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:

• 

  Dissappointed - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Flyboy737 - November 23 - 7:20 pm

  First brand new vehicle and first time owning a Chevy truck. Few problems initially with only 1 recall for heated wipers, which they did during oil change. Unfortunately, after rolling just 19k, transmission crapped out. I baby my truck, so when pulling out in traffic the tranny goes. Im not a happy camper. Up to this point, have been happy with my truck. But this experience definitely leaves a sour taste. Might not go back to Chevy.

• 

  No more Chevy for me - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By slim - November 23 - 5:08 pm

  I own a 2006 Chevrolet Impala lS, and I hate that car. I bought it with 46,234 miles on it, at 50,000 miles the water pump started to leak, so I had to replace it. The gas mileage is poor, the inside armrest is already broken, I had to replace a speaker that stopped working or worked when it wanted too, the automatic trunk relaese button works when it wants too, the power door lock switch on driver side door only lets you lock the doors not open them. The transmission shifts how it wants too, sometimes smooth sometimes kicks in the gears harsh shifting, and then this past Friday something happened with the power steering, all the fluid leaks out. I am not happy at all with this Impala. No more Chevy of any kind for me.

• 

  Mechanical issues but looks good - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jay - November 23 - 1:10 am

  highway driving causes 3rd gear failure at 35K miles? AC makes noise at "auto" setting and has been replaced once. Ongoing problems. Thank god for the GM warranty. Rear drink holders are fisher-price like. Other than that - interior is pretty good, comfortable, exterior looks like a truck should, XM is great. No blue tooth is crazy but they fixed in later years. Cant understand why GM wouldnt spend the extra $50 and make wheel well inserts standard. Plastic door inserts look like miniature lego pieces ie: cheap as hell. Used to own a Tundra and went domestic to try and help local business but may rethink next time is I keep having problems. At 40,000 miles now.

• 

  Slow but steady wins the race - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By single mom - November 22 - 3:55 pm

  I have been driving this car for over 10 years without any problems. It has 180,000 miles on it and no major repairs. Replaced exhaust due to rust, but I live in the snow belt so lots of road salt. An edging of rust just starting along the bottom of the doors. With Nokia tires I have driven this car thru blizzards and floods. As a single mom, I need reliability. It has never left me stranded. It is a no-frills version, so there were no gadgets to breakdown. Still gets 30 mpg and the interior still looks like new. Seats have been very durable. I dont think you can go wrong buying a used Cavalier if you are looking for basic transportation. This has been the best car!

• 

  `perfomance - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Katiebug - November 22 - 10:00 am

  ery good performance and is good on gas and the color is just right, and I enjoy driving it.

• 

  Good car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By raji - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Malibu Maxx is very reliable and fun to drive. Pick up is good and reasonably priced compared to Honda or Toyota. With DVD option my kids love it that makes me to drive comfortably.

• 

  Great Car for the Buck - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By tiramisu - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I Just purchased a Impala LS.Great engine power,rides very smooth with leather seats,comfort seats,moonroof,all the good stuff for a great price,why spend more..

• 

  2k05 nox A+++ - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jawha116 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  It has been a pleasure to drive with very easy features to use. The only negative is the wiper set up on the column and the storage bin takes up to much space in the rear

• 

  Suits our needs, good price & value - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By NellieMc - November 22 - 1:52 am

  Sometimes we take long day trips and I wanted something that we could sleep in and I found the Uplander. Weve taken the seats out, put in a full size air mattress,velcroed shades to the windows and have slept comfortably and inexpensively at RV parks. We had an 30 RV, needed lots of gas, space and I didnt like driving around with a toilet and every rattling. We are average size people, 54" & 59", enjoy traveling, dining out and have created our own little over-night pod. We can even take our dogs with us. When we return home, we put the mattress and supplies in a container in the back, keep the 3rd row seats in. If we need more passenger room we can always put the second row back in.

• 

  Great bang for the buck - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By dax1dax1 - November 22 - 12:17 am

  Have had one for ten years. Fast, good gas, reliable overall. 188,867 miles - and going. Items replaced - Water pump, Throttle sensor, rear wheel hub & anti-lock brake sensor, front linkage (rough roads.) 2 or three window motors (smoker though - window always going up and down.) Handles well, better than it feels. LS model - pretty sporty for a sedan. I drive aggresively, but the tires wear well.