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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  Best drive of the SUVs - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Debbie - January 31 - 4:02 pm

  After test driving four other vehicles, the Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT was the best drive. We test drove the following 2005 SUVs: The Montero sport - very top heavy and felt like it would tip over if turned too fast, Ford Explorer - very cheap looking in the interior and not a smooth ride, heard some rattling in the front end, Nissan Pathfinder - drove like a truck, interior seats were very cheap looking and also the access to the third row was not easy, Mercury Mountaineer - pretty nice except for the roominess inside felt very tight. The minute we drove the Trailblazer, we knew it was the one. It drives beautifully and is such a pleasure to drive!

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  My first new car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jamie - January 31 - 2:57 pm

  This is the smoothest and most quiet car I have ever driven. It is not the most fuel efficient vehicle, and overly-concious driving will still only earn you around 20 mpg... highway driving at 60 mph (on cruise control) will get you 23 or 24 mpg. The rear seats fold down to give a ton of storage space. I didnt notice any wind noise, but I have driven mostly older cars with lots of squealing and roaring. Im an aggressive driver and it handles well... though it takes a while to stop because of the vehicles weight.

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  Woodside - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Woodside - January 31 - 2:05 pm

  We enjoy our Tahoe very much, just wish we could afford a new one. We travel with friends and they too like this vehicle because of the comfort and the ability to see better from it.

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  Professional grade? - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Wobblerite - January 31 - 12:44 pm

  Reliability has been low in history of this vehicle. Fuel pump at 33K, water hose quick connect corroded and broken at 40K, tranny died at 55K, Driver door handle breaking at 60K, Alternator @65K, windshield wiper circuit board @70K. Had Delco battery leak acid that destroyed battery cables. Parts counter at Chevy dealer recommended I get another brand because he had a room full of leaking batteries and Delco did nothing to redesign to prevent problem. With all this no wonder the term of endearment for this vehicle starts with "piece of". Now that everything has been replaced it runs great and I intend to keep for some time as tow vehicle for boat.

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  I love my TB - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Sherribaby407 - January 31 - 10:33 am

  My husband bought me this SUV after I sent him with a list and color I wanted. I absolutely love this car, it fits me perfectly, it has power, it is SMOOTH riding, the color (blue metallic) is just like my old 76 Camaro which I loved. He got it loaded, raised lettered tires, flashy rims. It has 18000 miles now and NO problems at all. I drove it on a 7 hour road trip, highway, and I used one tank of gas on the open road, which is amazing. Doesnt get that in city, tho. The truck is still in perfect condition, I keep in a garage, its beautiful. Im a lucky girl.

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  Dont buy it - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By SERGE - January 31 - 8:40 am

  I fell in love with the car on a rental. Was very pleased with power,comfort and fuel efficiency. When a similar used SS came up at the local dealer,I couldnt help buying it.Loved the car Around 70000 KM, it started showing problems, acceleration seemed to miss, transmission shifting hard. These problems increased and now at 120000 KM, I had to spend 2000$ to get it to work so-so. Mass flow sensor was bad, I replaced both front wheel bearings, steering fluid is leaking, yellow light in dash always reporting some problem, windows wont go down on hot days,radio does stupid things, transmission shifts hard (850$ ), still hesitates at high accel. To many probs to list.

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  Happy Owner - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lew - January 31 - 5:53 am

  When my lease was up on a 1999 Lincoln Continental, I decided to try the new Impala LS. I liked the luxury appointments such as sunroof, leather/heated seats, digital information center as well as the roominess. The 3.8L V6 has ample power and excellent fuel economy. The Impala is as roomy as my Continental and every bit as comfortable; at about half the price and cost of ownership. Outside of Corvette, this is probably the best overall value from GM. Great job, Chevrolet!!!

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  2001 Z06 - 2001 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dano - January 30 - 10:55 pm

  This is my second Corvette. It was purchased used, Im the 2nd owner. This is an amazing car, the performance and handling are outstanding. Ive added a hurst shifter Stinger air intake and B&B exhaust. Now its even more fun. The mileage is amazing as long as you can keep your foot out of it. It is a head turner, looks blazing fast just sitting.

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  High miler - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Fred S - January 30 - 5:22 pm

  I have put over 65,000 miles on my Avalanche in two and a half years. The only problem was that the tailgate latch broke. On the highway I get between 18 and 21 MPG even on the 75 MPH interstates. I have hauled 12 ft. 2x12s inside with the tailgate closed. The bed cover is secure yet easy to remove. In short it is a GREAT vehcle with multi-talents.

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  Z24 love it - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By D White - January 30 - 11:04 am

  I inherited this car from a friend who had it for less than a year. I intended to sell it right away, but changed my mind after driving it a bit. For the size and class of car, its definitely one of the most fun ones Ive had. And it loos good! Easy to maintain, and reasonable priced, I truly believe I got a sweet deal.