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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  Best value ever - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By gr - September 6 - 3:53 pm

  A pleasant surprise. XFE coupe getting 32 city, 40 highway mpg with careful driving. Paid $11,600. Very comfortable seats, high quality fit and finish. XM radio. Driver Info center. Big trunk. I cant imagine a Toyota or Honda being a better value than this. Chevys best kept secret.

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  Best vehicle ever owned - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By mickey - September 6 - 2:34 pm

  Bought the Suburban fully loaded brand new. Have over 144,000 miles on it the no major repairs or wrecks smoother than an Acura MDX. The traction control system works over the top good it has a locking differential. The best invention since heated since also in the suburban. The seats still have eneough cushion rebound to seat comfortably. The interior color is tan and well colored and and the exterior color is white, tough and fade proof

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  Not too great - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Arnold - September 5 - 10:25 pm

  I had this car for three years. Fuel consumption is great, all controls are good location. Smooth ride. Steering control and braking is excellent. Visibilty is great. Stereo doesnt have aux input and hard or cannot be upgraded. engine are noisy. I sent the car several times to the dealership for steering problem, cd drive running continously, small area paint peeling off under 2 front door and at the luggage door. Within two years under 12000 miles, they had replaced the lower ball joint and lower arm assembly due to clunking noise in the front suspension when it hit a bump even though that I drive it carefully.

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  Sexy & Fun - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 4Bliss - September 5 - 9:44 pm

  I purchased my Malibu less than 1 month ago (I have the 2LT w/ the 6cyl 6spd). I am disappointed only in 2 things. I previously owned an 02 MonteCarlo SS and loved it. My Malibu has a lot of the same luxury features. The 1st thing is the fuel economy, much less than advertised & less than my SS(though still early - only gone thru 2.5 tanks/gas) and Im still learning how it drives compared to my Monte. The 2nd annoying thing is the cruise control. Monte had such smooth cruise control, going up and down hills, Malibu is a little obnoxious when the cruise is engaged (revvs up loudly when adjusting speeds uphill- again, its early.

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  Best Made Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ChadM - September 5 - 7:31 pm

  Ive owned several Tahoes and I really miss my 2001 Tahoe. Fuel wasnt too bad. I got 20 mpg on the highway. Overall the best vehicle Ive owned. I highly recommend owning one.

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  Review - 1992 Chevrolet Caprice
  By Alan - September 5 - 6:44 pm

  Good car, good gas mileage, fits a lot of people. Bought it with 116,000 miles on it has never had a problem except for light bulbs going out. Rear defroster does not work right now. Gas mileage is not bad. I average around 20- 23 mpg with marathon gasoline. Has rust on bottom rear fender behind tire and has a lot of rust under the car

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  S10...I wish they still made them - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By numyar - September 5 - 5:50 pm

  I have very few problems with this truck. I have the 4.3L which has plenty of power. Like every GM product Ive owned, you cant beat the powertrain! I get about 22 to 24 on the highway, cant complain about that. (Im no light foot). I have the sport pack, fatty tires, sport suspension, custom wheels, it still turns heads! The only complaints I have are: 3rd door handle-Ive broken 3,not replacing it again! 3rd door/driver door rattle bad together...really bad! The CD player does whatever it wants to. It might play the disk or spit it out for no reason or just keep trying to read it and then spit it out. I still love the truck and would buy another...keep the Colorado!

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  SS TB Rocks! - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DCC - September 5 - 4:19 pm

  After owning 2 Corvettes but needing a truck, this is a great way to go. Gas mileage could be much better if Chevy junked the 4-speed transmission for a five or 6-speed. Other than that, its a blast to drive. This truck gets a lot of looks and is nicer looking (inside and out) than the SRT Jeep I was looking at.

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  I got a bad one! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By ejgalindo - September 5 - 10:33 am

  I bought this car last summer and have had several problems ever since. The tires and its sensors have been going bad since day one. Had all sensors and tires replaced. At 16K miles, the AC compressor went out and busted the drive belt. Transmission leaks in the upper seal and gasket, which I took care of in my mechanic shop. Suspension was replaced on the left side due to a minor accident, but its still not the same. Im really disappointed with this vehicle. Ive wasted a lot of time getting this car in and out of the shop. Both my parents have new Chevys and thats all weve owned. I guess I just got the bad one in the bunch.

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  Should have leased it instead - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kb - September 4 - 8:55 pm

  The styling of the car is impressive as it has the lines of a much more expensive car. The ride has been disappointing. Very bumpy and not driver friendly at highway speeds. I was willing to overlook the firm ride if highway stability was solid but thats just not the case. The transmission has a tendency to shift up at low RPM (1K-2K) leaving normal acceleration feeling tired. Although, the 6cyl is very responsive if you step on it or use the paddle shifter instead.