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:

• 

  3/4 ton HD SUV - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By j leishman - April 8 - 2:00 am

  Pulls a 7000 pound trailer great, very versatile as it carries 4X8 sheets of material. Burns not a drop of oil at 107000 miles. Every feature still works good.

• 

  Great fun car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By drkoz0123 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  My Cavi was my 2nd car. I was looking for something sporty, reliable, and more safe than my previous car to go back and forth to college. Currently have 64000 miles. Only had a few problems but nothing major. One of them was recalled 2 years later and GM has been great to refund then money. Its great on fuel. Does OK when its really cold, Ive been stuck without a vehicle because it was too cold a few times. Seats are a little uncomfortable and bad for very tall and/or larger people. Needs more cup holders. Needs a better stereo system which I changed. The seat that folds down in back is great to haul stuff. Seems to dent and scratch easy.

• 

  Da perfect family van - 1996 Chevrolet Express
  By Big-Van-man - April 7 - 2:00 am

  We wanted to put some distance between the back of our seats and the kids shoes. We got that and then some. Have traveled 1000s of miles of highway with the fam and loved it. Could never do it in a minivan. Mechanical problems: AC compressor froze and got stuck in the winter, cooling system leaks, had radiator replaced at 85000. No other major repairs, current miles 112000.

• 

  Nice Car, Bad Mechanics - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Rdeems - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I am glad I chose to purchase the Major Guard Extended Warranty on this vehicle! While the car looks nice and drives wonderfully, it has had mechanical problems left and right. I have had to have the following problem corected: A/C would turn itself off, the blinker quit blinking, two front wheel bearings (sp?) had to be replaced, the head gasket cracked and I had to have the gaskets and lifters replaced and the car didnt even have 45000 miles on it.

• 

  Great car for the money - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CamaroSSFan - April 6 - 8:23 pm

  Bought mine in May 1999. Except for a failed battery, the car has exceeded expectations.(Even at 41000 miles, theres still half the tread left on the tires!) The look is still sharp despite dating from 1995, and, with routine maintenance and good care, very dependable. As long as the finish will last, this will be kept as a daily driver for years to come.

• 

  Fast ass mid-size car! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Squeeks - April 6 - 10:00 am

  My malibu is a purple colour with a hot spoiler,bra and crhome exahust. The interior is a lame checker weaving but I eventually got used to it. Ive had my share of problems but overall I would recomened it to anyone. I have a big problem with the pistion making a knocking sound so I took it in and they said it was normal but it sure dosnt sound like it! And just like most malibu owners my brakes keep warping and i will need new roters next time it happens. Ive noticed that alot of malibus seem to get front driver side flats all the time. Owell.

• 

  No more Chevys for us - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mikereynolds23 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  Bought truck for room and reputation. Weve not had major problems other than water pump at 76K. Biggest dissappointment has been resale value. Chevy offers too many discounts and incentives. It kills owners ability to get rid of their products. Maybe they should reconsider retail pricing. Also, the Pewter paint is hard to maintain. Transfer case weeps oil when not used frequently. Poor suspension component quality.

• 

  astro left behind - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By r2 - April 6 - 2:00 am

  A very reliable people/thing hauler. Great power from the 4.3. The old solid rear leaf spring made the older van a better ride than the current set-up. This van has a lot more rattles than my previous astro. My major concern is that the value loss is so high. You can buy one cheap but, plan to keep it.

• 

  Very dependable car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Elysian - April 6 - 2:00 am

  I havent had a problem with this car yet. Ive put it through a lot, and the worst that has happened is that the locks tend to freeze in winter. My mother owned a Cavalier also and had no problems for eight years. Definitely recommended for drivers who want cheap and reliable.

• 

  Good value - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chris H - April 5 - 7:43 am

  The LS is the value here. I think you will be dissapointed if you spend more the upper trim levels; hey, its a Chevy not a Mercedes. I found it to have better handling and braking than Ford 500. Handling is even better once I replaced the stock(cheap quality) tires with the Pirellis that the police package Impala uses. Would not have purchased if it didnt have 100k warranty. Not all cars on the lot are flex fuel so pay attention. Also, watch out if buying used: used rental car fleets tend to not have ABS or head airbags. Had a bad radiator cap that took two visits to diagnose. Other than that, flawless. I have 11k miles on it after 5 months of ownership.