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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  nice van - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By leowes - December 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this van used for my wife and children. Overall I am impressed with it. Being a mechanic, I look for quality and longevity along with value. The powertrain is very reliable, and maintenance is inexpensive. I have seen several of these vans in my shop and all have just been in for maintence and brakes. I cannot say the same for chrysler or ford products which seem to have weak powertrains. The acceleration is great, and handling is that of a car and not like a truck. I highly recommend this van.

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  Great Car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sprnova777 - December 25 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for two and a half years and the only problem I have had is the waterpump. I am told that these cars are known for this. Other than that my cavy has 91000 miles and runs just as good as the day I bought it.

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  Saved me in a crash - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By daveNC - December 24 - 2:00 am

  After owning my 02 Suburban for only six months, I nearly totalled it when another car accidentally forced me off the road into a tree head-on (frontal- offset, drivers side). While the front of the truck was pretty much destroyed, I was able to hop out of it without even a scratch. Its a great truck. With four kids, you can be sure Ill be getting an 03 -- its comfortable AND safe.

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  04 Malibu - power steering problem - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jdg - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I liked the look of the redesigned Malibu. The interior is roomy and comfortable and the car came very, very nicely equipped compared to comparable import models. However, with only a little over 1500 miles on the vehicle, I encountered a problem with the power steering and the car is now sitting at the dealer awaiting repairs and the required parts on backorder.

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  corsica - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By merchandise - December 23 - 2:00 am

  great car, as long as your not in a hurry!

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  What you need.....a good basic truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Coach K - December 21 - 10:20 pm

  I bought this truck used with 41K miles on it. I was looking for a small truck but at the price and what shape it was in I could not pass it up. I bought this when the gas spiked up so I got it for $7,000. The V6 is a little under powered but gets you moving. I commute 30 miles everyday to work and I have gotten it to average 20, not bad. I have had zero problems with it. I would say if you need a truck for weekend work and want something comfortable, easy to drive, then a basic 1500 is what you should look for.

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  solid family truck - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By graniteman - December 20 - 2:00 am

  After owning two GM trucks since 1990, I talked my wife into buying a burb to haul around our four kids. We bought it used with 62k on it. After only a few thousand miles I noticed the auto trans was shifting rough. It turns out the valve body(inside trans)was the culprit. The repair was $700. This burb will flat out roll down the highway-keeping it under 70 IS a problem.We use the 4wd daily to get up our steeeep gravel driveway. It is time for new brake pads,(and rotors I would guess), due to a pulsing feeling during hard braking. Better fuel economy than either of 2500 model pickups 13-18mpg vs. 17-20mpg.

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  Y2K Malibu LS - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JLT - December 20 - 2:00 am

  Bought this on Dec 31, 1999, to replace my 93 piece of junk Taurus. I was leery as well, heard mixed reviews on this. Three years and 45,000 miles later, I am quite pleased with this car, considering what you get for the money. Excellent V6 acceleration, good passenger room, large trunk, many features. Only problems, leaky intake manifold, affected the heater (fixed in a day), and slightly warped front brake rotors (again, fixed in a day, under warranty). I feel like I got a great value with this.

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  Good Value - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By OhioMike - December 19 - 10:53 am

  Upgraded to 4.8 V8, CD player, cloth seats. Fun to drive, but torque leaves something to be desired. Roomy extended cab in front and back. Engine components easily accessible for self- maintenance. 6.5 foot bed provides plenty of space. Smooth riding on the highway, especially with weight in the bed. Seats are comfortable. Decent gas mileage for a V8. ABS system has been refined over the past few years and seems to be more responsive.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Superwoody - December 19 - 10:00 am

  This a great SUV for the money. If you dont need the extra space of a Tahoe or Suburban, then this is a truck for you. It has a great stable ride with plenty of power for this size SUV. MPG is not great but is average. My complaint is the wind noise around the doors. This a very quiet SUV around town with little road noise but at highway speeds and on windy days, the wind coming in around the seals is irritating. Hopefully a fix is in the works for the 04s.