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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  Great Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Eddie - November 8 - 11:36 am

  Love the truck. Traded in my 04 EXT for the 4 door. I am a plain guy that doesnt need a fancy interior. It is a truck to a fashion statement. I get good fuel economy and it runs great. Comfortable ride. Buy American.

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  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Matt - November 8 - 4:55 am

  I have had my Cobalt for 2 years now and I have yet to have a problem out of it. Ive put performance parts on it as well as a body kit and rims and I drive it like I stole it every time I drive. I have the 5-speed manual transmission and I change the oil every 2500 miles. The car is great I have never had any problems from anything to do with the engine or transmission. I had a problem with the radio but it was covered under warranty and fixed the next day. I would recommend the car to anyone. If your into performance and style its great there are tons of parts and they are easy to install. The 2.2L is a great engine and runs like a champ with plenty of power to go around.

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  Absolutely love this car - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jeffrey - November 7 - 11:54 pm

  Purchased an Atomic Orange Z-51 4LT with all the options. This car is absolutely fantastic. Sticks to the road like the tires are glued down. Gas mileage is unbelievable for a car with 436 hp. I use the cruise control a lot to improve the mileage, and often find myself getting in the low 30s, until I get up past 60 mph, when it drops down to 28 to 29 mpg. No other car with this much power, comfort, and performance can compare. I get compliments about my car everywhere, even while sitting at stop lights. Reliability has been absolutely superb (do you hear that Consumer Reports???).

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  Too Many Problems - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By AndreaP - November 7 - 4:25 pm

  Ride & handling are very good. Very comfortable, even on very long trips. Interior is very roomy, even for rear seat passengers. Tons of space in the trunk. However, it does not hold the road well in wet or snowy conditions. Even after meticulous maintenance, there have been too many mechanical problems. The cosmetic issues I have had are not due to abuse or over-use. My experience has been that this is a very poorly built automobile, and as a result has been unusually expensive to maintain. I would not consider purchasing another one. Items replaced include a new computer, catalytic converter, rear exterior door handles, wiring, trim items, etc. and several problems still exist.

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  Boaty- - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By NickoSweetConfidence - November 7 - 9:55 am

  I bought my Lumina from my boyfriends mom in November of 2008. It had 180,000 miles when I got it, now has 215,000. Im the second owner. I have had to fix some minor issues here and there but the car is amazing. Takes it like i give it. I have no disappointments in the way it drives or handles. Incredibly reliable. Gas mileage is pretty good, without sacrificing power, which is great with todays economy. I recommend this car to anyone looking for a roomy, comfortable, reliable vehicle.

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  Good car - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By joker42369 - November 7 - 1:56 am

  This is a very good car for any time of the year. The 3.1 liter model still came with leather seats for me, and gets good gas mileage while still putting in some good power. Its pretty heavy, but thats OK for the winter. It has always started up for me and never given me any problems. Its in my family to stay.

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  For the Money - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By doctordre - November 7 - 1:00 am

  I am coming out of a 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer V8 and I cant believe the smooth power this truck possesses. The 2nd and third rows are roomier and easier to get in and out of and the DVD with wireless headsets are great! I tried to get back into another Explorer but Ford didnt seem to want my business as the E.B is now a former shell of what it once was in 2002, no 3rd row seats standard and unless your willing to spend $40K your not getting it well equipped and almost stripped other than the 2 tone paint. This Chevy fully loaded and in my opinion is a great value for the dollar.

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  GAS MILAGE - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By SEEKER - November 6 - 11:35 pm

  I bought my HHR in May 2009. I have only had it for 6 months, but I have had no problems and I can get up to 40 miles on highway. Maybe thats be cause I drive a stick and I do drive a ways back from semis to cut the wind shear. I love my car. Only complaints is the arm rest seems to high, I cant stand that my window controls are in the middle, and the little windows make me feel like I dont have enough visibility. To many blind spots.

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  2003 Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By M - November 6 - 2:54 pm

  Purchased in 8/2003, and I beat drive this car hard! I rarely give it an oil change or any of the recommended maintenance.....The car runs perfectly! I have never gotten stuck! Front rotors and brake pads need to be replaced fairly frequently. The air conditioning has not worked since 2004. I had a problem with water filling the trunk in 2007. The passenger side gets rust spots which I have noticed on many of the Malibus. But, I have never owned a vehicle for this many (6) years! It has been good to me, I have 107, 000 miles on it!

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  Malibu for a day - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike C - November 6 - 12:50 pm

  Yesterday I turned in a 2009 Malibu . I put 253 miles on this car in the Bay area. I handles the freeways well except the raised expansion joints on the 880. I had rented a 2009 camray the week before on the same route. In general the new malibu is a good car on its owns merits, in comparison to the camry, engine power similar, NVH similar..good!, Build quality similar. Interior a toos up. THe malibu has better seats hands down . The malibu has a very poorly designed Front door , entry and pillar arrangement. I am 6 foot tall and not fat. The B pillar has a plastic ledge seemingly designed to remove the rear pocket. I ruined a new pair pf slacks in this car. There is no need to this foolishness