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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  This truck is really bad - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Joe Brown - January 14 - 1:23 am

  This truck, has had more problems than I can count. It uses oil,It rattles like a kids toy, The transmission has a shutter on take-off when pulling a load. This all has been topped off with GMS pitiful excuse of service. Next time you talk to a salesman ask him what G.M,s policy is on oil usage .After you pick yourself up ask him did he really say 1 qt. for every 1000 miles ! Thats no typo it;s 1 qt. for every 1000 miles.

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  Beware GM Gas Engines! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By 501 - January 13 - 10:00 am

  At 10k miles my truck started knocking. Now at 25k it knocks all the time. Complained to dealer and GM, they extended engine warranty to 5 years/100k miles. What good is a truck that cost $30k that I have to get rid of in 5 years if it doesnt blow before hand? This is from a 40 year GM loyalist and shareholder. Search "piston slap" on the internet for all the sorry details.

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  worst truck ever - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dennisha - January 9 - 11:46 pm

  chevy should have never put a v-6 in a full size truck its has no power and crappy gas milage and the should feel horrible for selling this truck thought it would be a good buy since i had a s10 with the same motor but this truck is a huge disappointment

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  Klunk Bump Slosh Bang Slam - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Paul - January 6 - 5:43 pm

  I decided to give GM one more chance as well and like review I read on a similar GMC recently. GM has forgotten who they are building trucks for, I am 6 ft and 230 lb, the seats are horrible soft sinking material after 1k miles. The drive train clunks at stop, the fuel tank sloshes, thumps, hard downshifting after driving for awhile. brake squeal, there more slams, bangs, thumps, clunks sloshes squeals on this truck, not to mention too low a roof line and too low a windshield. What a piece of crap

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  Why did I buy this car? - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Elaine - January 4 - 8:41 pm

  When I bought my Trailblazer I was excited because I had a new SUV. But that feeling was short lived. After 3.5 years driving this car I am tired of the wind noise, the rough ride, the body roll, the seat belts, and the poorly designed seats. I have also had a number of mechanical problems with my SUV and at least 7 recalls. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone who wants good gas mileage or a comfortable ride. It does have alot of cargo capasity which has come in handy with large loads. It can also easily haul a horse trailer.

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  The most unreliable vehicle... - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By whitt - January 3 - 9:28 pm

  I have owned many General Motors vehicles in the past and have had better than average results. I purchased the Suburban for the seating capacity and the towing capability. It is a very comfortable vehicle and pulls very well. Thats the good part. To make a long story short, this truck has been in the shop 12 times in less than 2 years for various items. Some examples are 3x for replacment of steering linkage, 4x for air conditioner repair, and the latest (for which GM will lose my lifetime business) the rearend differential went out. For those not familiar with trucks, this is a part that just doesnt break. (The dealer even said so) Still GM refused to fix. Im now looking at Nissan.

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  Will never go back to Chevy after this... - 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport
  By amyjv8 - December 29 - 11:45 pm

  My car easily reaches a 5-6 RPM when accelerating. - And it would not even beat a snail in a race. I have an average MPG of 21, and I drive about 90% interstate. I have brought the vehicle into dealerships for inspection more than once but they say nothing is wrong. It shifts hard, it idles hard, and it sounds like a 1992 vehicle - when it is really a 2012. This was my third Chevrolet vehicle and I can say, due to this experience, I will never own another one. STAY AWAY!

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  Money Pit - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Chubbs - December 28 - 12:22 am

  Bought w/45K, average 10K per year. Awful mileage, constant laying out money. Needed FWD bearings right after buying it. Needed brakes. Now, its a money pit - both seat levers broke (white metal), needs e-brake, fuel injectors leak, 4WD Hi wont engage, leaks antifreeze (manifold gasket)

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  What a fool am I - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By www.waxitup.com - December 26 - 1:09 am

  It has a 5 cylinder engine. The best mileage to date is 16.1 on pure interstate driving at 65 miles per hour. The 19.5 gallon gas tank leaves me wondering Why? With only a 300 mile driving range I am constantly having to visit the Gas Station.The exterior is very eye catching but here begins the lack of quality. The hood has provisions for insulation but it is missing and not offered. The doors leak wind noise and sometimes even water. Hoses, cables and tubes routed ender the truck are installed with no attention to detail and bang against the under side. The inner fender wells lack fasteners and rattle. The endless use of bare plastic in the interior also adds to rattles.

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  Stay Away from Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By edhall20 - December 23 - 1:59 pm

  Bought my 4WD 2000 LS Blazer brand new, and didnt have any problems until about 25,000 miles. Now it seems like its falling apart. Just got a quote for $2400 to fix the door hindges and pins, replace a leaking oil line, and fix the ball joint on all the tires. Apparently the tires were in danger of falling off!! This seems ridiculous for a 4 year old car with only 30,000 miles on it. Oh yeah forgot to mention that it needed a whole new computer system (whatever that is), and needs a new sending unit for the gas tank. Thats right, we have no idea how much gas is left in it. Im now thinking of trading it in.