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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  Excellent power, sub par fuel economy - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By burt - August 31 - 10:51 am

  I pull a 2700lbs boat and I have been very pleased with the pulling power and handling when Im towing.

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  Good SUV for kids and City Dwellers - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By todd_k - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Got my 200 ZR-2 Blazer for a birthday present and I love it. Good ground clearance and a competent 4wd system has gotten me into and out of places even friends with other SUVs have not been able to go. Small and easy to park which is important to me as a city dweler. Good sound system as well. and oh-so-cool. The build quality could be better though

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  Fun and Practical - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lora C - August 31 - 2:00 am

  I have had my 2003 malibu for a year. I love the power it has to start off. The stereo system is awesome with the automatic volume control and the different preset tones. The trunk is roomy enough to carry alot of stuff. The added net is perfect when you just have a few bags of groceries. The interior in may car is beautiful, it is cloth with the Chevy bowtie embossed in it.

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  Our First Chev - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By LuvRZ71 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  We looked at almost all of the mid/full size SUVs before deciding on the Tahoe. The looks of the Tahoe distinguish it from the rest of the pack (especially in Z71 trim), and its interior was *the* most comfortable of any vehicle we test drove. Our previous SUV was mid-size, but my wife and I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to adapt to the larger Tahoe.

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  Good so Far - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Crookie - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Taking a gamble with an American made SUV following 3 year stints with Pathfinder and Lexus LX450. Needed the 3rd seat (3 kids), and the Trailblazer/Envoy had the best (by far) 3rd seat with room behind it for storage. Love the ride - much less "trucky" than the Lexus. Bose system is fantastic. Lateral seat support could be improved. Separate 2nd seat tuner is favorite of oldest child. With 2 child seats in second row - not much extra room for third person. A little too much plastic on dashboard.

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  Early but happy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jughead - August 30 - 11:42 pm

  Only 3 weeks into my new LS but all indications are excellent. Love the ride despite some reviews of mushy cornering. I dont take corners at 75 mph so its fine by me. Interior is just fine, easy to use and reach controls, simple and straight forward. Looks great on the road with planty of power. Hard to pass up with the GM family discount and rebate for just over 24k OTD. Overall I am very happy with it, so far.

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  Our road test - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By rich - August 30 - 11:04 pm

  Just returned from vacation (Ia to NJ) total trip avg mileage 22. Very nice ride kids entertained by DVDs. Power could use a few more ponies but had no problems crossing the Appalacian mountians. Maintained 75 mph on all interstate grades.

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  LS FUN! - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By josh - August 30 - 9:03 pm

  So far I have had nothing go wrong with this car. This was and is my dream car, and every day I get in it I feel better than everyone else. I get the best mileage out of anyone else I know with a V8. I could get better if I drove it more conservatively, but thats not what I got this car for. The t-tops help with getting in and out, and the car just looks so good. Chevy couldnt top themselves on this one, so they stopped making them. If youre thinking about getting this car, stop thinking and go get it. Do yourself a favor and buy this car!

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  Chevy Owner - Never Again! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Unhappy TB Owner - August 30 - 5:00 pm

  This was the worst Chevy I have ever owned. Previously, we were religous Chevy buyers...never again. The air conditioner broke, and it took the dealership 3 weeks to fix, the windshield wipers broke, the fuel tank split, and the engine needed to be replaced after 40K miles. This vehicle spent more time in the shop than it did on the road. We never used it for off-roading, or towing anything, it was mainly used for long highway trips. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone! Dont be fooled by the nice exterior or interior...it is a piece of junk!

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  Great Car! - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Melissa - August 30 - 4:26 pm

  I spent a lot of time researching cars before I bought this one. It is definitely the best one out there for the money. Of course you are not going to have the power of a BMW, but you didnt pay those prices. This is my first car and it is the best choice that I could have made. I love to drive it.