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:

• 

  Noisy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By j. m. - September 10 - 1:02 pm

  I got one because I thought it looked good and it was a Chevy which made me think reliable. I have a 03 Blazer with over a hundred thousand miles no problem at all. With less than ten since I bought my 05 TrailBlazer with 30 thousand miles Ive changed the water pump, power steering went out and the windows howl at high. Speeds due to bad weather stripping around the doors. The engine does have plenty of power and it handles well.

• 

  ter/tah07 - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By HiDezMom - September 10 - 11:46 am

  A very nice vehicle in deed. Sorry Ford, but twice the vehicle my Expedition was. Feels very tight throughout. excellent road feel. Interior is very sophisticated, with lots of tech goodies.(I know, more to break later on.)Has a lot of very nice features like auto folding mirrors, and memory seating for more than one operator I wouldnt hesitate to recommend this as an SUV choice. On the other hand, I sure havent seen the "22 and more" mpg that the dealer harped on. Maybe someday...but not now for sure.

• 

  08 White Diamond Avalanche LTZ - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By americanjan - September 10 - 11:36 am

  I love this truck--and yes, Im a girl! I just bought my Avalanche after months of looking around and comparing other SUVs and trucks. Overall, I really liked the Avalanches versatility as an SUV/truck combo. I must say, though, that Chevrolets use of the White Diamond exterior paint is what put me over the top. This truck is absolutely gorgeous--the cashmere leather interior and the 20" chrome wheels & chrome accents really make this truck a showgirl! If you are looking to purchase an Avalanche, I suggest you spring for the LTZ package. You wont be sorry you did. All the extra features are really nice and make the whole driving experience enjoyable.

• 

  Better than I expected - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Biff - September 10 - 8:16 am

  Having owned Volvos for ages, I was a little apprehensive about buying a Chevy but I couldnt turn down the deal I got as a GM supplier. The Maxx is a good, solid car. Yeah, some of the interior materials are a little basic and you can tell where they saved a few bucks, but it gets the job done. I love having a hatchback. Really handy. You can put a LOT of cargo in this car.

• 

  Unstable car - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By catiiis183 - September 10 - 8:10 am

  The vehicle is unstable in rainy weather. Hydroplanes a lot even at low speeds. Not made for winter or rainy weather. This is a spring summer car only.

• 

  Chevy girl - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Chevy girl - September 9 - 10:04 pm

  I love my Chevy Malibu. I thought at first it would drive boring. But this car is impressive. I was hit the first week I had it from behind. The car did not even dent, but I still had the bumper and the underneath frame straightened. Great gas mileage. Can be sporty depends on the model. I feel that its a great car to pass down to my teenage daughter.

• 

  Reliable - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kevin - September 9 - 12:51 pm

  We purchased our 2000 Cavalier in October of 1999. We have 123,000 miles on the car. We get 28 mpg average between city and highway. We have the 2.2 litre engine. The car is very easy to drive and still runs very well. We have had very little trouble out of it. It has been very reliable. No leaks of any kind, and everything works. Still looks good and I enjoy driving it every day. We paid $13,000 for it new and have had the car for nearly ten years. I have no plans to sell or trade my Cavalier. I have owned many different cars from many different manufacturers, but I have kept this one the longest and have found it to be the most reliable.

• 

  love it - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By aj starr - September 9 - 2:00 am

  for the money you cant beat it, had one before and rang up 180,000 miles and not much trouble at all.

• 

  Good Value for the Cost - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By G2the2ndRnd - September 9 - 2:00 am

  We (my wife and I) looked at about 15 different vehicles before deciding on the 2004 Malibu. The main reasons that we chose the Malibu over the Accord or the Camry was cost and the self starter, plus the XM radio was a nice addition. We have owned the car for 2 months and so far we are very happy with our purchase - meaning that the car has handled well in the ice and snow that Columbus has been having this year. We are looking forward to the warmer weather and being able to use the sun roof! Also, kudos and applause for building a window washer container that holds the whole bottle, no leftovers with the Malibu!!!!

• 

  The New Chevy is Here!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By R. R. - September 9 - 2:00 am

  The new Malibu has great handling, style and comfort features. I love the auto start and heated seats. The car I purchase did have a problem with the side view electric mirrors, but the dealership took care of it without difficulty.