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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  The LTZ Truth - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Nolen - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Nice powerful,smooth running, smooth riding , very roomy machine. A pleasure.

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  Great Family Car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SFRAZIE - September 30 - 2:00 am

  This is the first car Ive owned that is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. Five adults fit comfortably in this vehicle. There is plenty of leg room (even in the back seat). I have a single car garage that is a little on the small size, but this vehicle fits with room to spare. There are plenty of cup holders, and a large glove box. If you have small children, this is a great car because it has three anchors for car seats.

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  Great Car for $12K! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jobeewan - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Bought this in August with about %K incentives, plus anoith 1,500 off using power buy, Painless buy and great value. At this price, I wonder why I didnt buy 2 or 3!

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  Z71 A step up from everthing else - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By kgc - September 29 - 2:00 am

  The Z71 is definitely a vehicle you want in your garage if you plan on driving in any condition. During and after the Blizzard of 2003 I was the only vehicle on the road that was not in a ditch. The biggest problem that I have discovered with this vehicle is its ability to drain a tank of gas with no difficulty, as well as few minor issues with the interior quality of the vehicle. I would request that GM increase the level of the 2nd row comfort, sitting in the back is like ridding on a wooden bench. Over all I would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone who does not want to sit in there house when the weather turns bad.

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  Great Car... so far :-) - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Tim - September 28 - 8:26 am

  Bought a used 2004 back in July 05. No problems over the last 4 months and 4K miles. Great gas mileage for a large SUV. Averaged 13 mpg while towing the largest U-haul trailer, and 15-16 around town. The same mileage as the smaller 2003 Ford Explorer we had. My A/C comes on strong and cold fairly quickly and access to the back seat can be made easier by tilting the entire middle seat forward instead of just tilting the seatback.

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  ITS REALLY AN O.K. CAR - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By MICHELLE HAPPY - September 28 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE GOTTEN USE TO V-6,AUTOMATIC ENGINES,BUT FOR A 4 CYL.-IT REALLY RUNS SMOOTH. ONCE YOU START MOVING, ITS VERY QUIET AND EXTREMELY FUEL EFFECIENT AND I ONLY PAID $1500 FOR IT.

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  Pretty good so far! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lynn F1 - September 27 - 10:26 am

  The interior is much what I expected. The V8 and associated rumble are great! Im not impressed with the handling or braking, but Im kinda chalking that up to its being "just another Impala" - I dont mind terribly. Its fascinating to watch the driver display go from 4cyl to 8cyl. XM Radio is pretty cool, as are the 36! presets. Ditto moonroof, OnStar, steering wheel controls. Cant stand the auto door locks.

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  Great reliability and comfort - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Blewjaye - September 27 - 2:00 am

  this car changed gears smoothly, was quick off the line, and extremely comfortable. I am 6 feet tall and over 200lbs, and this by far was the most comfortable car in its class. Steering handled well, sound on stereo very nice, and always a crowd pleaser when parking near a large group of people.

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  LEGROOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Astro
  By SCOTT CHANCELLOR - September 27 - 2:00 am

  THE LEG ROOM IN THE FRONT SEATS IS VERY LIMITED.

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  Good Reliable 4-Wheel Drive Security - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Robert Tebbutt - September 26 - 12:40 pm

  When you get out of this car you look at it and say, "That car is much smaller than the one I was driving". The Equinox is roomy, quiet, and peppy enough, gets good mileage and is comfortable for four big adults. It misses grab handles, lighted vanity mirrors, built in garage remote control, under hood light and opening rear window. It is a good buy and a winner among many similar competitors.