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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  First Chevy Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By cjettaf1 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I tried all of the full size trucks and found Chevy to be the best value for the money. The new F-150 was very uncomfortable especially for the long drives I take. Dodge trucks were overpriced and came with very few features.

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  I love my cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Nicole - July 11 - 12:11 am

  This is my very first car. Ive had it for almost 2 yrs now and have over 110K on it and its still running strong. AC works amazing and so does the heat. It gets regular oil changes and tune ups and has amazing gas mileage. Ive done alot of driving in it, miles at a time sometimes and it doesnt ever have a problem. Ive gotten into one accident with it and it was just exterior damage, and the car looks and feels like it never happened. Nothing major has had to be fixed on it yet. Runs very well in the snow.. Very reliable car!!

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  Nice Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Very Nice - July 10 - 11:50 pm

  Just bought the Suburban LTZ for my wife and 4 daughters. So far VERY happy with the Chevrolet. Disappointed with cheap plastics but overall a very good feel inside. Truck is very smooth and relaxing for such a big vehicle. Not trouble at all to drive for the wife with the backup sensors. Love the big power tailgate and 20 inch rims with the Bridgestones. Rides great. Plenty of power and looks to be as good of mileage in town. If youre thinking about buying a mini van worried about mileage, suck it up and get the Suburban you wont be sorry.

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  my new monte carlo - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By tim southern - July 10 - 10:46 pm

  The new Chevrolet Monte Carlo that I recently purchased is both sporty and practical. I use it to grocery shop and take long drives to visit friends just for examples. It gets good gas mileage and has plenty of pickup off of starts. I am extremely happy with my purchase so far.

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  sexy vette - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Kathy - July 10 - 10:25 pm

  My vette is sexy but I do believe it is not worth the asking price if you were to buy it new. I am having issues with the rubber molding and some electrical. If you buy a 2006 vette today (summer 2009) you will get a good deal on a pretty darn sexy car! It is fast enough to get out of anyones way because other cars do not see you very well. I did spin out one night turning on a left arrow to fast, ended up facing the same way I just came from! That was a little scary and could have been the end for the vette but the traffic was minor, I am sure I gave then a show! My back window is tinted which makes it look really nice with the tinted roof glass but the visual is not great.

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  Extremely Happy With This Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By DC BMW Enthusiast - July 10 - 8:42 pm

  Im a long-time BMW driver who bought a Malibu as a second vehicle and I actually love driving this car. Im very happy with the quality, performance, comfort, and features. For the price of a base model 4-cyl 176 hp Accord, this Malibu (after multiple rebates and incentives) has V-6, satellite, 18" wheels, OnStar, bluetooth, and an excellent stereo. An enthusiastic endorsement from a BMW driver (Im driving my 12th BMW) should count for something. GM has proven that they can make excellent cars, now they just have to figure out how to make money on those cars.

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  okay car - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By americanrevolution - July 10 - 6:44 pm

  The build quality isnt something stellar. The interior plastic is like the type used for trashcans, and theres gaps between the seems, and does not line up. If you bend down and look under where the pedals are, the wires are all sticking out and such. Not having the recirculation option is truly a smack in the buyers face. Dont get me started how awful it was driving in traffic during our fire season at California. The parking brake is also shoddy, doesnt work unless you forcefully push it all the way down. Heavy doors with weak door springs, not nice, almost had my hand cut off once b/c of it. Fuel pump went out at 36k, leaky suspension, what happened Chevy? You have lost me as a buyer

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  Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chucked - July 10 - 6:09 pm

  Bought the car new in 2004, and have had very little trouble with it. Around 22,000 miles, i had to replace the brakes, tires, and Chevy took care of the tie rod ends (good on them, as it was abought 2 months out of warranty). Other than that, no real issues. Sometimes the alternator light comes on when I accelerate hard, but only for a second or two. Gas mileage is great, I put a K&N air filter in it and get regularly 35+ mpg on the highway, better than most 4 cylinders I have driven.

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  2005 Cavalier - Excellent Value! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Tim C - July 10 - 2:06 pm

  Its my third Cavalier. Great value for the $...especially after 4.5k rebate. Never let me down...just gas & regular maint., brake job every 50k, tires at 80k, first tuneup at 100k. 4 cylinder engine has plenty of pickup. Averaging 28 mpg for combination city-highway driving, and have gotten 34+ mpg highway...while avg 70 mph. Excellent traction in snow and wet roads. Handling is firm and predictable, but is a bit soft on tight turns at speed. Interior is comfortable + has LARGE amount of hauling space with the fold- down split rear seat.

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  Great Family Car - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Nate - July 10 - 12:59 pm

  I bought the car as we had a new baby on the way, and it is great. The car can fit a 10ft ladder, a car seat with baby, my wife, and more cargo with room to spare. All of this in a car that isnt any longer than my Dodge Neon. Its a perfect fit for a mid height person like myself, not so good if you are over 6 ft. though. The instant fuel mpg reading is great for changing your driving habits to be fuel efficient. The best part though is that it is a fuel efficient family wagon that looks really, really cool. I could cruise in my HHR for hours and hours.