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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  Taken a beating. , , - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Pleased no doubt - February 5 - 6:36 pm

  Well I bought my truck with 7 miles on it. I now have 43,000. I have made many 6 hour drives from southern Ca to southern Utah and vice versa. Good power going up Cajon Pass. I have played in the mud with it, done donuts, figure 8s and drove like an idiot and it has handled well. Gas mileage is good, dependent upon the driver. I have used my truck for moving furniture, carrying wood etc and it has hauled it well. Best thing is, it still looks like new minus a couple slight scratches from driving through the Utah brush. Preventive maintenance is the Key!!! Stock stereo is the only downside, but keyword, stock. It has been a worthwhile vehicle in my opinion. Thanks for listening.

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  Good Van Resonable Price - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Steve - February 5 - 11:13 am

  Bought our van new in 2003 in time for the birth our twin boys. Comfortable, reliable vehicle for a family of 5. We have taken several long trips to Disney World, Nashville and Boston through all kinds of weather with no problems. We currently have over 80,000 miles on the vehicle with no major repairs just regular maintenance. Looking forward to taking our next road trip our family has spent many happy miles driving in this van and expect to spend many more over the next several years. Wish Chevy still made this van so I could buy another when I replace my Chevy S- 10 blazer (which still runs great)with 180,000 miles, this is my 6th Chevy vehicle, others all ran great for 200,000 miles

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  good van - 1996 Chevrolet Astro
  By billy97477 - February 4 - 9:11 pm

  217,000 miles and still runs great. a lot less problems than I would expect for a vehicle with so many miles. Good for camping. Can fit a cot and ice chest in the van comfortably. Rear cigarette lighter jack is good for my dvd player while camping. So is the rear heat that heats up pretty fast on the coldest of nights. With no seats in my quad even fits in it. Awd works still and does great in the snow and mud.

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  Intake Manifold Leak / Blown Head Gasket - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Chevrolet Venture - February 3 - 6:18 am

  I bought it new in 2002. My wife drives it to work till now, and she has been using my own 2001 Venture to work now. I took it to Hogan. All they did advise me was to do an engine flush and replace the thermostat. I keep getting warm and cold from my heater even I have it on the higher at all times. I took it to shop, and hopefully will get it in a few days for the Manifold leak and blow head gasket. I have spent about $2,500 for the last couple of months. I will not own any more GMs vehicle in the future.

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  minor annoyances - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By oscar - February 2 - 5:37 pm

  Great SUV.17-18mpg over the 100k miles on 4.6L V-8. Great A/C. Low road noise. Pulls 23 boat well.No side airbags, yet my 2002 had em and they saved my life in a major accident in 06. Rear door speakers went out after two years, door speakers are now bad. dash and steering illumination no longer work. Fog lamps always burn out and lens covers fall off. Seem to replace headlights and taillight often. No major repair expenses. Good buy for the $.

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  Why does the check engine light come on - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By schaeffer - February 2 - 9:09 am

  I had bought a 2005 Chevy classic, limited edition. My check engine light will come on. Ill have it checked. Then a few weeks later the light returns. The car is great on gas. She does not like the winter. I cant get heat ever, no matter how long the car runs for. When I have the knob turned to off, I still feel air coming out. I wouldnt buy this car for a family member For the body smooches like a marshmallow. I do love Chevys I just wish they would work on the radiator system a little more.

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  Just bougt an 08 - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By LongDriver - February 1 - 4:40 pm

  Just bought an 08 Cobalt and for the money boy am I happy. Im a long distance commuter (200 miles one way) and the gas savings are great (31.8 avg mpg driving 60 to 65 half in the hills and half in the flatlands). Im 6ft 225 and there is ample room for my 3 hour drive. All I wanted was a cruise control, automatic transmission, and an AC. I ended up with a full featured car including heated leather seats, sunroof, power everything, pioneer sound system with a big ole subwoofer. Steering is tight, brakes responsive, and plenty of get-up-and-go when I need it. For the money I spent Im one happy Chevy Dude.

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  Chevy Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By 2009 Chevy Traverse - February 1 - 9:44 am

  My 2009 traverse is a year old and Im not impressed with the gas mileage. About 16 mpg is the best that I have got. Also, I have tan leather seats and the drivers and passengers seat have black on them, they have been replaced once and now they are doing it again. Its like the leather is not real leather. Even the dealership could not get the black off the leather. Very disappointing.

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  30K Miles & Little Glitches - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Norcal221 - January 31 - 11:46 pm

  Had my Tahoe almost 2 years and the only problem is spontaneous oil leak that the dealer has not figured out yet. Interior cloth seats are beginning to shed as well as the carpet. The vinyl and plastic pieces grab and hold dirt, fingerprints and grime. Extremely hard to clean and gets dirty after only a few weeks. Cold mornings allow for the squeaky fan or alternator bearing but goes away after 10 minutes. 20" Goodyear tires need to be replaced . Other than that, the vehicle still looks beautiful and is still the King of the Haul. Yakima cross bars are highly recommended in lieu of factory rails much more versatile.

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  So Far, So Good - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Justin P - January 31 - 10:11 am

  This is my second Tahoe purchased new and it does exactly what I need it to do. I have had to use the stability control and it does work. LT w/ autoride is great. This SUV is now 5 years old and everything still works. It may not get 25+ mpg but look at the thing. Its a big SUV with a big engine. The transmission seems to know exactly when to shift and is holding up well with maintenance. I still love it.