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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  Silver Malibu LS - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By rhonda - December 4 - 1:42 pm

  Ive enjoyed my Malibu LS. The only problems Ive been having lately are starting and staying charged up. And the radiator seems to run hot. But other than that I have enjoyed my vehicle. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  Best Truck Ever - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Bob - December 4 - 2:56 am

  I love the styling but most of all I like the ride and handling.I bought a basic truck with 4.8 liter engine and it is powerful,drives smoothly,has great acceleration and gets exactly the fuel economy advertised. I have always been a Chevy fan but not a Chevy truck fan until now. The 17" tires look a little small in those huge wheel wells but I can always upgrade to 18" or even 20" wheels down the road. The paint job could easily be mistaken for a custom paint job. I love everything about this truck but of course Id like better fuel economy.

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  Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By josh1usa - December 3 - 10:39 pm

  I was just hit by a Honda Odyssey that ran a red light. My truck weathered the blow pretty well considering I was not moving and the other car was going about 45 mph. My daughter and I walked away from the wreck with no injuried and the truck remained remarkably intact with the excepton of the hubcaps that were shattered, and the rear axle was twisted (the other car hit me directly in the rear tires). I loved that truck, I miss it, and plan on getting another one.

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  Great! - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By oso216 - December 3 - 8:46 pm

  I need more room for my family and TrailBlazer had it. The comfort, safety, and all above. Great truck to drive. Feels good to sit up high and have a smooth ride. Its a great SUV!

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By dave - December 3 - 7:59 pm

  It is a fuel sipping truck. It is not as heavy duty as the big trucks like the Tundra, but for the money it gets the job done for towing and picking up things when moving. I get a combined 20mpg.

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  Chevy still #1 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ernie - December 3 - 6:16 pm

  Purchased in Feb of 2004 and used for service vehicle until retirement. Had truck recalled for bad instrument panel but our fantastic dealer took care of it. Took it on vacation to CO, WY, and SD. Street driving gets 18MPG and interstate at 75 - 80 MPH gets 22 to 23 MPG. My 9th new GM product since 1968. I drive them 135,000 to 180,000 and have never had to replace brakes. Luv my Silverado.

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  Load-up chezzy - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By yourconfessions - December 3 - 3:26 pm

  I enjoy my Avalanche. I like the versitility and the only 2 things Id change are the 3 slide panel leak and are not covered under any warranty although the sales people say they are. And the tail gate Id make one thats double doored opens right and left. The drop gate is so traditional in trucks. Lets expand Chevys horizons.

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  Chevrolet Malibu Base - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sabrina Gainey - December 3 - 8:01 am

  I purchased my vehicle used. I have only had this vehicle for 3 months and I have already experienced problems with the steering. When I am making a left turn the car makes a very disturbing noise. I have also had problems when starting the car. It makes a noise as if the battery is dead.

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  Dont Buy It! - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By fire44 - December 2 - 2:22 pm

  Unless you have a large family and you intend to tow more than the typical mini-van will allow, dont buy one. With just 35,000 mi. Im already having mechanical problems. Weve replaced the ignition, "U" joint and the water pump. There is something else that is making noise under the hood that I havent tracked down yet and the front end will need work in the very near future. It gets poor fuel economy when compared to other mini-vans and really is not a comfortable vehicle to drive.

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  Good offroad vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jack - December 2 - 12:12 pm

  Trips include rough offroad and long distance events. Performed well. Problems with clunky second gear shift after four wheel driving. Also, cruise control fails after. Reason unknown but re-enters after battery disconnect for 30 min.