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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  Great car for the money. - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Luvmy_chevy - August 11 - 8:03 pm

  Mine is a 2003 Chevy Impala LS 3.8L with the sport package, leather seats, all power options and a sunroof. It has ample power and the interior is very roomy. It is a very safe car. Overall a very nice car for the money.I am glad I didnt go for that Toyota.

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  Overall - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mark G - August 10 - 4:55 pm

  My family and I recently traveled 1,600 miles with no problems. SUV performed well. It appears that Chevy has a winner in performance and little maintenance expense other than normal maintenance.

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  Love My Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By tucker2me - August 10 - 2:48 pm

  I have owned 2 Colorados and love them both. Dependable, never a problem. I love the design. A class act all the way. I have all the bells and whistles and could not be happier. Thanks Chevrolet!

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  Superior Ride comfort but overlooked by - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bill - August 7 - 6:46 pm

  The Malibu LTZ is unbelievable ride and comfort. It appears to be overlooked by most. I can compare this to previous cars that Ive had in the past and this is simply one of the best and perhaps the best car that we have owned. Ive owned Honda Accord, Prelude, Cadillac SRX and others. It has luxury, style, power, high fuel efficiency, it handles well, on and on. I would clearly purchase this over most of my other cars and would be hard pressed to select any other car. I highly recommend this car to anyone

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  White Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JamesDoyle - August 7 - 10:00 am

  This is an awesome ride for a SUV. It is powerful and is smooth. The Leather interior and back row Captain Chairs set it off. It is very roomy and comfortable. Makes excellent turns for its size.

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  Awesome truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Offrdr75 - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Overall this is a greta vehicle that rides and drives great.

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  Great Trade - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Nick - August 7 - 12:22 am

  I am a tall/big man. Plenty of room for me. Dumped my H2 for better gas mileage. Completely pleased with the performance, style and GM quality! It drives and handles like a luxury car. One of the best in its price range! My friends think I am driving a $35,000 car! Exceeds expectations. If I want more, Id have to pay more.

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  Great Ride! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By airdefense - August 6 - 10:50 pm

  Just bought my first Suburban. Love the Z-71 features. The room is great after coming from a Camaro Z-28 Convt.

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  If you always wanted one...this is it! - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By James B - August 6 - 8:42 pm

  Ive owned my 2002 "C5" Corvette coupe for many, many years. Each time that Im behind the wheel is the same - great! I have the "base" 350 HP model but it still feels like it gets from zero to sixty in just under five seconds. Always garaged, my cars light pewter color is still very good and it looks great with the dark tint of the side and rear windows. While the Z06/manual is the enthusiasts choice, the base LS1 with 4-speed AT is a superb daily driver that provides a ton of low-rev power. You always have what you need for the daily commuting challenge and its a breeze on the highway. This model is now 15 years old and still gets 28-30 MPG on the highway (Summer time). I dont drive it during the Northern Winter, to avoid snow/ice and risk for frame rust. The interior is basic by todays standards but the leather wheel and seats hold up well, and look for the upgraded Bose entertainment system (which is still good by todays standards). Corvette seats have been the favorite joke of automotive writers but you need to decide for yourself. Ive driven this car for 15 hours at a time with minimal stops, and have never had a sore back from the seats. I cannot say the same for a Porsche and its Recaro seats I owned in the past. The Corvette also bests its German rival with its reliability, especially for the power train and brakes. With its composite body and plastic interior pieces, it does have a few flex creaks (not rattles) with age, and Ive needed to replace the weatherstripping. These are small issues when compared to how the 2002 Corvette cruises through each year with the same agility and power - with only oil changes and tire rotations needed. Overall, a great used super car bargain! If you are in the market, I recommend you search for models which have always been in warmer climates. If you buy from a dealer, its not difficult to negotiate covered shipment for your car, and look for aftermarket parts/service warranties from reputable providers (parts can be pricey). Enjoy!

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  Great Car - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Malisha - August 5 - 8:00 pm

  Car was bought with 158,000 by my dad, for my first car! Car got me where ever I needed to go, when ever I needed to go. Never hesitated to start, even in the winter. Heater stinks though. On high, warm air drifted out of the car. I had to let it warm up in the winter for about 30 minutes. Car was extremely rusted, but never failed to get me where I wanted. I now own a 96 Neon, and I was more impressed with my Cavalier. It was faster, and ten times more reliable.