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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  bad interior design - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By moo - October 7 - 5:41 pm

  it performs well Last summer i shuttled a couple of kids to a camp and they said it was kind of uncomfortable. Gas mileage could be a little better It is the overall design that is really blah (hello i am a college student!!!!) The inside is nice but the black dashboard is a little too bland. The outside is worse There is no chevy logo on the back and the one in the front is too small Door handles are easy to hold but the sliding doors are heavy

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  A good 1 - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Sub Man - October 7 - 5:34 pm

  Our Suburban has served us well, with little complaints.The gas mileage is great for an SUV of its size.Handles winter weather like a dream and is smooth as a BMW. Backing up is challenging and takes some getting used to.

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  15 Months After Purchase - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By UnhappyHHRowner - October 7 - 4:30 pm

  I rated this car highly when I first bought it but after 15 months of ownership, the honeymoon is over. The build quality of this vehicle is horrid. I have been a loyal buyer of domestic cars and my last two purchases from GM (both 2006 vehicles) are dogs. The HHR has been in the shop for a myriad of problems from front brake rotors, electrical issues, wiper problems, injector replacement, pulling, among others. The metal is paper thin and susceptable to dents. It is a fun car to drive when the check engine light is not on (which is about 50% of the time). My dealership has been great but I can not say the same for the engineers that built this piece of junk.

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  2008 Chevy Malibu LTZ is junk - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Anne Marie - October 7 - 12:39 pm

  I fell in love with this car when it was first launched and really wanted to have one. I thought I was lucky when I got a used one with 13000km on it. It was a gm employee demo car. At 22,000 the car started to pull to the right, dealer couldnt find a problem. At 27000km it was out of line and I had to pay $200 for have cambers installed in order to line it up properly. At 29000km the fan is beginning to go on it. Its a piece of junk. Certainly not worthy of car of the year.It will be my last GM vehicle.

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  Greatest car ever built by Chevy - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Lovin It - October 7 - 7:26 am

  I have owned this car for ten years with no problems. It now has 160,000 miles and still runs great. I have only had regular maintenance like oil changes, tires, brakes, etc. Drives great in the snow and rain- easy to handle. I absolutely love this car and really believe it will get another 100,000 at least. Wish they were still rolling off the assembly line.

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  Not sure yet - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kathy Laeder - October 7 - 5:00 am

  I turned in my Trailblazer to buy this car. It has 881 miles on it and has already been in the shop twice for the check engine light. The first time it was misfiring and the second time for overheating (it is still there, they gave me a loaner). The gas mileage has been awful an average of 23.6 for 65% city and 35 % highway driving. My average speed was 26.2 mph for driving on the highway at 55-70 mph. What is that about. Not sure I want to keep it, this is the first car I have actually purchased in about 6 years.

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  Great car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Tom - October 7 - 3:40 am

  I just bought my new Impala LS. The base model has everything I need. Onstar side, impact airbags, Power windows, locks, 8way power drivers seat and a 211HP V6. It has great handling and pickup. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  OUTSTANDING CAR - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By robert - October 7 - 12:50 am

  O my gosh where to start it rides smooth looks clean love the body style chorm wheels, the only problem is the dang traction light and the check engine light keeps coming on when the weather change, kind confess other than that love it to death.

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  Its About Time - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BrownsChamp - October 6 - 10:20 pm

  ...that GM puts together a car that can compete with the imports. I have been waiting for Chevrolet to give me a reason to consider them again. The design and reviews got me in the dealership. The test drive sold me. My four year lease was up on my 2004 Passat Turbo (another review for another day). For the past year I was planning on getting a loaded Accord or Acura TL. After driving them all, I decided to give Chevy a chance again. This car is right on par with the other brands. It actually drives nicer than the Accord, in my opinion, with nicer controls as well.

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  Fun little car - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By squidjuice - October 6 - 7:24 pm

  All I can say is shes 18yrs old and still loved. never thought I would say that about a cavalier! awesome car fun and reliable still babied and in the garage with 3 coats of glaze still original paint and Still looks show room! 2 more years and she a antique these are great fun economy cars