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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  Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Todd Hime - October 27 - 8:46 pm

  I bought it used with 15000 miles and it great. Ride is nice, it is loaded with options.

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  Worth the money - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Pat - October 27 - 4:03 pm

  I have an 03 ext LT with 4.2L. This has been a great Suv for me and my family. I agree the fuel economy could be better but for a 03 mid size Suv its pretty good. Interior is excellent but I agree that the radio buttons do wear off. I love the 3rd row/cargo space. Ive compared this to an explorer with the 3rd row and it can actually fit an adult unlike the explorer. Im 61" and can sit back there (although I wouldnt do it for a LONG road trip). Its a comfortable and quiet ride. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  little family hauler - 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
  By carstryke - October 27 - 3:31 am

  Well i couldnt pass up the huge rebates even though i kinda regret it now just because the 2010s are so darn sexy. However i am still pleased and my wife is extremely pleased with our current equinox. Still i prefer the 2009 equinox to the competitions compact suvs.

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  Has been good car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jimmyjam2009 - October 26 - 7:05 pm

  over all the car has been great the dealer has been very great! only problem I did have with the car was the steering shaft was making noises and had too be replaced at 33k miles. GM took care of problem. I just put new tires on the car it now has 44k miles on it. Brakes have never been changed and still have tons of life in them. Mine is a stick transmission 5 speed and the trans is very tight and fun too shift. sometimes is a little hard too get in first gear. But over all I would say the cobalt is a good car still needs a little refinement with some interior parts and rattles..

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  Good truck for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By damone - October 26 - 9:39 am

  Bought a 2005 used in Feb. of 2009, so far one problem a/c fan only working on high but dealer fixed under warranty. Besides that it drives well and gas mileage is pretty good for long trips as long us stay under 75mph. Also seems to handles very good in off road situations. Overall good value for money.

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  2006 Chev Aveo LT - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mike - October 25 - 11:27 am

  I have had no problems with my car and I believe that when bought I drove it slower and allowed the engine to break in for the first 800 miles. Also every 3000 miles I have the oil changed. As of today I have no problems it continues to go 65-70mph down 95 as smooth as ever. Ill trade it in next year for a newer Aveo.

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  GREAT CAR!!! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By George W - October 25 - 4:46 am

  Great cargo space, great mileage, fun to drive. My family and friends love my 2008 HHR. Getting use to the window power switches in the middle,

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  Not the same car as the 2005-2007 models - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By GMcustomerNoMore - October 23 - 10:04 pm

  Used to have a 2005 LT: features, fit and finish were impeccable! Based on my experience, I bought a 2009 LT2 sight-unseen. First impression was the downgraded interior materials: silver plastic replaced wood-grain, vinyl for chrome, lower-quality leather. Engine compartment and trunk soundproofing were dropped so much noisier than the 05. Trunk lid does not sit flush and gaps between body panels vary widely. Trunk floor sags where spare tire well cover was eliminated. Center cap fell off after 2 weeks, a clicking noise developed in a rear door after 1 mo, molding above the drivers door peeling back after 5 mo and sunroof rattling after 6 mo. Goodwrench said irreparable under warranty!

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  My 2003 Z71 Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Phil Miller - October 23 - 10:00 am

  This truck is as smooth as it gets. The truck has great handling with the Z71, package very low body roll in sharp corners. The acceleration is as smooth as silk hardly noticing the transmission changing gears. The breaking has also been refined with 4- wheel disc. The peddle is somewhat soft compared to the old Z71, but the overall breaking performance has been greatly improved. I do not like the dash layout as much as the old Z71. The center console is twice as big as the old Z71 and the cup holders in the front have been reduced by 50% go figure. Overall it is a great truck, I would highly recommend it!

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  full size blazer 5.7 ltr v8 - 1993 Chevrolet Blazer
  By tydo - October 22 - 5:47 pm

  Got this truck in 2007 from my grandfather when he died. It was my first car and im debating on keeping it due to gas prices now that i am about to go to college. This truck has been the best. Extremely reliable and fun to drive, looks awesome as well. Definitely recommend buying one if you are a chevy truck kind of person