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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  Runnin Strong at 46k - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By jarett - December 26 - 12:40 am

  I bought this car for 13,000 with 25,000 miles on it. Body perfect, interior perfect. As soon as I bought the car I changed the trannsmission fluid and out and put in synthetic. Flushed out the dex-cool anti-freeze because it is notrieous for gunking up and put in synthetic. I havent had a problem yet. Its very responsive, I installed a KN cold air intake and only run it with 93 octane. This model has the 3.8 l 3800 which is Chevys most reliable engine ever made, a little bit of care will go a long way.

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  Best money ever spent - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By George Ware - December 24 - 9:17 pm

  I owned a 1984 and a 1986 Z51 C4. I liked the C5 but didnt have the money. When I picked up my black on black 3LT C6 the smile stuck to my face. and now I have high blood pressure when ever you push the start button 8^). I love this car... and after a year & 8k miles it keeps getting better!

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  Fun Has Returned - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Willie - December 24 - 7:03 pm

  I needed a daily commuter vehicle to replace my aged truck. I also needed better gas mileage. I am very comfortable in my HHR and the gas mileage is excellent! The takeoff is lacking but the car can keep up with traffic on the 4-lane. I owned a Fiero and found it a joy to drive. The joy HAS returned!!

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  First Chevy Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By T. Gregory - December 24 - 6:16 pm

  Bought this Z71 used w/26000 miles, never had a Chevy truck before, thought Id try one. The ride is pretty smooth, kinda like a car. I like the leather seats, they are very comfortable. The truck hauls my boat, 21ft Chaparral with no problems and the truck looks great. Has plenty of room in the back seat for the kiddos and adults. The satellite radio is great as well as the onstar and built in phone. Have had no issues with anything, everything works and the truck runs like a top. Gas mileage is on par for a full size truck 15/17.

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  1st Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By sask - December 24 - 3:40 pm

  Bought the truck to haul a lightweight trailer in the summer and get around town in the cold winter months So far no problems truck hauls well, drove to Texas last winter with 50 below weather with no problem Gas mileage better than the van we had before - cruising at 110Km we get 32 miles to the gallon Installed a cap on the back to keep items dry

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  Great Grocery Getter - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BCB - December 24 - 2:29 pm

  Bought car new in 2004. This was second Cavalier I have owned and both have been rock solid and dependable. My current Cavalier has 163,000 on it and the only problem I have ever had was a master cylinder for the clutch. Great gas mileage, reliable, and inexpensive, what more could you ask for. Chevy would have been wise to keep this one in production as there is a large and loyal customer base. If they were still made, I would certainly be buying another one. Not fancy, exciting to drive, or exotic, but there are lots of us who want to get from point A to point B without spending a lot and with minimal maintenance headaches.

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  Is excelent for that price - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dreicom - December 24 - 5:05 am

  I bought LS model, but it has a 3.6L 6cyl motor and 17" wheels. It has good fuel economy (29-32 mil/gal) I like the interior design and the car is so quite inside and it has a great sound system. Some people told me the Malibu looks like an Acura, but you dont have to pay too much for the Malibu.

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  A very good little car - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Patrick - December 23 - 8:00 pm

  I bought this for $3000 over the summer to replace a Cavalier. Mileage is great, performance is pretty good considering it only has 125 hp. Put some decent tires on it and cornering is really fun. Stereo is not too shabby either. Only drawbacks that I have encountered are fading paint, the interior plastic around the door frame is peeling (that most have come from the GM part of the joint project), and no center armrest. Besides that you cant beat it. Like everyone else has already said, its just a Toyota with a Chevy emblem on it. A very easy way to save $2000 vs a Corolla, and even more on gas. This thing is bulletproof with proper maintenance. The perfect city car!

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  2008 LTZ 6 cyl Malibu - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lisa - December 23 - 7:44 pm

  I Traded in 2004 Equinox for my Ltz Malibu this car is fast, fun and a big looker. I have white with brown/ tan nice combo, Seats are great fitting like a race car, driving in corners amazing on the grip. Not too good in snow unless you drive with manual. If I lived in a very snowy area I may have not purchased. But New England snow not too bad. Overall I love this car. It feels sturdy and safe and thats very imprtant

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  Favorite ride ever! - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By jtown_av_fan - December 23 - 6:21 pm

  I owned a 2002 and traded it for an 07 Tundra. Big mistake! The ride quality and interior comfort cant compare! My 08 LTZ is awesome! Extremely comfortable! The remote start gets the truck just right before you climb in. I love that it has everything! Back-up camera is too cool! Averaging 17MPG overall which is 2 MPG better than my 02. I have averaged over 20 on highway trips! Bedmat keeps cargo where you put it, but makes some things hard to load/unload. Tows like a dream! 5.3 has plenty of what you need in a truck...power!