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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  Great First Car - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Bella - January 29 - 1:20 pm

  I bought his car brand new and I have had this car about six years now. The glove box has rattled since day one and the dash board cracked at about forty thousand miles. I will say that is a very reliable car. Always started up no matter how cold or how hot. Inexpensive to fix and because of the price had a nicer car than most of my friends. I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive, decent looking car.

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  Midnight - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cwilson179 - January 28 - 10:46 pm

  I bought my car on January 29, 2004. It has been the best car I have ever had! It is dark blue metallic. My car is 5 years old now. It still runs like new. I have taken care of my car very well. I always get compliments about how good of condition that my car is. Everyone loves the color of the car including me! The 2.2 ecotec so far is a very good engine I now have 82,000 miles on my car. I dont have any problem with the comfort with the interior of the car. I drive this car at least 40 miles per day mostly highway driving. It gets the same great gas mileage that I got the day that I got it! It gets between 30 and 32 mpg. I would not trade this car for anything.

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  Road Warrior - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By vacottonking - January 28 - 7:30 pm

  This is everything you would expect it to be. Gas mileage for this much weight and this much torque is the best in its class. We typically do 19 to 20 mpg on a road trip and have 4x4. Our son is 5 hours away at college and I would not drive anything else to see him outside of a luxury sedan. This is a traveling machine and will tow when needed.

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  I would buy again. - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By william - January 28 - 12:26 pm

  The truck has been very good. I only have replaced the battery and rear brakes. So far the motor 5.3 has plenty of power. I have added a cold air box, mass air flow sensor and a cat back exhaust. This has given it and me a real kick. Towing is of little effort. But I too have been getting those cold start knocks (lifters).the only real complaint is the brakes. Plain and simple, they stink. Please go back to rear drums. The Firestone tires were horrible. Very poor in wet conditions.

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  New Car Trouble From the Start - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Yorkie - January 28 - 11:23 am

  This car was a candidate for the lemon law. I bought this car fron newand in the first year to 18 months it had trouble starting first time in cold weather, after at least 4 visits to the garage and 2 battery changes a short on the earth lead was found. It also had a problem with the seal around the licence plate disappearing down the back, again this was repaired 5 times, taking 1 hour 30 mins each visit. To top it all off at 4 years old I was told the steering gear might be going. Needless to say I decided to sell at this point. A new car that was nothing but trouble from the start, the customer service from Chevy leaves a lot to be desired.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Agdude - January 27 - 8:12 pm

  I use the heck out of my truck. It is an 06 with 53.5k miles on it. I have the I-5 crew cab 2wd and love it. I get approx 23 mpg each tank combined, and never have had a problem with it mechanically. If you want reliability and good gas mileage then this truck is great. If you are looking for something fun to drive, I wouldnt recommend this truck. Its nice just nothing special. The lumbar support knob is weak and cracked within 3 months of owning my truck. The CD player acts funny when it plays CDs (volume adjustment lags). This truck is tough though and has lots of power. My only regret is not getting a 4x4 but was limited by price.

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  Workhorse - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sailordave - January 27 - 6:34 am

  Had mine until a truck ran a yield sign and hit my drivers side front fender. Trucks tire stopped on the hood of the car. Engine and transmission still ran but was declared totalled. No major problems with the car. Loved that I could easily reach and change the fuel filter myself without jacks or lift. Solid little car. Sure miss it especially since it was paid off in full.

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  Chevy Cav - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sunnygrl2930 - January 27 - 3:01 am

  Love the car, love the way it drives, just diappointed about the head gasket. But I bought it with more than 100k anyway. Love the gas mileage. Love driving it. Never owned a Cav before, but my next car will be a Cav, too. Two door. Love them. Love the way it looks and sits.

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  LTZ Z71 Duramax - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By CHIEF - January 26 - 7:23 pm

  I started off by driving the Dodge and Ford. Wasnt impressed. The second I sat in this thing I could tell this was a different truck. After 5 minutes of driving, I was sold. Everyone complaining about the gas mileage, its a 3/4 ton truck. What do you expect? Its not a Prius. 15-16 mpgs stock is not bad. A few cheap mods and Im pulling off 20 mpgs and better.

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  Happy Z71 owner - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By donc - January 26 - 11:26 am

  This has been a very good truck so far. The power that the 5.3 liter V8 produces is impressive. The ride for a 4X4 truck is very impressive as well. I hope to have this truck for many years to come and will definitely be a return Chevrolet Silverado buyer!