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:

• 

  Excellent SUV - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By N Virginia - October 17 - 6:01 am

  A wonderful, comfortable, safe vehicle. We have found this TrailBlazer to be very sure footed on slick roads. All wheel drive is very easy to use with a flick of a switch or just leave in "Auto". The running gear is solid and dependable. Unlike other SUVs from Asia, you can actually fill the seats and not exceed the maximum gross weight. This TrailBlazer is very quiet on the road. At 65 miles per hour, you can whisper to the person next to you. We have never had a problem with our TrailBlazers as this is our second!

• 

  Corvette - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Colin - October 17 - 2:57 am

  This car has been my dream car for years. This Corvette still today blows most of every thing off the road. And it can be an everyday driver, without the hassle of keeping it revved up to run.

• 

  One Major Complaint - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Aching Back - October 16 - 7:15 pm

  I purchased a 2006 TrailBlazer LT three days ago, and Im very disappointed. When I took it for a test drive, I tried to find a comfortable position for the drivers seat, but could not. Since it has the 8-way adjustment, I figured it was me, not the seat. I was wrong. Look around the net and youll find numerous complaints about the hard/uncomfortable drivers seat. The design is terrible. The seat feels like you are sitting on a rolling pin, and the lumbar adjustment is another rolling pin that still protrudes too much, even when "deflated". The frustrating part is that I like everything about the rest of the TrailBlazer (V8, Bose, XM, OnStar,etc.). The 8 way seat causes back pain.

• 

  Just what I expected - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By tator - October 16 - 11:52 am

  I havent had the problems other S-10 owners claim to have had. Other than a leaky valve cover gasket and a warped brake rotor ( both repaired under warranty, even though my warranty was expired when I had the leaking gasket) Ive had no problems. I like the trucks gas mileage, as I average about 26 MPG. Overall Im happy with my truck. It is exactly what I expected.

• 

  Fun in the Sun - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Elliethom - October 16 - 11:50 am

  Love this car! Have owned it 3 weeks now. Weve taken 2 day trips in FL and averaged 32.3 MPG! In town average is 29 MPG. Compfy, quiet ride, room enough for all our stuff,& everyone crowds around to ooh and aah over it. Even my 80 year old parents can get in and out without help and our 29 yr old son is drooling over it. Cool styling, comfort, quiet, roomy, versitile, and good gas mileage. We got lots of options which really enhance the experience. Sunroof, OnStar, satellite radio, running board etc. Never thought Id want all that, but now I cant imagine not having them. You do have to use 91 octane gas which we achieve by alternating fill-ups at the 1/2 full point w/mid and high test.

• 

  Americas best for a reason - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By one4fun94566 - October 15 - 5:56 pm

  Picked-up at the factory and drove Route 66 back to California via Mississippi a week BEFORE the big blow! WOW! What a car, 3300miles in 9 days. No problems, great comfort, surprisingly good MPG, and NO tickets! Cabin noise is well less than a 737 and seating is far better...and its just about as fast. The exterior design is silky.

• 

  2003 ZR2 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By bdock17 - October 15 - 5:25 pm

  The ZR2 package has got to be the best available option yet on the S10. The heavier drive train, suspension, lift kit, and bigger tires has got to make one of the best stock off road trucks with the best bang for the buck

• 

  Silver Streak - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By SilverStreak - October 15 - 9:02 am

  Biggest complaints: Road noise in the cabin. Also miss the temp/direction mirror like in my TrailBlazer LXT. My first sportcar and its a head turner. Can be a nice docile little putt putt going to the grocery store, but stand on the pedal and youre rocking at 85 without a thought. Love the top, but I do have a paint wear spot on the passenger side.

• 

  SAD ITS FOR SALE - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MONTE - October 14 - 2:00 am

  PURCHASED AT 30K ON THE CLOCK AND NOW TICKING 113K NEVER HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR ANY REPAIRS ONLY ROUTINE MAINTANANCE DONE BY MYSELF 1 SET OF TIRES, FRONT BREAKS,5000 MILE OIL CHANGES, 87 OCTANE FUEL,& 19 MPG YOU CANT GO WRONG,THIS CAR WAS BRACKET RACING 2002 AT RT 66 JOLIET IT WAS NOT VERY CONSISTANT GOT FASTER WHEN IT WAS HUMID BUT NOW IT MUST BE SOLD TO MAKE ROOM FOR 1937 CHEVY COUPE AND BABY SURE WILL MISS THIS CAR

• 

  Great Monte - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By B.Mooney - October 14 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned this Monte for over 4 years, the only flaw so far was the heater element in the drivers seat stopped working. Very impressed with the comfort and reliabity.