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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  Fun Car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By JESSE HEFNER - August 7 - 9:36 pm

  I have greatly enjoyed my HHR. The only problem I have is the radiator is in the wide open for rocks and road debris to get in. Within 500 miles I had to replace the radiator due to a rock puncturing it. All I was doing was driving down the freeway.

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  1st Minivan - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Aimee - August 7 - 9:20 pm

  This is a great compromise between a minivan and SUV. The DVD player is easy to use (says my 8 year old). The ride is nice and smooth and comfortable. Great sound and safety. So far, no complaints.

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  Best mid-sized van ever - 2005 Chevrolet Astro
  By PETER - August 7 - 5:13 pm

  This is the 4th Astro that I have owned in 9 years, and each one has been better the the last. I averaged about 90,000 to 100,000 miles on the last three and already have 1600 on the 2005 Astro. I love it.

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  Cant touch this for the price - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By bcarnalis - August 7 - 2:46 pm

  Are there better sports cars in the world? Yes, certainly. Are there better ones for less than twice the price of the Z06? That is much less clear. This car is a performance monster, in all regards. It isnt just a straight line car, but will corner with Ferraris and brake with Porsches, and do it all for 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost. Of course you pay for this in terms of quality of the interior materials, which do not match Porsche and Ferrari. But if you just want to hang with your buddys F360 on the track, this car will do it right out of the showroom. And it has a heads-up display!

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  Bad Chevy - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Bill - August 7 - 10:06 am

  This has been the minivan from hell. GM put in a new kind of head gasket. The bad news is that it has to be changed when you get a coolant leak anywhere from 40,000 to 60,000 miles. All kinds of electrical probiems. Stay away from the Ventures. If you have one, Good luck. Mine is in the shop now. This is going to be the 4th alternator put on in a year.

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  Luv My Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By CrashD - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Just purchased my trailblazer two weeks ago. We took it to the Mountains the first weekend and it did great. I love the gas milage I get compared to the Durango I had. It is alot of fun to drive and so quiet!

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  Most Advanced SUV I Ever Owned - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 38Commander - August 7 - 2:34 am

  Just picked up my 2005 Tahoe. Has every option, including NAV system, XM satelite radio, DVD, etc. I love this truck more than my Corvette! Its like taking my family room on the road. I only wish it would go longer distance on a tank of gas. About 12 miles per gallon (OUCH)

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  92 Cavalier RS 4 door - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By clinton lallathin - August 7 - 1:23 am

  Its fun to drive, safe and reliable. I have had no major problems with my car at all.

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  Save the trouble...dont buy Chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By schfr99 - August 6 - 11:38 pm

  Bought this 2002 AWD LT model used about two years ago. What a joke! My wife wanted the safety features it had, AWD, ABS,OnStar, and side airbags. But after 2 years and 30,000 miles, I find it to be very cheaply made. Problems with ABS sensors, AC, and transmission were just the beginning. This van has become the creakiest, noisiest vehicle we ever owned. The windshield whistles in high wind, the power doors creak , and you just hope they dont fly open. Was told by dealer to WD40 the door seals...still noisy! My only thankful thought is I only paid $18,000 for the thing being 1 1/2 years old rather than the $33,500 original pricetag. My wife is now driving my AWD Explorer! No more GM products!

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  Bad Tech or Good Luck? - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Alz - August 6 - 9:45 pm

  Owned 30 days and have serious issues already. NOTE: its used and the problems may not be GMs fault. Day 6:Service Engine Soon light comes on. Friday,day 7, dealer says bad O2 sensor/1 plug, I asked why not all six sparks?" Theyre not bad". OK, Ill replace them myself. 445pm:Left & drove approx 2mi.in traffic,SES on again! Went back, 5pm,service gone. Spoke to Sales Mgr about the 1 plug replaced and why not all six?,"Hell fix, take truck home" O.K.Took to VT, 800mi w/SES light on, perfect ride, no problems. Monday:dropped off. Tuesday: "Your trucks ready,another O2 was bad, wire harness was crimped,and replaced a PCM" I know thats the computer!Waranteed ,Day 29:oil leak/loose oil filter hose! Uhg!