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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  jag reviewer - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By jag kid - December 25 - 2:00 am

  fun car to drive. great price for what you get

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  nice - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By shawn - December 25 - 2:00 am

  Comfort and power in an easy to drive package!

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  Love It! Love It! Love It! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rrhodes - December 25 - 2:00 am

  Wow...more than I ever imagined. So much fun to drive!!

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  Malibu Maxx is the MAXX - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dave - December 24 - 10:06 pm

  This is a great midsize vehicle. It gets good mileage and is very fun to drive. It has a fairly unigue style, so you dont look like every other vehicle on the road. The comfort features are very well thought out.

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  Going From Truck to Car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Joe - December 24 - 9:43 pm

  Coming from a guy who is used to driving a Duramax it was a big step to get a mid-sized car. But this one is unreal. The Malibu is sporty to drive, yet has plenty of room for my family of 4. I drive 200 miles a day and average 29 miles per gallon at 75 mph with criuse and the 3.6L engine. The ride is excellent and quiet. The sound system rocks and with the onstar phone I can pay more attention to the driving. The only thing I can say needs improvement is the side to side leg room could be greater, but again I am used to driving a crew cab. Overall a great car. I think our company is making this one the standard.

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  08 Equinox LS 4dr - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By haley1000 - December 24 - 7:20 pm

  This is my first SUV. Coming from a Mustang GT boss to this is a like a different world It is very easy to drive and doesnt even feel like your driving a small SUV. Overall it is a decent ride for the price.

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  3 Months in Colorado in North Carolina - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dale - December 24 - 2:50 pm

  After 3 months, I am very happy with my new Colorado. I purchased the ext cab model with 4 cyl engine, RWD, and auto trans. I use it for commuting (mix of country and city roads) and for light hauling. Most of the time, I am alone in the truck. For the way I use the truck, it works very well. Its economical (19-20 mpg). It has enough room to carry my stuff, and my family can ride along when they need to. The truck is comfortable and very well equipped for what I paid ($16K). The only problem Ive had is a loose spot in the upholstery, which was fixed under warranty. It may not be exciting or refined. But, if youre looking for an economical, reliable everyday truck, this is a good one.

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  The longer I have it the more I like it! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By BH - December 24 - 2:00 am

  When looking at the Cruze I was somewhat impressed. However; the longer I have it the more I am impressed. The car is great! The attributes I appreciate most are: low/no noise-very quiet, smooth driving, fun to drive and for the tall in size, it has more leg room than most large cars. This is one of the first cars I have owned that I have more leg room than needed. Great American built car - try it.

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  Great Truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rnd - December 24 - 2:00 am

  First off I will say I only buy GM vehicles. I bought this off lease loaded with every single option in good as new condition for just under $25k with 29k miles on it. I traded in my 2003 silverado for this one. This is hands down the nicest vehicle I have ever owned. Very comfortable and quiet ride , beautiful interior , pretty good gas mileage and tons of power from the 5.3 v8. The only problem I have is with the exterior design. While the truck looks great it is a little lower in the front which makes going through those snow banks a little difficult. I dont want to crack the plastic in the front. My 2003 had better ground clearance. Great truck for the money..

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  Poor Quality - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By davir - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased my new Silverado and the 1st time on the highway it sounded like the rear passenger door was partially open. The door was closed, but lots of road noise can be heard inside the cab. Took the vehicle back to the dealership and was told "all trucks sound like that" and there is nothing GM can do about it. Dealer did agree that my truck had the loudest interior noise he had ever heard. The 1st time I drove down a country road a squeak developed in the dash and the rear bumper license plate light fell out of its holder. This vehicle has 3000 miles (99% highway miles) and is only 2 months old. If GM had a 60 day return policy, I would take it back tomorrow & pay for the mileage used.