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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  one great car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By finallygotone - October 9 - 11:09 am

  After changeing the rear rotors and getting the DEXCOOL out of it, I have only one complaint, all the jaums look like they were painted in an old garage, dull as they can be!

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  fun to drive - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By alan olsen - October 9 - 10:00 am

  the car turns a lot of heads.whether it be people in the street or in other cars,they have to take a second look.

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  malibu maxx - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Letitia Simmet - October 9 - 10:00 am

  This is a very peppy car with the 3.5L 6 cycle engine, you step on the gas and it means business. Comfortable driving with all the buttons at your fingertips.

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  A fine machine - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Keith Shealy - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle after a under the influence driver totaled my Blazer. I was looking for a huge vehicle such as a Suburban but have always prefered a truck. I have been extremely pleased with the power (enough to pull our camper and equipment with power to spare). My wife finds this vehicle so comfortable to ride in she always falls asleep in the passenger seat when I am driving. I would have to say that I am a very, very satified customer.

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  Better Look Closely - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By taw - October 9 - 10:00 am

  The ride is good, the 6-cyl has power and quickness, even in the mountains, and I have found it to handle well. There is only one usefull cup holder in the front. The cup holders in back are awkward, and cannot be used with a third person in the seat, or with any cargo. There is almost no storage behind the third seat. When the third seat is in the down position you do not have a nice smooth storage area as in the normal Blazer. Gas mileage is 14 and 19---at $ 1.75/ gal that is not good. In addition, I have been back for repairs 4 times in three months, all covered under warranty---but...

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  Everything but mileage - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By fisherman - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Drives good,good visibility, confortable, no too high so runing boards are not needed. I bought it to pull my bass boat and drive to work. I pull my 18 bass boat with no problems. Power is great and no spinning pulling out of the ramp like my chevy c1500 two wheel drive pickup did. I dont even have to put it in 4 wheel drive. Gas millage sucks, two trips to the lake during a tank of gas and millage drops to 14 mpg. If I dont pull my boat I will get 17-18.

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  TRANSMISSION TROUBLE - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TERRY - October 9 - 10:00 am

  I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE WITH THIS TRUCK SINCE I PURCHASED IT FROM LINDSAY CHEVY,DUMFRIES VA. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 25 OF THE FIRST 30 DAYS THAT I OWNED IT. TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG, SO THEY PUT IN A NEW TRANNY. BEEN BACK SEVERAL TIMES WITH IT. SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. SO THEY HAVE IT NOW MAYBE A NEW TRANNY AGAIN. SO GOOD LUCK

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  price value of 1997 s10 blazer - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By don sanders - October 8 - 12:27 pm

  my 1997 s10 blazer is a wonderful vehichle and i enjoy it everytime i get in it. i wish i would have bought one years ago.

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  Amazing car - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Topher - October 8 - 4:12 am

  Great economy for a 5.7 liter LS1 V8. I averaged 17mpg and I drive "agressively." The sound system was great, and even with sort of higher mileage, nothing was wrong with the car. It had previously had some leakage at the rear end, but it was sealed and I never heard from it again.

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  The Worktruck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By moeniogt - October 7 - 8:36 pm

  If you are looking for a well-built workhorse this is your truck. I feel very safe and confortable when driving this truck. I love the fact that you sit high. Interior room is more than enough, I am 61" and I feel small when I am sitting in my truck. The bells and whistles are missing but it is a worktruck. Even with this in mind, the interior is very nice and functional. I love the new ergonomic, elegant but simple controls for the radio, a/c, lights, and on-star. The new exterior body design is simply pleasing to the eyes. It gives it an aggressive yet elegant feel. This truck drives very nice. It is very solid, granted that I havent used it for towing or off-roading. I love it!