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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  Chevrolet Steered Me Wrong - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Just Some Dude - August 19 - 10:08 am

  Id rented a 2007 Malibu when my last car was being repaired, and I was so surprised that a GM product was so nice! So when it came time to buy a new car, this was my first choice. First the pluses: Mileage is well over 30 on hilly terrain. Downers: Ive had to have the steering column replaced once and serviced a second time, and disturbing noises (under-the-hood rattle, dashboard rattle) developed rather soon after my purchase. The thing that really makes the car seem cheap is that writing keeps rubbing off seldom-used controls, particularly on the stereo. This will make the second radio replaced for that reason. Great ride, except that I worry about durability.

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  Very dependable car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Will - August 19 - 9:11 am

  Only one small problem in 2 1/2 years of ownership, one tire switch monitor keeps on going out but zero other problems after 41000 miles. As a frequent car changer every year or two but I foresee keeping this car for at least 2-5 more years.

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  Nice but not like my prior 1997 c/k1500 - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dianne - August 19 - 7:44 am

  I wished I never traded my 1997 CK1500. That truck gave me hell of problems but was worth the 5.7 performance engine was issues were cleared under warranty. Not the fuel costs though. I put over 300k on that truck and decided to buy the 2005 Chevy Colorado with many of the bells and whistles to satisfy driving needs. Well, I made several complaints on the craftmanship build of the metal of this truck. It flexes way to much IMO on the highways. Got just thank you but Colorados are safe. Other than that, absolutely no mechanical problems, or body. Fuel cost vs my 97 difference is 3 gals per commute day. Performance, you can live with it for near v6 type engine I got.

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  More Improvements, are you kidding me! - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Vette_Adrenaline - August 18 - 4:44 pm

  2004, black C5, 8k miles. This is by far the best car I have ever owned. Handles great, The horsepower is excellent and gas mileage to boot. On a recent trip I averaged 31.5mpg. I was blown away. I kept pointing to the dash and laughing to my wife. This was totaly unexpected. Im 6 ft 2" tall and this thing is comfortable, the HUD and all gauges are easy to see at a glance. All adjustments easily reached. This is now my daily driver and not a day goes by that I dont get home without a smile on my face. If you dont fall in love with this car, then there is something seriously wrong with you.

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  Just a little unhappy - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By K.Campbell - August 18 - 1:10 pm

  I agree with other buyers that the car looks great but it does need better fabric seats! My car has expeienced cant getting the key out the ignition! I not to happy about that because I havnt had the car that long. Overall, I would still stay with Chevy. Going to get a 2009 HHR! I think that one will be much better.

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  Please watch out Z71 Crew Cab LS 4WD - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By workless - August 18 - 12:23 pm

  I bought new in 7-03, thought that since the S-10s this would be better. This is single-handedly the worst vehicle I ever owned out of 10+ GM products. The 5 cylinder had no power and even worse fuel economy. The worst is the front end, Isuzu product that is junk. Replace your front brake rotors and youll know what I mean - the design is ridiculous. The GM book rate is 6+ hours to remove a rotor. Then the flex hose to the rear brakes broke down internally and the micro rubber particles jammed up the rear brakes and the ABS system. I traded it in before I paid the approx $1700 for the replacement. I called GM with this complaint, they never called back! Premium gas only or sensors lit daily

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  No Frills Ride - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Monkey Man - August 18 - 10:33 am

  Nothing really surprising about it. The EcoTec engine is much more powerful than the clunker they used to put in Cavaliers. The sheetmetal is paper thin and dents easily. I damaged my quarter panel and was able to repair it by removing it, stomping on it a few times with my sneakers and putting it back on. The metal is that thin! It has been pretty reliable so far without problems, but Im nowhere near the 100K mile mark yet. Interior and road noise is higher than in the late 90s versions. Ride is choppier too due to the tighter suspension and the 14" wheels. Styling is nothing exceptional but it looks better than it used to. Ugly toilet flusher style interior door handles, ugh.

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  Good for 500 miles, then its a vibrator with no fix - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By chevy_vibrator - August 18 - 8:04 am

  Bought this new 2014 Silverado 2.5 months ago. Within 500 miles, it started to vibrate on all roads at all speeds. After 5 trips to the shop, 3 failed fixes, a service manager that acknowledged the problem and said he had a friend with the same problem, 4 calls to GM, GM said "Its normal, theres nothing more we can do". Its not normal to feel like every road is a gravel road. And if you search the internet, youll find 1000s of others reporting this same problem. GM refused to do anything further, so I took a little loss and traded for a Dodge Ram 1500. Couldnt be happier. GM has a big problem here, doesnt know a solution, and is in complete damage control at this point.

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  Did the editors even drive this car? - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Exodus I - August 18 - 12:15 am

  This car is exceptional. I have owned a lot of cars in my life, including a 1968 Camaro, which is the only one that compares to this vehicle in performance. This car has literally saved my lie on several occasions. I dont drive a high performance vehicle to show off, Phoenix roads are dangerous. When I tell my car to do something, I expect an instant result. On at least three occasions, spit second performance has avoided serious accidents. She is asthetically appealing as well. She always turns heads, a nice bonus. She leaks a little in a car wash and the stereo needs upgrade. Everything else is amazing. I am giving this to my son and getting the 2009 when available!

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  2009 2500 HD Diesel 4x4 - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Randy - August 17 - 11:13 pm

  Pulling power is awesome and driving it makes you feel young and sporty. Fuel it about 20-22 mpg at 72 mph and around 18 around town with 3:73 gears. I get a lot of compliments on looks and size of the Z71. Paint quality is much better than the ford I traded in.