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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  Usual GM Quality - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Joe - May 13 - 4:22 pm

  This Xtreme has been in the family since it was first purchased. I bought it from my father after 2 years and Ive driven it for another 2 years and just hit 36,000 miles. On the outside it is a very clean, solid looking SUV, and the inside is well crafted. GM has a powerful and exciting engine in this small SUV which is a great fun factor, and stock lowering is a great improvement on handling. Now for the bad news. Tires wore out at 20k miles, everything rattles, and its been sent to the dealer 6 times since Ive had it. A fun vehicle to drive, but at 36k miles I think its trying to fall apart. If you feel lucky, go for it, but be careful.

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  A great little family car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By chalda - May 13 - 12:50 pm

  Affordable to purchase, maintain, and run. Great on long car trips (over 500mi) and very good looking for an economy car. Dont compare it to the expensive cars, but if you compare to others in its class (Toyota Echo, Pontiac Wave, Sunfire, Cavalier) this car outdoes them all for space and apppearance. I test drove them all and still bought the Aveo. We all love it!

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  How many trips to the dealer? - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By More Brakes - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Rotors and pads and then again rotors and pads. FIVE TIMES! Not to mention a new front end, the list goes on and on. Several trips to the dealer What a loss I am taking on this car. Not such a great deal afterall.

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  In my Opinion - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jw622 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a used 2000 Malibu in March of 2001. Barely a year after I purchased it, it had to be in the shop three times in one month. First the check engine soon light kept coming on, next the cruise control would not stay ingaged, and now I have a gasket leak and am unable to get the part for a month. Other than the most recent problems, the Malibu is a nice car. Unless I have a lemon off the line, the integrity of the car needs to be improved. The Chevrolet warranty department is great, I havent had to pay out of my own pocket yet. This car is great for people with a family.

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  WOW! What a SUV!!!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TrailBlazerGirl - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I am IMPRESSED!!! I had a TrailBlazer as a rental car to drive from CA- Vegas- Laughlin- & back to CA. Very happy with fast acceleration, driving in mountain areas, & the comfortable seats for long drives! I was so happy with the drive I am currently shopping to buy one. I was in the market for a new Jetta to replace my old one or a Dodge Durango. I couldnt decide if I wanted the SUV or a car. However, this SUV puts the Durango to shame! Durango is no longer a choice! The trunk had lots of space with extra compartments.

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  Performs beyond my expectations. - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Robbie1510 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my truck for 7 months and I have definatly put it to the test. Living in Utah makes it easy to test the trucks abilities in the elements. So far I am very happy with the performance and durabilty. This truck has taken me to the Grand Canyon in November (8" of snow 45 miles unplowed), through rivers, streams, muddy ponds, up and down mountain trails, and in between all this pounding, the extensive road trips in comfort. Keep in mind my truck is still stock with no modifications.

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  Car Seats and the 3rd Row Bench - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jennifer A. - May 12 - 3:45 am

  I love my SUV. My husband got it for me for Mothers Day. The only things I would change about it is the leg room and the width of the 3rd seat. I have a day care business and use a lot of car seats. The 3rd seat is NOT wide enough to hold 3 car seats. The leg room is not enough too. Kids had trouble walking to get to their seats. Seat buckles are more difficult to manipulate than with my Astro van for the booster children. Other than that I love it. Great kid SUV, especially with the DVD player.

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  So Far So Good Really Impressed - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Anonymous - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Have been a F150 Lariet Truck fan for over 20yrs. Commute over 100 miles per day & was tired of waisting $$ on fuel. Cruze was 1st car I test drove & loved the leg room. Seat fits great, controls etc are nice.Ride is quiet & nice. Live in northern MN so was not sure of giving up 4WD for front wheel but so far so good. Handles great. Very impressed with my avg 38MPG on the highway. Over double what my truck was getting. Plan to use my savings for extra trip to the Caribbean.

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  Insane performance - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jim - May 11 - 11:24 pm

  I had been looking for one of these cars for about a year, since I was very picky. I have t-tops, 6-speed manual, leather, Monsoon audio... the works. I have done a few mods including a full header back exhaust with a flowmaster cat-back, and a K&N intake as well as a B&M short shifter. I also installed iRotors cross-drilled and slotted rotors with hawk pads. It also has the handling package. This car is a blast to drive, but it can be a tame cruiser if you want... I never want it to be a tame cruiser though. It has tons of go and plenty of whoa thanks to the new brakes. The stock intake and exhaust are very restrictive, so if you modify, go after this first.

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  Mine has been good to me - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Bulletproof Burban - May 11 - 10:39 pm

  I like mine, it has been a reliable companion. I have had to replace wear items, but nothing unusual, and it has never left me stranded in 6 years and 110K miles. I have no complaints about its reliability, and I am a Toyota salesman! Been off road way more than the average Suburban, and never broke down or got stuck. It has been coast to coast, and gets 21- 24 highway. Worst highway mileage I ever got was 19 MPG before I had it tuned up. I will get another of this generation, a Gold 1999, when I return to living in the mountains. They are easy to maintain yourself. I only have used my 97 off road and in the winter, but I bet I could put a million miles on one.