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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  Montecarlo - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By hastica - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! Rides smooth, very reliable. Comfortable for all riders( yes i have rode in the back) Plenty of space for luggage and other stuff. Used this car for myself and two friends to go to a nascar race, Very comfortable and roomy. Nice car for someone who want the sports look and room for the family!

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  04 IMPALA SS - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By bob28 - September 2 - 2:00 am

  Last three cars were Saabs.when Saab changed design to look like everything else, i decided to try something different. looked at acura tsx, altima, crown vic and gran prix and decided to go with the impala ss for its combination of roominess (my spreading rear end fits in the front seat and backseat large enough for grandsons carseats) performance (great low end torque w/o noticeable torque steer) and lots of standard features at a reasonable price ($3500 rebate). nice solid ride, not floaty like the base impalas.

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  So much better than my CRV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By CRV Trader - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I just traded my Honda CRV-EX and boy am I glad I did.The Trailblazer has lots of nice convenience features (auto headlights, dual climate control, entry lights, etc...) It is very quiet and smooth. My parents both have back problems and are thrilled with the ride. The gas mileage is decent for the power under the hood. My first tank got exactly what the sticker says which is more than I can say for the Honda that never got the stated City mileage even on the highway. This is a nice SUV. With the incentives and a dealer thats willing to make a deal you can get a lot for your money. I traded the CRV Id only had 6 months and Im very happy so far.

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  Average Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mtbau - September 2 - 2:00 am

  I find this truck to be average. It has the steering thump noise, found in chevy trucks since 1999 that chevy wont solve. Also had mildew smell in the air conditioner, the dealer installed a circuit board to correct this. Also the truck has the common transmisson shudder on acceleration.

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  Great truck - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By great truck - September 1 - 5:39 pm

  I purchased my S-10 after I drove my Neon through a very large mudpuddle and blew the engine, I figured Id get something that can handle more abuse. and boy was I right. mine has been through everything imaginable, I have even pulled a 05 Silverado out of a ditch and continued to drag him while he applied his brakes. I have 214,000 miles on this truck (original trans and engine) Long story short, if you are in the market for a small truck get an S- 10

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  Watch out for the tranny! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By PorscheMom - September 1 - 2:56 pm

  Bought it used w/ 26K on the odometer. I do a lot of driving, now has 65K on it. Overall, its been a decent purchase considering the price (about $10K). Two major problems though. A bad fuel injector at 34K, and bad tranny at 38K. Both under warranty. Dealership was great about both repairs. Ride is a little rough if you are used to a larger sedan or wagon. Definitely not a road trip car. Front seats are a bit too contoured for my taste. Back seat has tons of space. Could easily fit 3 car seats, so dont discount it if you have kids. Huge trunk. Good fuel economy, attractive styling, better than the new ones, IMHO.

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  Transmission Blew out at 20K - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Kevin - September 1 - 1:30 pm

  This vehicle is another typical poorly snapped together American tin can. My wife and I decided to be loyalto the US manufacturers, and I have not had a US made car since my Dodge Dart slant 6, which was ugly but reliable! This TrailBlazer was aptly named. Hit the trail and something under the hood will soon be ablaze, as I was told when I had an engine fire at 5,342 miles that was due to oil that spilled on the block. I disagree, since it looks like it originated from a cluster of wires that looks like a rats nest. Then my transmisssion completley failed at 19,456 miles and needed to be completley replaced. They blamed it on us saying we had driven the car hard. We use it to shop!

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  Glad I have another truck that runs - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By j willey - August 31 - 8:45 pm

  With less than 100,000 miles and already on its second motor and needing a transmission, I am very dissapointed with the quality of this truck. The mechanicals are poor, the ride is not bad, the interior falls apart and has more rattles than a box of nails. I am afraid to put the windows down after having them work going down every time but a guessing game when going back up.

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  Work, Haul, Hunt, Camp, Play! - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By CabinFever - August 31 - 10:00 am

  I drive 30 miles in hilly country to work, then haul dirt, rock, firewood or ATV on the weekends and this truck is always ready to go. Ive hauled 2,000 lbs. of topsoil, well-beyond the trucks capacity, up the mountains to home and the engine hardly worked. I just clocked 30k miles and theres no rattles, no squeaks. My mom-in-law was very surprised at the ride quality both on road on on our mile of dirt road to our house when she was visiting. This truck has done it all for me and its only asked for good, regular oil changes and its always gotten 17.5 mpg no matter what I do. Im very very happy with this truck.

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  A Great Vehicle - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By gjk5601 - August 31 - 6:41 am

  This van is a truck, not a car, and has the good and bad points of a truck. As a box on wheels, it is great. It hauls lots of people or stuff and tows a heavy trailer. It is nimble in parking lots and comfortable on the highway. It gets 20 mpg at interstate speeds. It is roomy when compared to other minivans and "big" vehicles like Suburbans. I have put 141,000 miles on my 1986 Astro and 147,000 on my 1997. Both have needed transmission and air conditioner rebuild around 90,000 miles. Otherwise, trouble-free. My 97 looks like new and everything works. This van is unique in size and capability. GM should have updated the Astro instead of discontinuing it.