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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  My Camaro - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By James - April 14 - 11:07 pm

  I bought it at 87000 miles from a widow who had it in a barn with the rest of her husbands toys. The car is polo green met. convert. with tan leather int. and tan top. The car was in great unmolested condition for a 11 yr old car I have a 1970 Camaro with 320hp, and with 50 hp less (only 275hp) you do not feel it in the newer car. The automatic shifts great and shifts hard. The only short comings, the trip odometer died the day I bought it, the top needs to be replaced, mediocre mpg., stock speakers do not handle deep bass very well, passenger door power window is slow.

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  Fun Fuel Efficient Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Eric - April 14 - 9:56 pm

  Great little car. Owned for 4 months now and put 3000 miles on it. Got 25mpg in winter and now with 50 degree spring weather im up to 29.9mph according to the digital read out. The 2.2L engine gives it plenty of get up and go. Purchased the base model 2 door, with only power locks and keyless entry. Good buy for under $14,000. No mechical problems so far except a computer upgrade that was needed for the crankshaft sensor.

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  Major Dissapointment - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jwarren - April 14 - 9:10 pm

  Bought the Silverado new in June of 06. Since then, I had a leaky radiator hose, replaced the whole front differential, a transmission leak, numerous steering problems, brake lights went out twice and a few other minor problems. Very dissapointed in this truck. My first new truck and it is nothing but a constant problem. It is in the shop now for a moaning noise in the 4x4 when turning. I am looking at an 08 Tundra or Sierra to replace this mess of a truck. Great power from the engine and ride is great. Gas mileage is okay with about 12 city and up to 17-18 highway.

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  BEST SUV EVER! - 2006 Chevrolet Suburban
  By TUNISIA HIGH - April 14 - 8:15 pm

  This is an awesome vehicle. I dont have any complaints. This is however a very large vehicle, therefore cannot fit into tight spaces. The ride is smooth, and I havent had any maintenance issues.

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  Excellent small car. - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By HL Mencken - April 14 - 6:59 pm

  Very reliable in the almost 8 months I have owned this car. The interior is far more roomy than one would expect. Not much pickup, but you cant expect that much from a small engine. My gas mileage in the city has been a little disappointing at about 25 or 26, and I drive very conservatively.

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  So so - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By the_grizz53 - April 14 - 3:40 pm

  I love the truck, but there are lots of drivetrain problems. Three recalls ,sqealing parking brake is the worst, two rear differentials, and three comeplete clutches, all in the first four months. Still a good truck all in all.

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  A good car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By bocar - April 14 - 1:01 pm

  I get 31.6 mpg , combined city & highway driving.its an excellent little car , if you dont mind shifting a lot.I can park in almost parking spot you can imagine, my other car is a 3/4 T pickup.

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  I love this SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JayDub - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I only recently purchased my TrailBlazer, but I love it. It may not have has many toys as the LT, or LTZ models, but for pure driving pleasure it is just as good. The engine as one would expect has tremendous punch to it. It really takes off when you hit the gas. The ride is smooth and quite. In fact, if you are driving on the highway, you will hit 75-80 mph before you know it. I had put off buying this SUV for year (when the 2002 TrailBlazers arrived). If you want a smooth, powerful truck, buy this one.

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  Noisy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Patrick - April 13 - 10:30 pm

  I have driven this car 700 miles since 1/3/06. I love the way it looks and its power but I cant stand the road noise. Those reviews that say its quiet and smooth are driving with the radio on, which is what I do now all the time. The brakes are great and being a senior citizen I like the OnStar feature. My last car was a 2003 Impala and what I miss in this car is the large rear window and normal size sideview mirrors of the 03. The rear defroster in the 03 was 3 times better than this new one also. It looks great outside and inside but this will be my last Impala. I got this car because my lease deal was excellent; it definitely wasnt my first choice.

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  Little truck, big performance - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By cbc - April 13 - 7:57 pm

  With 30,000 miles around the corner I still get a smile on my face when I drive my Colorado. I drive 35 miles one to work so it pays to have a good looking truck that gets a 24 mpg average and comfortable too. Reliabilty isnt a worry for me because it just feels like a solid little truck.