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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  Its Alright - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Timon - July 6 - 8:11 pm

  At first glance this car caught my attention. Sporty inexpensive and fuel economic! This car drives smooth. Power is OK. Exterior is OK as well but overall this car was a great purchase. And yes the cup holders were a bad idea!

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  Better than some say - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By connin - July 6 - 7:55 pm

  I bought a 2005 Chevy Cobalt SS supercharged and so far I think it is a good car. I have fun driving it. There is a lot of power up dates that you can buy for them, and it gets better gas mileage than my last car. More power than Cooper

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  OK - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By NIKKI - July 6 - 7:50 pm

  We bought our second GM SUV this year it seems to be a nice vehicle. It delivers a very comfortable ride. And fuel economy well, it is an SUV. Not so great. It does tow well. We tow a 21 foot boat and it handles well. Overall I would buy another TrailBlazer.

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  Whats Not to Like! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dennis - July 6 - 7:21 pm

  Seriously, whats not to like about the Chevy Cobalt? Having long been a GM fan, Ive never really considered buying a compact GM vehicle. I always figured I would have to buy an import to get the quality and value that I desired to add to my fleet of full-sized GMs. Well, my 07 Cobalt has proven to me that GM can make a good, reliable compact car. Im not a small guy (62" and 245#) and this car fits me like a glove. The seats are supportive and there is more than enough leg room. I can easily keep up with my sons 07 Scion TC, and get WAY better fuel economy when doing so. Overall, this car cant be beat if you are looking for solid, economical transportation.

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  Pretty Cool - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cynt - July 6 - 6:25 pm

  Before I got this car I had a 2000 Chevy Prism that was amazing. So to compare the two has its ups and downs. The Prism got way better gas mileage. With the Cobalt it probably get about 25-29 MPG where before I was getting at least 35MPG. Its really stylish and I love the MP3 jack. Getting on the highway is great because it doesnt take long to get up to speed. I didnt get power locks or window and thats the biggest regret. It stinks to have to reach over and unlock doors and manually roll down windows. Wish the radio would crank up a little louder also. I love the digital display for the information center. However I wish OnStar and ABS was a standard. Overall pretty good and fun to drive!!

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  Good Car - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dana Ripley - July 6 - 1:52 pm

  I thought someone should write a review that was not based on an immediate car malfunction situation. I have had this 01 Impala with 3.4 for almost three years. I have put 70,000 miles on it. The intake manifold gaskets had to be replaced at about 65,000 $600 (a well known problem by now), the coolant level sensor has gone twice at $55 each, it had the steering shaft issue under warranty and that is it. I have not had to change the plugs yet at 101,000, nor a single light bulb, no oil usage, factory tires went 95,000 miles and the gas mileage is excellent (22C -34 R). I drive it on the interstate a lot. It makes me money at the standard IRS reimbursement rate. I would buy another.

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  Solid car for the money - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Granite - July 6 - 12:26 pm

  My first V6. Great pickup for the highway or accelerating. Will coast at 40-45 no problem. Fuel economy could be better, but it stays very consistent 25-29MPG city or highway, which isnt bad for a 10yr old V6. MPG will start to drop if low on oil or coolant, but top them off and it picks right back up. Very comfortable interior, a 3-hour drive doesnt feel like it in this car. Heat and A/C work fantastic. No problems in the coldest winter or hottest summer.

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  Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mid Tennessee - July 6 - 12:23 pm

  Very roomy, love the seat electric heaters, Trunk is probably the largest for mid size vehicles. We bought ours LOADED, including Satellite radio and Onstar. This car is the BEST value for the money. We have put 26,000 miles on it in 7 months, and have enjoyed every mile.

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  Oh Yeah! - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By DC Vette Lover - July 6 - 12:22 pm

  This is my 5th Vette. The 08 LS3 is so smooth. The interior upgrades were overdue and really enhance the overall quality of the car. The 6 speed auto works well for high traffic cities while the paddles allow for manual pleasures when desired. When comparing my Vette to my brothers Cobra Mustang, I really appreciate the refined cockpit and nicely placed shifter, interior controls, and the overall feel and control of a 400+hp monster. If you can afford one you would be crazy not to buy one.

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  My husband goes a lot - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By amanda - July 6 - 11:26 am

  This car has really give us the room and quality he says you can only expect in a Chevy. Leg room in the back seat is excellent. Hes an insurance claims adjuster and the cargo area has on the space he will need for the mounds of paperwork and file systems he has. And vacations are easy to load up for in this car. I guess you can tell my favorite feature is the room.