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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  Cant beat it for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By timothytheroux - February 1 - 10:54 am

  I wanted a cheap commuter car that was good on gas, cheap to run, and that I would not feel guilty about racking up excessive mileage. I have to say that I have been very pleased with this vehicle, especially when I factor in what I paid for it. Including the rebates and incentives, I got my car out the door for less than $10K w/taxes and fees! For this money, I got a good looking, decent performing vehicle that is maintenace free until 100k miles. I have been very satisfied with the engine and transmissions performance, as they are the same used in the new Cobalt. The interior looks respectable, and is comfortable for an average size person.

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  Lots of show with a little go - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Ren Jonsin - February 1 - 10:00 am

  I found this car while looking for a Mustang. I probably should have kept looking because the performance, although good for a V6, just isnt what I really was looking for. Its not a bad car at all though, well appointed, plenty of room and quite reliable to date. Looks great from the back and side and since the popularity of coupes is waning, you dont see many of them on the street. The MC handles competently and pulls through corners well, although it certainly wouldnt be at home on an autocross course. If youre looking for a sporty looking car that wont set you back a ton of money with reasonable insurance rates, you couldnt do much better.

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  Examine it closely before signing - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Craigster45 - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Dealer never checked the car. Took delivery in the rain (delear made sure of that)drove home, all 4 rotors warped. They wouldnt replace even though brand new. The Area Rep would only cut them. Went back, waited 4 hours. Sun came out, 2 pass. doors didnt get enough paint, you could see sheet metal. Chips in window.

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  Not the sportiest car on the block... - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By crowing - February 1 - 5:25 am

  ...but its definitely not a bad bargain. I was looking for a used car that would be reliable but still within my budget and I found this at an auction for cheap. With the Prizm line now discontinued, Ill bet auto dealers are eager to get rid of them. If you get the LSi type youll get cruise, power windows, and CD with a better than expected set of speakers, and its still about $3000 less than a comparable Corolla. It wont have the same resale value, but thats the trade off. Im about 511 and have no problems with the front seating, but leg-room in back is non-existant. Really wish it had more power. Perfect for those who want a small sedan but can live without something flashy.

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  Love my TrailBlazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By My first Chevy - January 31 - 8:19 pm

  I looked at all the midsize SUVs (Explorer, Grand Cherokee, and Durango) and picked the TrailBlazer for two reasons: It had the most powerful engine (270 hp), and I loved the body style. I have had no regrets about buying it. Its met or exceeded the expectations I had for it. Whether its taking the family on vacation, going hunting or fishing, or loading up at the Home Depot, my TrailBlazer has done the job. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for a mid- size SUV

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  Great value car - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Larry Caffee - January 30 - 2:06 pm

  Have gotten 32 mpg, live in a rual area. Car rides and drives great, love the 16 inch wheels, I do get road noise on certain highways, but I can live with that. Its a great value for the buck, will buy another. Have owned Chevys before.

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  I love this truck.. - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Xplorer021 - January 29 - 3:50 pm

  This truck is awesome. You get so much versatility with it. I bought the tent to go caming in and it works great. On long road trips with friends the waterproof bed is more than enough to keep everyones luggage dry and there is more than enough room for all of the luggage. I can load it up with a trailer of 3 ATVs and have six people ride comfortably and still have room for 3 dogs in the back with 2 large coolers. The dogs love it. They ride great under the covers sleeping most of the time and you dont have to worry about them jumping out. We take the one closest to the back window off to give them plenty of air. There is plenty of leg room for everyone and cupholders. Great overall buy.

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  A great family vehicle - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By djwildcat19742 - January 29 - 12:44 pm

  Ive owned my Blazer for a little over a year now and when I bought it the truck had over 130,000 miles on it. It still runs and looks like a dream, and as a matter of fact, my husband and I show it. I think its a great value vehicle. Big enough for family and friends to ride along, and the ride is comfortable.

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  97K miles and going strong - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JNM - January 28 - 10:18 pm

  I purchased my car in 2000 w/ 27000 miles on it. I have been in two front- end accidents with this car (one being quite major). After reading the other reviews, I thought to myself that I must have the best 98 Malibu ever built. I have NEVER had anything major wrong with this car. The most I have ever had to spend in the shop at one time is $200, and that was just recently for high mileage maintence. This car has 97K miles on it now. The only reason why Im selling it is because of the mileage factor. This car has treated me very well, and I drive like a maniac!

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  My 2nd Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Greg Pacienza - January 27 - 4:32 pm

  Great truck.Easy to drive and great on week-end trips. Bad gas mileage, but everything else makes up for that. On- star is new and a great value too.