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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  Still not the perfect truck ... - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Baybo - November 24 - 2:00 am

  GM still needs to work the interior better .. The floor mats that come with the truck look cheap and dont cover the space on the ground thus sand gets under the mat. The interior still has too many rattles. The interior is much improved but still see too much cheap parts. THe exterior bumpers are getting some rust spots in the inside on the bumper. The truck rolls at 5 MPH when you are not stepping on the gas.

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  Its alright - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By nate - November 15 - 2:11 am

  Its an alright truck all around but I still feel more comfortable driving an old beat up Civic. It doesnt feel stable off road and Im constantly having mechanical issues with it but it does all that its technically supposed to I guess.

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  Getting to know it still.... - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Curt - November 13 - 5:11 pm

  Im + 6 and fit comfortable in the front. It reminded me of a diesel Fiat Ide driven in Italy. Main purchase purpose is a commuter car. Seating provides good visability for everyone inside. So far its a fun nimble, very easily parkable little car. It has the Europeon reverse shift pattern.

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  My Chevy Van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Surfer - November 12 - 10:10 am

  Too many little things have fallen apart. Ive got 50K miles on the car and have had to repair the following: - New brakes (Ive had three new rotors and pads on the front) - Gas Gauge doesnt work - vacum problems cause the A/C fan not to work - Sliding door doesnt work right - Tons of little pieces have fallen off

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  Good 1st car out of college - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ddemania - November 11 - 7:08 pm

  Bought this car (Z24 Coupe) right out of college, and am now after 9-yrs moving on to bigger (mini-van) days. The car served me will through 9-yrs, some maintenance problems, especially in the last year which has pushed me to sell.

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  Not sure what to think - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By str8stack71 - November 11 - 12:06 am

  This van is very family friendly. Roomy interior, good gas mileage, lots of storage spaces. However, this is my first Chevy I have owned. In four years the engine continually loses coolant, the fan motor and switch on heat/ac controls has broken. The glovebox hinge has broken. Instead of having the typical plastic hinges, this van has one solid piece of plastic that runs the length of the bottom of the glovebox and after opening the glove box from time to time the plastic hinge has broken. It reminds me of taking a credit card and bending it in half until it breaks.

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  My truck - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By Gilgal - November 7 - 3:59 pm

  I replaced the rear end twice in the first year I owned it. I have had the have the third door hand replaced and it is broken again. Neither of the seats recline anymore, both handles broke.

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  Disapointment - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Hal - November 5 - 5:25 pm

  Bought this from original owner. Had 60000 miles on it. Had to put 3500 in it within 6 months. Heard that this was 1st year for this design and many problems. When it runs it is nice but A/C, ABS, radiator and brakes didnt last. Wouldnt recomend this particular year.

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  Never buying a Chevrolet AGAIN! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By WantinANewCarNOW - November 5 - 4:17 pm

  This was my 1st car. I got it as a college graduation gift. I saw it on the lot and test drove it and fell in love with it (think it was the sunroof and the cheesy woodgrain). A year later, I wish I would have left it there! Its been problem after problem! At first, it was the brakes. Then it was the hazard/signal lights which have their own mind. Now, its the intake gasket problem that is going to cost a MIN of $1000! And the value of the car has went down tremendously. I am seriously about to trade this car in for an Acura RSX or a Honda Accord or something--- anything but a Chevrolet!

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  Should Have Been Better - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By William Goulding - November 5 - 1:41 pm

  This Blazer 22000 miles on it. The grill bowtie bad had to be replaced the fuel tank over flow tube pinches replaced right front axle needed repair the rear window trim both left and right had to be replaced because of bad paint the water thermostat stuck open and needed to be replaced.