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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  Value, Fun, Good Mileage - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Rammer - September 22 - 3:57 pm

  I use my new Aveo hatch 5 speed for both work and personal use. I am getting close to my first oil change, and have been very pleased with my car. Good pick up, great mileage if you can keep from exceeding the speed limit. Design - basic, clean, and it works. Its a head turner for a small car. No long trips yet, but I know if I keep at double nickels, the mileage is great, so I sacrifice some time and get to smell some roses.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Mick - September 22 - 6:16 am

  We purchased this vehicle in March 05 for my wife and have made 6, 15 hour, 800 mile drives to Oregon and back to Calif. We have found it to be a confortable car to drive, handles very well, fuel economy is not bad for a 4WD. The seats are very confortable. Even when we had 5 people in the car for an extended drive. The Trailblazer had plenty of power to take us over the mountains. Controls are user friendly. The only poor design I found is when using the heater, it overheats the CD stereo system, the CDs become very hot, not good for the disks. The second is make sure your auto windshield wiper system is off, when going thru a car wash. Rear wiper replacement parts were 27.00.

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  My Mistress - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Merrit - September 21 - 6:59 pm

  Better adjustable seats would be nice and the interior could be better compared to the Euro cars I have. Performance and fun factor is unbeatable. This car is the best bang for any dollar. Need a change holder instead of a lighter/cig tray. If you can, buy one!

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  I like em "low and wide" - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jimmie guillory - September 21 - 4:43 pm

  This was the last year for this model. Now Chevy has gone to the tall and narrow styling which has no appeal for me. My Monte Carlo has been a reliable and comfortable piece of transportation. And the gas mileage on the hiway approches 30 mpg. Not too shabby!

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  Best truck for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chevy Colorado - September 21 - 3:20 pm

  Plenty of power, smooth transmission. Great looks. Perfect fit and finish. Very large bed, plenty of leg room. Havent had a single problem. Drives much smoother than the Tacoma and Frontier. Feels and handles great. The Z71 package adds more than just looks. The anti-slip rear drive with override works perfect as sliding out in wet conditions is prevented. Perfect alternative to the full size gas guzzlers.

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  Check Edmund.com before buying - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dr. Lattimore - September 21 - 2:20 pm

  Before buying check Edmund.com for the repair problem especially with the brake light staying on while driving. The problem existed with the 2008 and still continues with the 2010. Constantly at the dealership every 6 months and the dealership is not able to fix the issue

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  Glad I bought it! - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By larry - September 21 - 9:48 am

  I had a Dodge Intrepid. Worst mistake ever! Got the Impala, and was happy from the moment I bought it. Much better quality overall. The gas mileage is very impressive for a large car. I tend to be a little heavy on the gas, and average 37 mpg on the road! Overall, I average 29 mpg. I would definitely buy another one. I hope the 3.4 is as good an engine!

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  general - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By crack007 - September 21 - 3:16 am

  Bought the truck to pull a cattle trailer 28 triple axle which it does well. I average 7 to 8 pulling and 10 to 13 local 14 to 16 hwy only. It pulls very well but the seats leave a lot to be wanted had an 05 z71 the seats were so much nicer to look at and more comfortable! I pull a load 6 hrs one way twice a month total weight of 27 to 31 kg. It pulls it well just wish it got better mpg empty. I can accept 7 pulling the dmax only gets 9 and the price diff isnt worth my two 600 mile trips twice a month for 5 yrs that I will own it. However the 6.0 pwr stroke guys do get upset whenever you pass them pulling the same load up a hill. But it is turning 4500 to 5000 rpm to pass them.

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  Love this truck - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By darren - September 20 - 8:10 pm

  I love this truck. I looked at every SUV available. Was leaning towards the Pilot but wanted to go American. The ride is great, doesnt bounce you around like a cement truck. Feels big but not huge. Amazing amount of room. Im 63" and have great room up front. Smooth ride, second and third row seats are very roomy. Actual space behind the third row! Stereo is awesome- I will be keeping the XM radio! The DVD system keeps the kids happy. Not sure about mileage yet, but expectations for this size SUV are not high! Engine is smooth, quiet and powerful. Only nit pick is no floor mat for the third row? If you are looking for an SUV, all you need is a drive to convince you.

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  Great (big) SUV - 2006 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ptlytch07 - September 20 - 4:33 pm

  This is my third Suburban since 1999. I absolutely love this vehicle and there is nothing else on the market that comes close in terms of size and seating capacity. We have a very large family (6 kids) and they can all sit fairly comfortably, although the backseat is a tight fit for teenagers. The front seats are incredibly comfortable and this vehicle is great for long trips. The fuel economy is terrible, but what do you expect from something of this size and weight? My only complaint is that Chevrolet went really cheap in order to save money and took out little amenities like a glove box light and an engine light to make more profit.