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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  2005 Chevy Crew Cab Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Rob2383 - August 13 - 6:36 am

  Brand new, but so far so good. Third Chevy Ive owned, and the best one yet. If your looking for an off-road truck, this one will take you where you want to go.

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  R.I.P. - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Stef B - August 13 - 2:17 am

  My Cavilier was the first car I ever owned and I loved it. It looked great, was comfortable, and was fun to drive. The only problems I ever had with it were your basic wear and tear fix ups, considering it did have a few miles on it when I bought it. Other then that it was a great car. Ive read on the internet that Caviliers are considered "death traps" but Id have to disagree. I was in a severe accident in mine and that car saved me and my friends who were with me when the wreck happened. Id consider these cars to be very safe and reliable, great for a kids first car. It would have lasted me a long time if my wreck hadnt happened.

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  Great for the price - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By GregNLisa - August 12 - 9:33 pm

  My wife and I bought this car for her commute 40 miles/day. So far, excellent value. Paid $10k for used 07 LT Coupe/Automatic with air, cruise, tilt, pwr. windows, locks, CD player, etc. 26,000 miles. Good mileage, 35 consistantly on highway, 28-30 around town. Very quiet inside, almost no wind or road noise. 100k mile engine/transmission warranty nice plus. Considered a Civic or Corolla, but nothing this new with a decent warranty could touch the price. Would of had to buy a 5 year old Civic or Corolla to get to our $10k budget.

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  Love it so far - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Steve - August 12 - 8:50 pm

  I love the way it looks, drives and performs. Pioneer speaker system is fabulous. On the down side, sunroof doesnt seem to fit too snug, there is no cancel button for the cruise control, and the built in cell phone is not blue tooth enabled, so I have to buy their minutes at .35c apiece and use a different phone number.

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  Would not suggest this car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jackie91802 - August 12 - 2:35 pm

  My car was great for the first couple years but all has gone down hill from there. ABS light continues to come on even after maintenance, all 4 power windows had to be replaced, pick-up is terrible, transmission is close to going, engine misfired after 45k miles, the a/c and heat does not work unless you put it on full blast, and now surprise surprise there is an electrical problem which doesnt allow me to use my left turn signal (real safe) - Im getting rid of this car as soon as next week, never buying a GM again

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  08 Vette - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dirk Miller - August 12 - 2:01 am

  Driving either on the track or milk runs to Safeway is really enjoyable. Magnetic shocks energized for comfort or tighter sport ride is the way to go for me. No wonder the ZR1 is using similiar technology. Gas mileage has a wide range from 13 in town to truly over 3l mpg on the freeways.

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  GM almost lost me - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chris in SOCal - August 12 - 12:59 am

  Love this SUV. Cant say enough. So comfortable, power is ok. The look is top notch. Great family car if you have less than 3 kids. I would recommend this over the Expedition or Durango any day!

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  Decent Car - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tom G - August 11 - 5:35 pm

  I bought this vehicle used with 49K miles. Within the first year it was in the shop for 3 different fuel system problems. After that point, it became a reliable vehicle, with only minor issues. It is relatively comfortable, drives nicely and gets decent mileage. Compared to other vehicles, repairs and service work are inexpensive. It is a plain, dowdy car, but it serves its purpose.

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  Not good - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Amy - August 11 - 3:29 pm

  I have had my Uplander for 2.5 years and I have had the worst experience. The service department has had to replace the power steering shaft and steering column in it 2 times now and the sliding doors havent worked for quite some time. Its no wonder GM doesnt make this vehicle anymore. I feel it is a safety hazard. I dont recommend this vehicle.

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  Nice Little Truck - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By ChevySS - August 11 - 3:28 pm

  Ive had this truck for a long time and had very few problems. Not to long ago I had to put a fuel pump and a radiator in it. Thats not bad for 185000 miles. Runs like new. I have the 4.3 V6 and it makes pretty good power. Also looks good. Many aftermarket parts are out for it. I have aftermarket wheels on mine and it looks great. Its a great little truck.