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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  hell of a car - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jason klippenstien - July 29 - 10:00 am

  This car hs to be the best corvette I have ever owned. The power is something else compared to a mustang.

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  Best car I ever owned - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kelli - July 29 - 9:26 am

  I bought my cavalier in 2004. It now has over 200,000 miles on it and it still drives like I just bought it! It is by far the best car I have ever owned. I would never buy any other kind of car . Go Chevy!

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  Try it youll love it. - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu Owner - July 29 - 12:36 am

  This has to be one of the best cars Ive ever owned, including a Cadillac CTS. Everything is just perfect on this car. The V-6 has real go power, and Im averaging 23 MPG in mixed driving. The fit and finish is wonderful. The car is so quiet that I sometimes have to look at the tach to see if it is running at stoplights. All of you import buyers are really missing out on a great car. I tested Toyota and there is no comparison.

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  Falling apart - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By tnkgrl - July 28 - 10:12 pm

  My car just started having problems. It is falling apart. I loved it until now. ABS cab and the throttle actuator control module went out in two months apart from each other. 46000 miles.

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  a useful yet comfy transportation tool - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Larry Milton - July 28 - 1:59 pm

  I bought it new, expecting good mileage and long life. 2 wheel drive four cylinder, stick shift was hard to find. Have replaced both U-joints in drive train, battery after 5 years, no oil leaks after 8 years and 100,000 miles. Front seat tracks were replaced under warranty early on. Had to replace the throttle position sensor when it started acting up intermittently. Gets 25 mpg on all my driving. The clearcoat paint looks like new after 8 years of being garaged mostly. I never wash it. The rain keeps it nice, and I have had many compliments on it.

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  1994 Suburban 2 wheel - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By aloanagain - July 28 - 1:22 pm

  I bought the car in 1999 with 49,000 miles on it. Now in 2009 it has 170,000. It is the best car. It is so reliable and strong. I have hauled everything over the years and if it does not fit in the back then it goes on top: from a 14 foot Christmas tree to 15 foot metal cattle panels to stoves, dishwashers, dining room furniture in the boxes etc. The engine leaks not a drop of oil, I cant believe it. But radiator fluid leaks on the top of the engine but I lived with that for 70,000 miles. It is such a good car. Now I have teenagers driving it a few miles to school and college. I am looking at the cash for clunkers program and the added Texas program. Hum...keep up with the Jones or not...

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  GM makes the best veicals in the world - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By johnny no goode - July 28 - 9:41 am

  Chevy trucks last forever, I have owned a bronco and a ram and they stunk. I have always been a gm fan and when I got this truck I discovered how right was. Fuel economy aside, I got this truck at 98.000 was15, ooo over the oil change bought it anyway put little work into it a she still rides like a dream I actually flipped it on its drivers side an a pile of mud got a gmc truck pulled back over the next day and drove off the field this truck just will not die I drove in 4 feet of water and it didnt stall for over a mile. The best truck I ever had it now has 139.000 and its still running strong I been beating the hell out of it about 50, ooo miles just keep up motor and it will do another 138.00

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  16 and Ready to Run - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Branden P - July 27 - 11:33 pm

  This is my first car its a basic V6 hatchback and so far its been better than anything out there I could afford. It handles windy roads like its on rails and puts the power down when you want it. The monsoon sound system blows my friends systems away. This one is going to be around for a long time.

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  Maintenace Headache - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Problems R Us - July 27 - 10:28 pm

  We bought it in 2005 and it was fine for about two years. The tires barely lasted two years, then the rotors warped and had to be replaced. Thought it was over, then nightmare started with the ABS engaging under normal driving conditions. Sound familiar, well its a poorly designed system for the speed sensor. It means you will need to replace the complete wheel hub assembly and sensor....$390.00 just for the part. Better check the centre hanger bracket bearing for the rear axle on the AWD version, that fell apart too! Good luck finding that part. Yeah, its only three years old! Did I mention the heater box fell apart...no heat...a $90.00 part but $1000.00+ for labour to get it out!!

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  08 Chevy Cobalt - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chosen1 - July 27 - 7:25 pm

  I got my Cobalt 3 months ago and I havent had any problems. It handles great and is the best small sized car from GM. FINALLY GM has learned how to created a small car with great quality.