seen winter except this year and had only 70000 miles. I really enjoy driving this car. It is not very expensive and you get a lot of power and performance out of it. The gas mileage is (in my opinion) the only really major flaw. I manage only 13 mpg on average, which is suburban driving. The quality of the ride is very nice even though it sits so low to the ground. The ride height can prove to be a problem due to bottoming out on pretty much anything, but careful driving helps to solve that. The t-tops leak but not too bad. only what would be expected. Overall this is a very nice ride and well worth the money.

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  Back to the true sports car - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By John - December 20 - 4:59 am

  I have had this car for a a little over a month, but what a great car. I only have the V-6 with the five speed. It is a very agile car that is very fun to fly through the gears. Drifting the car / burnouts very easy. The car is built solid and doesnt seem to have any problems. The seats even though they are cloth are more comfortable than my sisters Mustangs that are leather. Over all it is a sporty fun car that is a great starter car or even a easy driver.

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  Bills Malibu - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bill Kramer - December 20 - 4:10 am

  Love driving this car.Handles like a pro. I also love the automatic shift. The engine is fairly quiet and responds immediately.This 4-banger is above all my expectations. The interior design is unimaginative and looks like someones fishing car. The rear seat room is almost non-existant.I love the information panel and the radio exceeds most.Overall I would rate this car a 7.5 out of 10.

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  Great Ride! Finally a contender - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jay_Jay - December 20 - 2:00 am

  A great american sedan with European handling. Take a way the badges on this car and you may mistake it for an import. the fit and finish is near flawless. THe engine is silky smooth and the car drives like a dream. This has to be the best sedan overall chevrolet ever made.