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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  Overall: Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Patric - January 13 - 5:50 am

  I got this vehicle over 3 years ago and Im still very happy with it. I really like the overall exterior and interior design, but theres one large flaw; you cant get 2nd row bucket seats, so its difficult getting to the back row. I had a brake problem not very long after getting it, but since then, nothing bad has happened. It also gets decent fuel economy and has a good turn circle. Though its expecting a redesign next year, so Im looking forward to what GM brings to the table in the struggling SUV market

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  2004 aveo - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By kevin - January 12 - 11:17 pm

  I purchased the car for work. Drive around 65000 per year. Car has been very dependable. Slight problems. Both front wheel bearings have been replaced. Timing belt broke at 60,000. Chevrolet paid for almost all of the work to be done. Get about 30 mpg with car. Wish the mileage was a little better. Overall very satisfied with car and plan to buy another in 2006.

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  The Review - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Kari W - January 12 - 5:49 pm

  I have had the Aveo LS for about a year in a half now... and I love it. I have only had one problem with it, and that was that the coolent was leaking...I brought it to the dealership that day and havent had a problem with it since. The car is on the light side tho, so for those windy days you need to really pay attention because you do drift a lot. For the cost of gas, this is a great way to go.

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  A great car for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By jukebox ed - January 12 - 2:39 pm

  I have owned 6 Impalas since 2000, 3 base models and 3 Ls sedans. We have owned the 2000, 2003, and now the 2005. We have had virtually no problems with any of them. They are very dependable, comfortable, and get good gas mileage for their size. Safety record is also a major plus. It is a great car for the money. I have owned Cadillacs, Mercedes, and Ford products and I can say without a doubt that the Impala is a trouble-free car in every respect. Would recommend it highly to anybody.

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  Hard to Believe its a Malibu! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jon Nosakowski - January 12 - 1:42 pm

  The car drive smooth and is very comfortable for long trips. The six speaker stereo sounds excellent. The gas mileage is so-so. I feel I drive "normally" and I average 18.2 MPG city. But, it beats the mileage I got with my 95 Z28! The looks are what makes the vehicle! There is no need for after market anything (except maybe a chip).

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  Honeymoon Over, Divorce Final - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mike - January 12 - 1:41 pm

  I first reviewed the van on 06/17/2005. Everything went fine until early October. Banging sound in the rear-end got it in the shop twice for a total of 10 days. Turned out to be a bushing on the torsion bar. Exactly two weeks after getting it out of the shop the engine croaked as I was driving at highway speed, I was stranded about 100 miles from home (OnStar did come through). The fix this time was an engine replacement, in the shop for 13 days. My confidence at this point was very shaken. Eleven days after coming out of the shop, the ABS brake light came on, later that night it would not start. It spent the next 12 days in the shop. Traded in on day 13 for a GMC Yukon XL.

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  2005 Chevy Work Truck 5 speed Manual LB - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim - January 12 - 5:06 am

  Great MPG in a full size truck. At 76000 miles a proven winner. Too bad Chevy didnt think to make a 2008 stick version.

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  High Milage Happiness - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jeff - January 12 - 1:46 am

  I have bought this vehicle before Christmas, because I need a small truck, for projects around the house. I and my family enjoy it very much. I have had trucks in the past as well as some nice SUVs and miss them. It holds up very well, we have crossed rivers and four wheeled in some back wood areas that family owns and never got stuck once. The ride is like a 4wd truck, what do you expect, a G35 coupe? For serious high miles, the engine still has plenty of power, and not as much as expected in the way of leaks, except some one stripped the oil pan plug. Steering needs rebuilt, but I predict to be happy after the small projects are finished. The body is really solid, no rust, bed too.

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  Dream car - 2005 Chevrolet SSR
  By steve - January 11 - 11:23 pm

  My wife spotted this at the dealership and told me that was out next car. Of course, I didnt want her to think I really wanted it but too late she was in love. The SSR drives and rides like a dream. The first very cold morning the driver side window was frozen abd I could not open the door. I had to go to passenger side and crawl accoss not to easy for a 6ft 240 lb guy. I have since placed some silicon lubricant in the rubber door seal, keep your fingers crossed. Would not change it for the world right now!!

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  Happy Happy Happy - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By AVdriver - January 11 - 11:17 pm

  This is my second Avalanche, I put 7200 miles on the first one and never had a problem. Great truck