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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  Needs many improvements - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kneebs - September 23 - 8:20 am

  I have to put a lot of money in the car just go keep it in running condition. There always seems to be something wrong with it. I had to replace the transmission, the brakes a couple times, couple electrical problems. replace egr valve and fuel pump. I dont know whats gonna go wrong next.

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  Smooth Ride - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By LDA - September 23 - 7:20 am

  Just bought my second Tahoe. I traded the first one for a Suburban and bought a 2004 Tahoe after 4 months. The comfort is incredible and I love the big seats. It travels Great! Some minor problems that the dealership took care of but everything is under warranty. As long as Chevy keeps making a car this comfortable to drive, Ill keep coming back.

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  Fun and Reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Christina - September 23 - 1:28 am

  My Chevy Cavalier was my first car. I bought my car used and she ran great for all 3 years that I had her. The only reason I had to get rid of the car was because of a car accident. I was hit by a driver from behind who was probably going about 35 miles per hour, which also caused me to hit the car in front of me. In my accident she performed perfectly, my only injuries were from the airbags and I was able to walk out with no serious injuries. This was perfect for a first car, was fun to drive, and was dependable at the most crucial time. I would recommend this car to anyone for its style and reliability. I loved my Cavalier!!

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  "Special Value" - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Eric - September 23 - 12:01 am

  I use my cute little Aveo primarily to commute to work. After all of the various discounts, I paid $8,300 for the special value model. I enjoy knowing that I made a smart decision. I get about 28mpg in the city and 33 on the highway. This little car has a lot of useful room. The rear seat has a special way of folding down to make the back cargo area completely flat and 100% usable. The only thing I really miss is air conditioning. If you want it, youre going to end up paying a lot more. I also wish it had a CD player standard.

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  My first new truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Joe - September 22 - 1:31 am

  I have put about 10000 on this truck already and and have had only one major issue. The inner treads on my front tires are wearing very fast. I brought it back to the dealership who agreed that the truck was out of alignment and proceeded to align the truck. The problem did not stop.My tires are continuing to wear ABNORMALLY fast on the inner treads in the front of the vehicle.The dealer stated that because the truck was within "factory specs" for alignment that my problem was "normal wear and tear". Ive had a second and third opinion on this issue and have concluded that the local Chevy dealer is wrong. So I am now in the process of dealing with Chevy corporate about the problem.

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  Old reliable - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Corvette44 - September 21 - 8:07 pm

  Good solid car that is great to drive, always dependable and never stops putting a smile on my face. Highway mileage is outstanding. And Ive never had any trouble with the car. It was a great everyday drive till the kids came along, now its an even better weekender.

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  Joy to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Barb Cwirka - September 21 - 6:45 pm

  Great on family trips. Plenty of room for people, pets, baggage. GPS wonderful addition. Throw your maps away! Enjoy the scenery while you drive. Gas mileage of 22-25 on highway. 17 in town.

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  Could/Should be better. - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jzr1sy - September 21 - 12:30 pm

  Gas mileage leaves a lot to be desired maybe due to the rear end ratio of 3.73 I could only order higher not lower. I do not pull anything. 3.42 would have been better. Has an annoying shake when shifting from first to second.

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  Colorado - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Shannon - September 21 - 12:20 pm

  Very reliable. Very few problems, If any, they were under waranty. Truck handles very well, Gas mileage is not bad.

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  99 Suburban - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By the - September 21 - 11:57 am

  This car has it. It gets 18 mpg highway. For a large SUV, thats not half- bad. Its great because it has that old boxy look- like its supposed to. I hated the 2000 makeover,so this one was right for me.