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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  Very disappointed - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By sweteach - November 21 - 9:06 am

  This is the third Chevrolet minivan we have owned. Unfortunately it has proved very disappointing. The Uplander has had numerous problems. The windsheild seal was bad, power sliding door problems, alternator problems, suspension problems, rotors replaced. There are too many too mention. I have lost confidence in this brand. It looks nice, but the aggravation of all the problems makes it hard to like.

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  No oil pressure when driven 30 miles - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By paul - November 21 - 8:26 am

  I have a 2004 3500 4 wheel drive ex cab. I like the truck very much. I have had it about 1 year now. I have a problem and no will answer without charging me for the answer or suggestions. It is a 6.6 diesel the oil pressure is about 70 pounds when I start it up drive about 30 miles it goes to zero but no engine noise. It has 86,000 miles on it Paul, thanks for listening to me

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  True Sub-compact - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Sirrep - November 20 - 8:35 pm

  Rover, Chevette, Hornet, Fiat 600, Valnent, Mustang, I have ridden in all of them. This Aveo gives the best, most quiet drive in years. Best bang for the buck, especially if it is on sale at about $9k at the dealer.

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  Great Car- Reliability, Mileage, and Looks - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By treavey - November 20 - 1:54 pm

  This is a really great car that has never given me any trouble. Routine maintenance is all you will ever need. And I usually get about 20 MPG in- town. Plus, its very stylish and looks great!

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  Still my girl - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By J-Man - November 20 - 2:01 am

  My mother bought this 1996 used white 3800 V6 model w/4-speed auto and ABS in 1998, and then gave it to me when I graduated high school in 2000. Since then, Ive been taking it all over the NY-NJ region, customizing it with high performance exhaust, lighting, and intake mods. It now has "only" 76,000 miles, and with a little TLC and regular maintenance still runs with the best of them, and definitely gets looks from guys and girls of all ages. Also my girls favorite of the 3 cars I owned concurrently over the past 3 yrs, so that counts for something.

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  Super Quiet Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chesterwlth - November 19 - 11:30 pm

  The coupe is a super quiet and smooth ride with suprising power for the 2.2L engine. Very good on gas.

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  Best Truck I Ever had - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By sean - November 19 - 9:09 pm

  I just feel so sure when I am driving it that it is going to get me where I am going

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  My 03 Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JR - November 19 - 11:47 am

  Good truck for the money. Very reliable straight 6 but could use a little bit more "pep". Im thinking about installing a K&N Air Intake Kit to get those few extra horses and it will also give better gas mileage.

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  My Wonderful HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Ruth Petersen - November 18 - 8:30 pm

  I love the design of this car. Ive gone from a Venture Mini-Van to this and find it was an easy transition. The high seat enables me to easily enter and exit the car with trying to haul myself off the floor of the car. It zips around, and gets into little spaces with ease. There is plenty of room for many items and large items with the fold down seat. I havent lost much compared to the mini-van. The back end has a shelf that you can put up and place your shopping items under and they will not be seen by the passer-by. I used this feature during my Christmas shopping and just loved it. I just love my new little HHR!

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  Poor replacement for a 94 Dodge - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By aei1958 - November 18 - 6:36 pm

  I knew within the first 100 miles driving this truck I had made a poor choice. It is so under powered. It supposed to be 352 HP and 380 lb ft torque. There is no way. Constantly shifts up and down to maintain highway speeds. Any slight grade will send the 6 speed auto to 4th and a little steeper grade will put it in 3rd.This is with no load, just the 12 flatbed. This truck cannot handle a good load.My old 94 Dodge with a 190,000 miles on it will wear this truck out. Trucks pulling real loads pass me on the interstate going up hills and I am empty. First real load I tried pulling the transmission starting slipping. Poor excuse for a truck.