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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  A Super Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By KATIE - August 12 - 7:01 pm

  This is a great all around truck. The only thing that I would change if I could would be the gas mileage, but I love the truck so much that it is worth it. Very comfortable. No blind spots! Very nice!

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  Perfect Fit for people who want a truck - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By My Name Goes Here - August 12 - 3:44 pm

  I call this the last of the true trucks. Anything on todays market has been tuned to drive, handle, and ride like a car. Well guess what folks, this isnt a car. Its a truck, meant for the offroad, for plowing through muddy dirt roads and taking some abuse. My Blazer has handled everythhing I could throw at it with plenty left. Sure it has a couple of things that the dealer needed to fix, but nothing that was serious or even annoying to me as a driver/owner. In all the last of a dying breed (The Truck). Make sure to get one while they last!

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  Daily Driver - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By OHChevy - August 12 - 10:50 am

  Purchased new and still own. I LOVE this truck, best ever! I dont plan on getting another GM product till they change to another body style that i like.

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  Great truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By richdaddy - August 12 - 10:16 am

  Bought the truck in April, I love it, good power from a v6, comfy interior, looks good. The only thing I didnt like is days after I bought it was in the shop for a loose gas cap. The engine light came on cuz of it. Dealer was very fast in getting the truck back and I have not had any problem since, I would recommend this truck to anyone

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  Outstanding - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chevy - August 12 - 10:16 am

  Wow. I only got a 2 WD 4.3 V6 but still havent got stuck been through fields after a week of rain with no problem. Pulled people out of ditches. drives in the snow in ice like not other truck i ever own. out does dodges and fords V-8 with out any problem. Never owned anything but a Chevy. Already got two people who own new dodges to trade it in for a new Chevy.

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  Me n Maxx - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By JR - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I bought an 06 Maxx LT with 70k (43,500 mi) on it, in October 09. Its whisper quiet, fast, gets 28-30 mpg, and I love the looks. The one complaint I had was the clunking noise coming from the steering column that seems a common complaint. I sprayed some lubricant on the steering shaft (under the dash) and no more clunk! Its a great alternative to the bigger SUVs and for my needs, very practical, with the folding seats, and removable rear deck cover. The 3.1 L V6 gets the job done quite nicely. Love it!

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  Get used to more! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Michael - August 12 - 10:00 am

  You have to sit in this car and drive it yourself to believe how nice it really is. We currently own a Corolla but decided to take a look at this car and I have to say it reminded us of a much more expensive car Acura TSX comes to mind - a car costing 10-15k more. This is supposed to compete with Civic and Corolla??? Sit inside both of those then take a look at the Cruze. High quality materials all around and a quiet refined interior. Very well done!

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  Well pleased - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Paul Kemper - August 12 - 9:57 am

  Had transmission problem at 70K -a known problem. Covered by extendend warranty. No major problems for next 70000+ miles, just normal maintenance - belts, hoses, oil changes, etc. I haul a lot of electronic equipment, sometimes pull a boat. Vortec 6 cyl is a workhorse. Get 22 mpg on the road. I would buy another if they still made them.

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  Colo"RAD"o - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Alex123 - August 12 - 3:02 am

  This truck looks great and is great to drive. It has all the power I need and responds well.

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  To 100k and beyond! - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bill j - August 11 - 8:03 pm

  Bought this truck used in the last year. Never owned a Chevy before, but used them at work. I used this truck for work and play and it is equally suited for both from hauling concrete to the daily drive to the office. It handles and drives well. Tow/Haul is great and I cant wait to pull my boat with it next summer. No problems with rattles, clunks or vibrations that others have mentioned. Throttle does stick when cold, but this has been a pretty standard nuicence on other GM products Ive been familar with. Transmission has rough shift on easy accel. no problems on heavy accel or tow/haul. 4WD has been good in snow/ice. Overall a very good, reliable truck.