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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  The suv of the century - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Nas - December 31 - 2:00 am

  its a very attractive car inside and out, very reliable

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  9000 miles - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By NFRich - December 31 - 1:30 am

  Got rid of it! It got the worst gas mileage of any of the Silverados I have owned. Never got anything more than 15, even on the highway. It was a 4x4 Z71 and rode terrible. Did like the way it handled though. So happy to see it go!

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  Great running vehicle - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Patricia Reed - December 30 - 9:59 pm

  Runs well. Rarely experience any kind of problems. Regular maintanance keeps it going

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  2nd time Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Paul - December 30 - 6:40 pm

  This Malibu is surprisingly comfortable. It is very spirited on the road and a great value in comparison to similar cars. The standard features are amazing and include full power,traction control,ABS,an excellent stereo, adjustable pedals and a 200 hp six.

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  Would buy again - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sargeantcm - December 30 - 10:00 am

  Great car, especially for a first-time car owner. Brakes are somewhat poor, although personally I dont believe the easily warped rotors are any more the cars fault than Midas parts. Otherwise great, good acceleration, solid fuel mileage (25/32) and convenient interior design (cupholders, console, etc.)

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  Interior Needs Redesign - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Blackwell - December 29 - 12:31 pm

  Maybe because Im short-windshield view is very narrow between the top of steering wheel & bottom of sun visor. The elevated position of the wiper is VERY distracting! HATE the steering wheel-instrument panel&ignition are hidden from view-you have to crane your neck to see around it & grope to insert the key. Window controls are too far toward the rear of the console. Front doors do not open far enough for easy entry. Dash lights cant be dimmed to level I find comfortable for night driving. Black XM radio antenna looks like a wart-should match the body color. Noisy inside-not yet sure if noise level is engine noise or road noise from the tires-I may change tires. Poor radio sound adjustment

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  Good Car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Daniel - December 29 - 5:20 am

  I had this car for four and a half years without any major problems with the engine or transmission. The dash did crack though and the car had three recalls for minor things. Overall I was satisfied with it. The reason why I got rid of it is because I found out about its poor crash rating. According to many reports this is the most unsafe car on the road especially regarding side impact.

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  2003 Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sailordave - December 28 - 6:03 pm

  For those saying poor gas mileage, try checking your tire pressure, air filter, and quit the jack rabbit starts. My city mileage is about 22 mpg. Good handling and acceleration. Large trunk. Good value for what you get.

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  WORTH IT - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By LIZ - December 28 - 1:36 pm

  FUN TO DRIVE,VERY FUEL EFFICIENT...HANDLES THE CURVES VERY EASY.THE CAR COMES WITH A LOT OF FEATURES THAT MOST CARS WOULD CHARGE EXTRA FOR...EVEN THOUGH I OWN THE MOST BASIC MODEL AND I DO NOT HAVE POWER LOCKS OR WINDOWS

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  Nox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rick - December 28 - 6:43 am

  Like our Equinox. Fun to drive, good mileage for it size. Looks pretty cool. Good family hauler.