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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  My new Jimmy - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Mike - January 23 - 1:38 am

  I just got a new 05 Jimmy. I knew what to expect because my buddy has one. Great truck on a solid frame, not unibody. Rides rough, but that was expected. Simple and functional styling. Not your import with toys and whistles that cause problems and $$ down the road. It should perform well down the road I think. The price in Canada is awesome, $6000.00 instant rebate. Comes with air, ABS all wheel disk brakes, full am/fm CD. V6 Auto.

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  Very Good Purchase - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Luvn It - January 22 - 11:36 pm

  The next generation SUV. We love the leather, heated seats. The radio controls are easy to use on the wheel and on the stereo. Love the bass. The power/torque this vehicle has is fabulous. I have the same engine in my Venture, but this is geared so much better. Electronic steering and transmission are amazing. Cruise is so much better than on the traditional mechanical transmission. 17" wheels make this SUV look so much better than the standard 16". All of my friends love it also.

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  More for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Tom - January 22 - 7:52 pm

  I bought the Tracker after I had wrecked my Blazer. I did so out of economical reasons and wound up being pleasantly surprised. It has more strength in the V6 engine and pretty good mileage. It handled better than my old Blazer in the poor weather and it is handling its first winter like a champ! The only problem is that it is just a tad too small for rear adult passengers and cargo. However, for a single person who wants more versatility out of their vehicle, the Tracker is the smart way to go.

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  So much hope, so little in return - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tony G. - January 22 - 7:16 pm

  I purchased a new TB over 3 yrs ago, with the intention of this being my "I finally made it!!" vehicle.... well, I have made it to the dealership and various repair shops countless times.... almost all of the problems you can read in other reviews, I have experienced them as well.... wind whistling with the windows up, tail light failures, mysterious rattles/noises, shifts into 4wd by itself.... the most disconcerting problem is the transmission, which bucks from first to second when cold, and also lunges just before coming to a complete stop.... the transmission finally blew up at 83k, of which 95% were highway miles.... cannot wait to rid myself of this scourge.... never again!!

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  Dependable Truck - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By David - January 22 - 11:25 am

  Have enjoyed this truck since purchasing. Ride is good for a truck, handles well, good gas mileage. Performs adequately on flat or rolling hills unless you are on an interstate. Do not get the 2.2L 4 cyl engine if you live in the mountains or hilly country. Also bad glare from instrument panel at night on back window. Would buy this truck again but with an engine upgrade. Never had one problem after leaving the dealership.

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  Love My Tahoe! - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ollysha - January 22 - 11:22 am

  We love our Tahoe. The only, only, only thing we do not like about is the power button on the radio, the black is coming off. We called our dealer and we are covered under warranty but they will have to replace the entire radio. The car is strong and has good "get up and go". We got the 3rd row seat which we keep stored and put a plastic liner in the back. The rear A/C is AWESOME each row has two vents and it works fast! The CD changer in dash is sooo convenient and never skips. The 4x4 feature is amazingly easy to use. We will keep this car for a long time! We did buy small round mirrors to put on side mirrors and this made traffic easier to deal with.

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  Happy with my truck - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By vince427 - January 21 - 7:43 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle since October 2000 and am very happy with it. I purchased it with the OEM towing package, but havent needed to use it. The 4x4 works well in the Long Island winter (as well as in Westchester!) The only problem I encountered was needing to replace the rotors after 25K miles (but Im in a lot of stop and go traffic)

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  Love our HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By TsnPenguins - January 21 - 4:13 pm

  We bought our HHR in November after much research of the competition, including the PT Cruiser, Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe. After reading the Edmunds HHR reviews (again), we can only shake our head and wonder why the critics are so hard on this great little vehicle! (The window control buttons are hardly a major issue to harp on). Our HHR is very road worthy, handling is excellent, mileage is 25 mpg in city driving on the 2.4 engine, the ride is incredibly comfortable and we do not miss the gas guzzling Jeep that we traded for the HHR. Dealer experience continues to be excellent. The HHR is nothing but fun to drive. We highly recommend this wonderful vehicle and applaud GM.

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  Another TrailBlazer? Just maybe - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Robie - January 21 - 12:44 pm

  53,000 trouble free miles. Economical to drive, comfortable. Leather, CD, wished I had a sunroof. Will probably get a Tahoe next cause I need the vehicle to be a little larger for long trips that I take.

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  Best Buy For Your Money - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By n2914mr - January 21 - 11:41 am

  I have had a very good experience with this vehicle in the year that I have owned it. The Impala is large enough to accommodate a family, but not too big. Acceleration is good, fuel economy is excellent and overall I would buy this car again. Brake/rotor wear is the only major issue I have had. This car is often compared to Honda/Toyota, yet unfairly dismissed for GMs past quality issues. I have owned both Honda and Toyota and when cost is a factor in your decision you will find the Impala a much better buy for your dollar. GM has made leaps and bounds in closing the QC gap it has faced against its Japanese counterparts. You will be impressed with the caliber of this vehicle.