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:

• 

  A big improvement for Chevy - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By D Vera - September 13 - 4:16 pm

  Overall, my Malibu LS is a great car. I just drove it from New England to New Orleans with no problems reported. The Malibu gets great highway mileage (30 mpg at 75 mph) but is dismal in the city. In normal city traffic with stop and go congestion, I am averaging only 18 mpg, a downright terrible number for a new midsize sedan. If you are planning on buying a Malibu LS mainly for the city, I recommend you test drive one first to see the mileage. Pickup on the highway is poor (especially when the vehicle is packed) but OK for normal driving. Just dont try to pass trucks on the interstate. Besides the city mileage and pickup, my only other complaint is the poor radio reception.

• 

  1500 W/T - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By F5Tiger2 - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Great truck thats fun to drive and enough horsepower to muscle out of most anything. Even the work truck interior is better than most competitor midrange models.

• 

  I dunno - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By wabbit - September 11 - 3:00 pm

  I just love my HHR and feel good that I got a lot of bang for my buck! I spent a month deciding between HHR and Vibe (similar crossover vehicles) and option for option I got the HHR with remote start (which Vibe doesnt offer)for $2K less than the Vibe!

• 

  Grand Sport - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TJ - September 7 - 6:17 am

  A bit pricey but the 2LT does give you everything you need/want in a comfortable/capable race car. It is NOT a sports car like a miata or bmw z, this is a race car and it feels all of it.

• 

  A pretty good car - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By bamadude - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car used from Hertz car sales(it was a rental car)with 28,000 miles on it. Now the car has 65,000 miles on it. Last week the check engine light came on and I took it in to be looked at. They had to replace the intake manifold gasket, the #1 fuel injector and the #1 spark plug. All of this cost me over $700. The only other problem I have had with the car is warped front break rotors. I am not sure if I will buy another GM car. The quality has improved in the last 10 years. I do not expect a car with 65,000 on it to need the extensive work that mine just had.

• 

  Comfortable Ride - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By oneliner - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I have a Z-71 ext cab LT, and I have enjoyed everything about the truck. The ride is superb compared to Ford or Dodge. Gas mileage could be improved. (Interstate only 16mpg)

• 

  Just what the boat ordered - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By V - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Love this truck, traded in a 2000,4.3l GMC Seirra Reg Cab. Having same problem I had on GMC, drivers side mirror shake terribly at 30 mph or higher. I pull a 25oo lb boat with it, never notice its there.

• 

  Good Car - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By K358 - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Mine is actually a 1997, the first year. It currently has 103,450 miles and is doing fine. I enjoy the car, but the engine only has 155 hp because they didnt upgrad the engine until 2000. Overall, the car hasnt been bad and Ive not had the brake problems some have had. My gas mileage isnt what I would prefer, but I do drive a little fast. My mom has a 1995 Olds Cutlass 2 dr with the 3.1 V6 with 162,000 on the engine, so I am hoping for the same with the Malibu. It has been a good car and I would recommend it.

• 

  A good towing truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By joeinsanjose - August 28 - 2:00 am

  Good points: Crew cab comfortable for 5 people. Towing capability is superb. Quiet for diesel. Bad points: Alarm for "Service 4WD" go off at 1,100 miles. Limp to dealer and he resets computer. Turns out its a known software glitch. Still, I was hundreds of miles from home and it shouldnt happen to a new truck. The tranny has a temp gauge but its separate from other gauges so you have to keep looking back and forth. No huge deal but a small ergonomic detail that could be improved. Otherwise, we are very happy with it. Will let you all know the score after 10,000 miles. We are at roughly 2,000 miles now. Joe.

• 

  LT3 Chevy Silverado (Shortbed) - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Y - August 27 - 3:10 am

  We got our pickup right off the lot with 12k and it has been awesome. The only problem that we have had is it would not unlock or start and the problem was that the battery cable had came loose and became unplugged. Other than that it has been fun to have it has leather and plenty of legroom on the interior. The heated winsheild wiper fluid really works when its is frozen. The backup sensors are awesome too, it is easier to backup closer to things. Another feature is the advance track works really well when you are in gravel. We have had other Chevy pickups but and this is the best. But if you like paying $90 every other day with 14 miles to the gallon then this is the truck for you.