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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  Piece of junk - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By st2000 - February 26 - 9:07 am

  Still cannot understand how I got this vehicle. Noisy, doesnt keep the road, the interior is just like they were making cars in late 80s. It has only 10,000 on it, but have already fixed it 5 times. The best feature is to turn wipers on. Ive been cursing the designers mother since I tried to turn wipers first time. That was my last American car.

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  American made - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By coleton lollis - February 25 - 12:38 pm

  This is a great car. An amazing ride. One of the best Vettes yet. The sleek interior design and ultimate performance makes it one of the best

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  great - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By deedee - February 25 - 2:00 am

  love my truck , it the one and only i drive 24\7

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  great reflections - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By *Cat* - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This is first car I have owned in long time, previously drove SUV or pickups. So far I am loving this car. Only reason not a full 10.0, havent had it long enough to rate the reliability, but dont foresee any problems there. When driving thru town, and checking out reflection in store front windows, this car looks ssweet!

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  Good Buy - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kase400 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had it for a half of a year and have been very happy with it.

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  Some pros and cons - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tmatt - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Gas mileage poor, 16-18 hwy. Expected better from I-6. Wind noise excessive. Engine power good if you get it spinning, poor on low end. Geared too high in overdrive; engine turning below power band, even at 70-75 MPH; poor response, frequent downshifts on slight grade. I mostly drive in "3" below 75, much better response. Might get 4.10 axle next time. On plus side, exterior styling nice, if somewhat plain in LS trim. Interior OK, comfortable, but again pretty plain in LS. Reliability 100% so far (7500 mi). Nice ride, perfect size. Standard stereo, A/C, etc all fine. Despite faults, very good value after rebates.

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  Love it so far! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Studakrn - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought my Trial Blazer a month ago, and I am totally happy with it. Its quiet, the ride is great and the power is outstanding. Have onstar, and its totally cool. Test drove several other SUVs and found this to be the most confortable and attractive.

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  Awesome Truck - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Fan - February 25 - 1:27 am

  Being 68" its the only vehicle I can drive 15 hrs and still be able to walk afterwards. Added K&N intake and comp cams components to engine great edition. Gets close to 18 around town and 20 on freeway. Planning on replacing brakes with aftermarket disks. Found Optima battery to solve charging problem and genuine AC Delco alternator, havent had a problem since. Keep fuel above quarter tank and fuel pump lasts a long time. Recently was in a horrible wreck where vehicle was totalled, no passengers were injured, vehicle did everything it was supposed to. Love it so much am going to buy it back and do a frame up rebuild. Recommend one to anyone looking for used SUV just keep up on maintence

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  Ford Lover buys a Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Happy_Driver - February 24 - 9:51 pm

  Been driving Fords all my life, purchased this 2004 in 12/06 with 90k miles. Wow GM you did it this time. What a great truck. Fun to drive, tight as the day it was made. Put a sno way plow on it. Great truck! Sorry no more Fords for me!

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  Dream Come True - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By kaosbig - February 24 - 7:48 pm

  I love this car! Always wanted one, bought this one and it is a great car to drive. I have had some problems with it, mainly battery related, due to long winter storage. If you want a sports car, look no further, this is it! Great looks and performance, great mileage, when you factor in the performance. The seats are very comfortable too. And, I like the interior, many bash it, but I think it is great!