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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  So Far So Good - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chris - April 9 - 6:06 am

  I havent had any problems yet knock on wood. I had to replace all 4 brake rotors and pads is all. Good luck to the rest of you.

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  Generally happy with the Silverado - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By soulignymk - April 9 - 5:40 am

  I love the performance of this truck and its a pleasure driving on long trips. It pulls my 37 Carriage 5th wheel effortlessly and still gets 14 mpg while towing.

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  So Sorry Now - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By So Sad - April 8 - 7:44 pm

  I purchased my 1999 Malibu used. It was a toss up between a Malibu and an Alero. I should have gone with the Alero. The first three years were great. These last three years have been nothing but repair after repair. I have maxed out credit cards and my Malibu is still not fixed. It has been sitting in my garage since September of 2007. I dont dare drive it. I can not be guaranteed that it will start or that it will not stall while I am driving, as it has done on a number of occasions. I cant afford to have my mechanic try to fix what is wrong, even though it should be fixed by now after all the money he has charged me. He cant figure it out either.

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  2005 Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Brad Wilson - April 8 - 1:13 pm

  This vehicles performance is much less than I expected. Gas mileage is nothing to brag about. The four wheel drive buttons are poorly designed in there location. The engine noise is terrible. And because of being unable to keep the front end lined-up, your tires only last around 15,000 miles. I will never again purchase a small Chevy pickup.

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  Pure Pleasure. - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By kaetc81 - April 8 - 12:06 pm

  I have enjoyed driving and owning this truck. It is comfortable for trips & long commutes, handles well in traffic and is most dependable. It works well for my personal hauling needs as well, great design features make it a handsome vehicle, one I am proud to own. The Onstar feature is great, the monthly report and diagnostics are an excellent tool for maintenance.

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  not a good deal in the long run - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By horribu - April 8 - 11:26 am

  I leased a 2006 Malibu in July of 06 and have currently only put 18,000 miles on it. It has already had significant transmission problems and suspension and steering problems. The windshield leaks, the cd player broke, the interior trim was gouged by a cardboard box! I am dissappointed in every way with this car. Initially I liked the exterior styling and the price, but I truly wish I had gotten something else. Now I am stuck with this car that is not as good as used cars I drove in college until my lease is up. I recently purchased a 2nd car from Nissan that is vastly Superior in quality and was the same price

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  Rocky from the OC in California - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Rocky - April 8 - 11:18 am

  I went from a 2001 ZO6 to a 2007 coupe. The coupes ride is signifigantly smoother than the ZO6 and I recommend the coupe as a daily driver vs ZO6. The coupe is very powerful & styling cant be beat. I receive a lot of turned heads & waives from other Vette drivers. Gasoline mileage is good not great, lots of cargo space but interior fit & finish lacking. Has been in and out of the shop for warranty issues cigarette lighter not working - glove box open/close latch keeps breaking - cheap plastic. Removable top, although light in weight for its size, needs two people to safely taking on-off. As a previous owner of a ZO6 Id opt for the coupe every time as ZO6 is designed for racing.

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  expensive repairs - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By young - April 8 - 11:12 am

  My tracker does have 112,000 miles. It is in the shop again today for its second rebuilt alternator. looking over since bought put about 3,000. in repairs. Brakes have been done four times, including roters. Also both rear brake springs broke and replaced. Belts broken & replaced and had to bypass A/C when broke due to astronomical price to replace. Last week power steering belt broken & replaced. Although it is still limping along, dont see much trade in value left.

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  Never buy another GM product - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sandy - April 8 - 9:34 am

  We owned 2005 Impala loved the car. No trouble with it. Bought a 2007, was told it was a program car, later found it was titled to a rental car company. Since we bought it, we have had it in the shop 3 times for steering. The last time, they had to replace the gear box and pump. It has 35,000 miles so is barely under warranty. Apparently the steering cannot be fixed. Still steers okay sometimes, not okay others. Intermittently radio has no sound, you can turn station selector and change volume control. Service dept. cant duplicate. The heater has also done this, but not for the same length of time. Gas mileage is horrible and gets worse with each fill up. Down to 22 mpg.

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  Pleasantly surprised - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Skihawk - April 8 - 8:42 am

  I just bought this vehicle. It was a lease car and I was hesitant to buy it but my wife has been wanting a new car and I got a good deal on it. We immediately took a 600 mile trip in it and I was pleasantly surprised. The fuel economy was pretty good at 27.6 mpg on the road. The ride was nice and visibility was good. Havent had any issues yet.