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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  Smooth ride - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By WCS_in_SM - July 22 - 8:53 pm

  The 2006 HHR LT has a smooth ride and is comfortable for driver and passenger on long freeway trips. We have leather with electric driver seat. Seat heaters are nice in winter, even in So. Cal. Ours needed a $1,100 oil cooler repair at 70,000 miles. Stereo works well. Odd placement of cup holders and window controls.

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  02 Silverado - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By fmj126 - July 22 - 6:53 pm

  This is a great truck. Lots of power, very dependable, and very good design. This is my first truck and I love it. I have dual exhaust on the 5.3 and it sounds great. If the gas pedal is pushed a little hard you wont get good gas mileage but I keep it under 2000 rpms and and get a little under 20 mpg.

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  should I should I not - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By winnie - July 22 - 4:32 pm

  I use to love my car because it had alot of comfort that I had not had before. I am not able to do alot of the maintenance that older cars require and I thought about getting a new one.

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  Average, But A Good First Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cris - July 22 - 10:09 am

  Overall its a good point a to b kind of car its nothing special but it does what its supposed to. I got it for around 10k used with 20k miles on it. Not a bad price at all, but unfortunately lacking in features. No power windows/locks therefore no keyless entry either. It just surprises me that these features arent standard these days. Every car should have them. The Cobalt is a great car for a first time driver though its cheap, fuel efficient, got a little bit of power, and doesnt look half bad in most colors (mine is white and its really not the best looking color for the car). Standard cruise control would be nice too.

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  Great Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By eamonn fountain - July 22 - 9:10 am

  This is our first extended cab long bed truck and wow, drives like a Cadillac, so powerfull and smooth, we just love it. And the 8ft bed is so useful and the best MPG ive ever had in a V8 truck. 5.3 V8 has more than enough power (but im still gonna add some tuning goodies,lol) Interior is more like a luxury car leather, power heated seats, lumbar support, excellent driving postion. I ve been driving Chevys for years and this is the best ever. Get the LT its got every bell or whistle youll ever need and a few you dont, but its nice to have them anyway.

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  Deceiving - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nick2343 - July 21 - 11:05 pm

  This car is very deceiving. You might read great reviews on this car, but in reality I own this car and I would take back the purchase in a second. I understand where the "Great" reviews come from, but after owning this car after 4 months, it breaks down so quickly. My friend also owns this car and he told me his front console is vert lose and shakey and that his front seat ripped. The SAME exact thing happened to me and my mother. We are also are not happy with the leather/suede in this car. The suede wears down so quickly and stains very easily. The audio system loses its frequency often causing way too often static and loss of the channel. There is an up to this car, the trunk is big!

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  3800 LTZ - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Tony - July 21 - 9:07 pm

  This car was my moms for 10 years and I just got it as my first car and what a great car it is. the only problem so far is a hole in a plastic elbow for radiator fluid line but its a fairly easy fix the only thing i dont get is why use plastic for something thats holding pressurized hot liquid ? The stock not supercharged 3.8 kicks on the streets and can spank most stock cars off the line

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  Good Car but has some issues.... - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mollys - July 21 - 2:17 pm

  This is a great little car for people who drive a lot. It is comfortable and reliable and the gas price is excellent especially if you get the federal reimbursement rate. I am having trouble with the front tires wearing unevenly on the outsides. Just be aware that I have 28,000 miles on this car and bought it brand new with 13 miles. I am on the second set of tires and will be needing new ones to pass state inspection. Another Oveo driver I know has the same problem also. The tires are rotated and balanced appropriately. Just be aware you may need tires yearly. I have not had any other problem with the car besides this.

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  Love it and Hate it!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By DV - July 21 - 1:38 pm

  I bought this car three years ago and I absolutely love the way it drives, I love the way it looks and I love the special options. What I hate is that I have had several problems since the day I drove it off the showroom floor to include tire sensors, strange smell of radiator fluid, head gasket replacement (twice!!), new alternator, new battery, electrical problems with the seat warmers - sometimes they work, sometimes they dont, sometimes the electrical panel goes blank while I am driving- all in the first 37,000 miles! I got a dud! I love it and I hate it.

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  2000 Checy Prizm Review - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Rick - July 21 - 10:38 am

  Generally a reliable vehicle. But the following problems have surfaced in the past 2 yrs. 1) Check engine light analyzed but repair didnt fix the problem. 2) Seatbelt light flashes sometimes for no reason. 3) A/C stopped working - too expensive to repair. 4) Cruise control works sometimes and sometimes doesnt work. 5) Transmission linkage shifts out of drive into neutral sometimes. Considering this is a Toyota Corolla with a Chevy nameplate, I am rather disappointed in this vehicle which has had good reviews elsewhere.