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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  Decent Car - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By EdDav - November 3 - 2:28 am

  Purchased used 2 years ago. Has been reliable. Has been mostly glitch free.

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  No more American cars - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wish I skipped this - November 2 - 7:14 pm

  At first the car was great! Then both remotes died the first year-2x! The brakes are terrible! THEIR brochure for scheduled maintenance says they visually inspect them. What good is that if I need new brakes? I cant get new (better) ones without nullifying the warranty. So Im stuck with theirs. When the rotors get wet and I brake, the entire front panel shakes. Ive already repaired it 2x (warranty) and it has occurred again. I dont live in the desert so why have a design that warps when wet? I had a Saturn SL1 from 1995-2001 which sat lower than this car and never had this problem. This is my LAST American car. Saturn shouldnt be the GM branch closing!! And hubcaps? SERIOUSLY!?!

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  1995 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Auto - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Gary H. - November 2 - 3:50 pm

  Purchased the vehicle used with 33,600 miles and drive it as a daily-driver. At 147,600 miles I am still enjoying it just as much. This car is truly a great value. The price of these cars are low and the performance and dependability is high. The Clear Coat Base Coat black paint is beautiful. Even 14 years later it looks great. The performance is great. This is a whole lot of car for the money. The 100,000 tune-up is the first real money I have spent on it other than oil changes. Great Z07 brakes thanks to the elimination of the ZR1. Great vehicle for weekend get-aways. The rear compartment holds a lot of stuff and luggage. I really like the sleek timeless design.

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  Gotta love this car!! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By LB - November 2 - 3:29 pm

  All I can say is "Man is this car fun to drive!" And Im just finishing up about 10 years of driving a BMW 5 series and X-5. The torque and acceleration are just awesome in this car, and I dont even have the Stage 1 Kit installed yet. Even though I have an AT rather than Manual, it is still fast and still fun. Ive only had it for a couple of weeks, so Im sure the glamor will wear off, but for right now, this car is a blast to drive. I cant speak for the other versions, but the SS is the way to go if you are into performance as well as looks.

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  1995 Chevrolet Corvette 2 Dr STD Coupe - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Gary H. - November 2 - 2:26 pm

  Mine is a daily driver and great for weekend get aways. The rear compartment holds more than you may think. The LT1 drivetrain has been outstanding (HP, torque, gas mileage, and dependable). The paint job still looks great after 14 years. Tune-ups every 100,000 miles is great. Not to mention Z07 brakes thanks to the elimination of the ZR1. Outstanding value, it affords me the ability to have a more expensive house note since these cars are so affordable.

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  dont buy one - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rob - November 2 - 11:24 am

  Things I dont like center console is cheap and the cup holders are horrible, the engine knocks no matter what, the mirror covers on the visors always brake, the passenger air bag is faulty, there is a LEAK SOMEWHERE in the car that covers my floor board and cargo space. The chrome plate around the shifter is a driving hazard. The AC can not handle the space and there are no rear vents and the vents in the front have a limited movement. The interior lights are cheep also. The center console set up is very poor design. I would never own another 07 equinox and would get rid of it now if I could afford to take a hit.

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  Good Car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By LJF75 - November 2 - 10:02 am

  Ive taken good care of this car, and it took good care of me. Replaced the fuel pump 2003. Replaced the battery twice. Putting on the 3rd set of tires. Need a new CD changer, but hey, 130,000 miles in 11 years.

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  STREET RACING MADE EASY - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kal - November 2 - 2:00 am

  Well to say the least, I think this is the fastest inline 4 cyl. vehicle put out for 2002! Ive beaten most other 4s, and some small 6s while I was at it too! Just a great car ya know?

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  yo - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cory matsyeu - November 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this car

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  The Real King Of the Road - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By TJ - November 2 - 2:00 am

  This is the real deal when it comes to working trucks. It can haul serious heavy loads as well as run like the wind. It does all of this in a Cadillac comfort zone. Keep up the pace Chevy, thell never catch you..