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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  C - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By c - August 9 - 12:43 am

  I also love this vehicle! It came loaded with useful features, and is very solid, GM have come a long way. Interior and exterior are clean and blend very well. The adjustable foot pedals, drivers steering wheel controls, DVD, 3rd row folding seats are great. There is excellent power, towing and off road capability. My wife, who is the biggest vehicle critic I know, loves this new vehicle.

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  I love my new Avalanche - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Robyn - August 8 - 6:31 pm

  I knew the second I started the engine and pulled away from the dealership that this was the truck for me. It is so stylish and eyecatching. Big, beautiful and red. It is so quiet and comfortable I can not say enough nice things about it, only one negative, it seems so wide and hard to parrellel park. I can not wait to take it out on a long haul with my horses attached and finally feel some comfort with style.

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  Fun New Car! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By eman116 - August 8 - 6:01 pm

  Nice smooth lines on the body. Rear kicked up to 3.73 ratio really kicks in at 2800-300 RPM. Feels like an extra gear. The ride is so smooth. Mileage is very reasonable. Locations of gauges and gadgets is nice. Instrument cluster is very nice. Full gauges-Gas, Oil, RPM, Tach, Temp, Battery. Engine feels like it always wants to go. Good feeling and response from the engine. Smooth acceleration. Rear cargo hold is easily accessible. Braking has improved too. Stopping my 1995 Blazer was like stopping a bus! I really enjoy driving this car!

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  Good Car - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By oceansunset79 - August 8 - 5:35 pm

  I bought this car for only $2,600 at a reputable local dealership. Its not new, the check engine light is on, but it runs/drives good. However, it seems to be getting poor gas mileage, and I still have to figure out why (has gone through almost 1/2 a tank of gas while only having gone 130 miles). I do mostly highway driving so this was quite surprising as I was expecting the rated 30 MPG city/40 MPG hwy as it has the 4-speed auto. I was impressed with the near-perfect reliability rating from consumer reports for this year/model. The only problem Ive had besides fuel economy is that when the A/C is running the engine sometimes idles erratically, not sure why.

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  Best Corvette Ever - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jeff Adams - August 8 - 2:25 pm

  I was trying to choose between the Porsche 911, the Boxster S or the C6 Corvette. They are all great cars, but I just fell in love with that from dead stop to fast performance. The car handles great with the Z51 option.

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  Like it .. Love it - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By CheriSki - August 8 - 1:25 pm

  I like this Tahoe, but am going to make some changes. it needs bigger rims and tires, a DVD system, and the glass needs to be darker. Once that is done, I will go from Like it to Love it. It drives great, can fit 3 full size car seats in the back and the AC is freezing.

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  Comfortable and Safe - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DrivingMsB - August 8 - 11:04 am

  Great truck....glad I bought it! Had an accident 3 weeks after purchase. I was rearended by a car going 30+ mph. You can barely tell I was in an accident. The trailer hitch took 99% of impact. I am very satisfied with this vehicle and would highly recommend it to everyone interested in a resonably priced SUV.

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  Biggest Mistake - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nicole - August 8 - 3:44 am

  Before you get this car just do not. I wish someone would have told me or gave me a heads up or I would have done more investigative work on the issues with this car. Drove it initially off the lot with no issues except slow acceleration but it only has 4-cylinders so I get it. few months in the idle started acting up, then the reverse went out on the vehicle. Got the transmission changed under the CarMax warranty then the jerking started. The dealership insisted that I come in to get the recall done to my "high powered fuel pump" then the car just fell apart. The vehicle kills in main stream traffic. Seems as though the gas is not getting to where it needs to be. Then the heater went out and my auto start wont work now. The dealership that did the recall stated that the issue was not there fault and I would have to pay for diagnostic or parts and labor since there is no longer a warranty. Worse buy and I will never get another Chevy again.

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  I love my Monte - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Joe Owens - August 8 - 2:00 am

  It was my first new car and I could not ask for anything better. It handles like a dream.

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  Great Buy! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Melissa_97 - August 8 - 2:00 am

  I have had problems with the rear tail light sockets being defective (3 times). The ride is pretty smooth and the gas mileage is great! The 140 hp is a lot better than my old car and is really appreciated. I love my car and am very glad I purchased it!