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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  Suprisingly reliable! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By twelveboy - April 6 - 11:45 pm

  My family bought this car in 2003 and it had 30k miles on it. We barely took care of it. I got it at 70K miles a few years later and drove it into the ground and it was always very reliable! Great acceleration for a standard V6 Chevy! Seats were uncomfortable on long trips but for the price and treatment we gave it, it was an extremely reliable car. It was sold to a friend of mine, it now has 115k miles on it and still has needed nothing in repairs! I cannot believe it!!!

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  Bills 2009 Z-06 LT1 - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Billo McNab - April 6 - 7:26 pm

  Received my Z-06 LT 1 early in Jan 09. Had to wait for decent weather to experience the car. Had a road trip from Michigan to Georgia recently. What a Car. Overall 30mpg over 1700 Miles. My last Car was a 2004 SVT Cobra. The Z-06 is a step up in Car. Comfortable, thrilling and a looker ( Cyber Grey ). Very happy so far.

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  Not bad for a Police Car. - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By ImpalaPP - April 6 - 7:03 pm

  I had been searching for a new Impala for almost an entire summer when I came across this car. It is a police package impala(never used),3k miles, with all the police goodies (3.9L, trans, oil, and power steering coolers, HD brakes etc.) I love this car, its comfortable, handles, stops on a dime, and moves on the highway. My only real complaint is rather poor gas mileage(22mpg@70), and that the exhaust system is already starting to rust after one winter. Other than that its an all around quality car that should last me forever.

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  Impala Poor - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Impala - April 6 - 6:28 pm

  I have owned Chevys since 1981. This car has a very poor interior design. Esp if you get the front split seat. Items fall between the seats all the time. The ctr console forces this. Suspension problems, brake problems and overall poor quality. My 2005 Equinox is just as bad. No more GM for me.

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  Excellent Car - 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Matt - April 6 - 2:47 pm

  Traded in a 2006 Equinox for the 09 Sport. Great road manners for everyday driving, has the power to pass when needed. Great Pricing, would highly recommend this car.

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  Very reliable - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Ric - April 6 - 12:09 pm

  Bought this van at 40,000 km. Now has 110,000 km. Absolutely no problems.

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  Pile of Garbage! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hacks - April 6 - 11:26 am

  As much as I like this vehicle for its performance, styling, and comfort, the reliability is absolutely horrible. In a recent 5 week span, Ive had it in the shop 4 times, once to have a valve replaced, twice for major transmission work that involved its removal, and twice for fuel injection problems. This does not include the cracked transmission cooler, Belt Tensioner, body molding, and numerous Slip Yoke problems I have had with it. And the service at the selling dealership has been equally as horrible, and I caught them billing GM for work they did not perform. Needless to say, I filed a Lemon Law Claim last February on the vehicle. Absolutely would not recommend this vehicle.

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  Outstanding Mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dave - April 6 - 1:33 am

  While the quoted highway mileage is 30 mpg, I have on numerous trips achieved 36+ mpg on tanksfull of gas, even at interstate highway speeds, with the a/c on and through the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky. Find that the handling is quite stable at low and high speeds and that the acceleration is available whenever it is needed. However, to achieve optimum mileage you need to drive with common sense and sanity. Heavy footed acceleration will decrease mileage by 2-4 mpg quite easily.

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  I dont want a new truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By chevyman - April 5 - 4:46 pm

  I got 95000 and all I have had 2 do is oil changes and 2 20 amp fuses in this truck and that is it! Me and my friend both have dune buggies, and I passed his V10 Ford going up a large grade. I love Chevys return of the 5.3 327 motor and it is here to stay!

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  08 Coupe - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Pleased - April 5 - 11:11 am

  Purchased new in March of 09. 0% financing and steep discount was enough to convince. The car looks fantastic in Velocity Yellow. Turns heads around town. Averaging over 21+ MPG.