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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  For me, it is Just great!!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Alex el magno - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Though I heard a lot of critics on it, I liked the design and Decided to try it; I found out that main critics about space for driver, problems while turning, and disadvante of a 6 cyl engine where not true; the driver area is spacious, seats are confortable, sharp and quick turns are not a problem, and response of engine is great.

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  Chevy Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Carol Smith - November 22 - 9:03 am

  This car is wonderful to drive, I feel safe and confident when driving. I would highly recommend this car, plus it is not too bad on gas. With gas prices these days, its nice to save a little at the pumps.

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  I did my homework - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Tim Cassidy - November 21 - 3:00 pm

  I checked out the Civic and Corolla and was not impressed. They cost more and look boring. The interior of the Cobalt looks just as good and has just as much plastic as the Honda and Toyota. The interior fit and finish, quality of materials line the reviewers love to use, tells me the Cobalt is the real deal since I believe most reviewers are bias in favor of the Japanese models. If that is all they can say, you know the Coblat is a serious contender. My other car is a Nissan Altima so you know that I am someone who really checks things out first and just doesnt buy American. I checked out Civic and Corolla and the Cobalt won, handily.

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  Love from the beginning - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By arkaypee - November 19 - 10:16 am

  My sales person took me to pickup my Maxx and as soon as I saw it I fell in love with it. Then I drove it and it was confirmed that this was the car for me.

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  Like a Rock! - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ed blackwell - November 18 - 4:36 pm

  This truck is intelligent. It has the 5.3 trailering pkg LT1. it gets better gas mileage than my 96 4.3 V6, and has 115 more horsepower. It also has a back seat ext cab. It rides better than my 97 Cadillac Eldorado. We least traded the 96 truck in, and now plan to sell the Caddy, because the truck, made both the old truck, and Eldorado obsolete. I test a 07 crew cab in 2007 with four speed. What we like is the combination of features on the powertrain, six speed, Variable valve timing, active fuel management, and regular gas, and flex fuel option. My wife loved Mercedes,but she could hardly believe the technology in this truck. After the test drive she was ready to buy!

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  Very Impressive - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By chuckster - November 18 - 10:00 am

  I agree that the front headrests are to far forward. Try this, pull them off and turn them backward, worked for me. Getting 21MPG in city 32MPG on long freeway trip. Very confortable and quiet. MPG on trip meter is sometimes right on but usually optimistic, it is annoying that it changes in large incriments(goes from 30.8 to 31.7 in one step). Range to empty actually leaves almost 2 gallons in the tank. Only annoyance is that the rear skylite shades will snap open, especially when the plactic holding the shade gets hot and flexes. Scares my 5 year old.

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  LOVE MY TRAILBLAZER - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By SLIDER - November 18 - 10:00 am

  WE GOT OUR T-BLAZER 1 WEEK AGO. WE ALL LOVE IT!!! I WASNT REALLY INTO THE SUV THING. I WANTED A SPORTS CAR. MY HUSBAND ASKED IF I WOULD JUST TRY ONE. I TOLD HIM THE ONLY ONE I WOULD CONSIDER WAS THE TRAILBLAZER. BOY, AM I GLAD I DID!! FROM THE MOMENT I GOT IN I WAS THRILLED.

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  I got one - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By RandyC - November 18 - 10:00 am

  A good buy for the money. I looked at serveral SUVs and for the money, you can beat it. I like the front seat that folds down; the sliding rear seat and the gas milelage.

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  2004 Chevy Crew Cab 1500 Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dna4engr - November 18 - 10:00 am

  First a few stats: Silver Birch metallic, standard 5.3L V-8, auto, all power options are standard, Z71 offroad package with fender flares, tow package, exterior mirror upgrade, and power seat. Ive had the truck for one week and really enjoy it. I wanted the GMC version, but the Chevy dealer was more willing to work on the price. I hated the new Chevy body style (introduced in 03) until they came out with the crew cab, it really adds to the side view. Thought about the new F-150, but didnt like the interior or the brand new engine. I am an engineer and I would rather take my chances with new sheetmetal than a new engine and drivetrain.

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  I Enjoy it - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By D. Paluch - November 16 - 5:33 pm

  I am 63" tall. The Impala is the only auto of this size with a console that lets me drive without having my right knee continually pressing uncomfortably against the shift console. The Impala is quick,agile,and brakes well. I agree the interior ergonomics are not as well done as in my wifes Accord, but for long trips and comfort for a larger individual it cant be beat.