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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  2007 silverado LT1 - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jerry - September 18 - 12:46 am

  I love the new look of this vehicle, but bad mileage has turned me very sour. The interior is charcoal and is a lint magnet. Every week I try in vain to clean it and in one use it becomes totally covered in lint. I think the 4.8 liter motor is too small for this truck

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  Cobalt SS Supercharged - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Littlegoose - September 17 - 10:36 pm

  Fun to drive. Quick. Great daily driver. Supercharger sounds awesome. GM offers performance upgrades.

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  So far so good - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By jean - September 17 - 7:46 pm

  Well, left my VW Jetta 1.8 Turbo ( end of lease ) for this car. Took the car for a drive twice and fell in love with the looks, ease of getting in or out, smooth ride, milleage and price. Got the base model 2.2,LS, 5 manual and no frills. Big change in lifestyle but so far, so good. Enjoying the ride and good gas usage so far.. 8.5L TO 100 Kms, city driving during the first 1000Kms break in period. Great AC and heating systems.

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  The Good & the Bad - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MWave - September 17 - 2:00 am

  The Good - The Malibu is a very fun car to drive. It handles well on the highway and gas mileage is good. The car has good excelleration especially when you need to pass another car. Interior extras are very nice. Lots of trunk space. Good sound system The Bad - Reliability. The transmission needed to be pulled at 4500 miles due to a faulty switch causing the car to switch gears too soon. After 33000 miles I have had two leaky intake manifold gaskets (coolant & oil) replaced. Seems to be going through serpentine belts too quickly (every 16,000 miles). ABS light intermittently comes on. I am glad I have an extended warranty.

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  Road Trip King - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Topps - September 16 - 12:14 am

  Bought @ 35,000, and have taken numerous trips of 1,000 plus miles. I am diligent on routine car maintenance and have a great dealer that serves us well. I have replaced a controller on the air vent control system,...but so far so good. I live in NM where the roads arent exactly top notch and am very satisfied with with our Traverse handling and comfort level for a family of 5.

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  Excellent Commuter Car - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By WNY Driver - September 15 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car new now have 105K miles. Had to reset air bag sensor 2x. Front brakes lasted until 100K miles & rear brakes not yet worked. This has been great no-frills reliable transportation. 5 Speed provides great gas mileage - consistent 38+ mph in the summer 32mph in the cold winter. 5 speed also allows for adequate acceleration when needed. Under load (> 2 people) need to delay shifting if youre merging onto a hwy. With rear passengers rear end tends to bottom out easily. Front room comfortable for someone up to 510 beyond that it gets cramped. Rear room gets tight for anyone over 4. Body still holding up well after 7 lovely winters.

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  Good Value - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Fred Red - September 14 - 2:00 am

  Owned for 7 years - hardly any problems except one bad alternator. Excellent value, huge capacity, dependable performance. One of the better cars I have owned.

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  Getting Better - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By rdwalt2001 - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I owned a Plymouth Grand Voyager prior to my Venture. Although both are about the same my plymouth got better gas miles and was more confortable in seating and overall room.

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  So Great I Bought It Twice - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mobfusion - September 13 - 2:00 am

  My vehile was flooded during Hurricaine Charly. So I went out and bought a new Chevy Cav.

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  Nice ZR5 - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By Empty - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Great Truck that rides like a car. I dont like the seat material, hard to keep clean and hard to vacuum. Excellent on gas, true to ratings. Crew cab is excellent in 4X4, no extra weight needed.