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:

• 

  LTZ Rocks!!! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JEP - December 7 - 10:00 am

  So far, so pleased. I came from a Honda---a big difference. Love all the bells and whistles that came with the Trailblazer. I havent had a reason to need or ask for anything more because the LTZ has it ALL.

• 

  awsome - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By gyl - December 7 - 10:00 am

  runs smooth. A lil loose on the corners.

• 

  excellent value - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tdk - December 7 - 1:36 am

  We have now had this car for a year 17,000 miles and it has not disappointed. The ride is excellent and the gas mileage for a v-6 w power is great, about 25 in city and 35-38 highway. The 4 cylinder Accord we had in the past never got this kind of mileage and the power was not in the same league as the Malibu. The price is also much less than the imports.

• 

  Last Chevy I buy . . . - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Tock - December 7 - 12:05 am

  Its a good idea for a truck, but 26 mpg isnt enough mileage for me. Beware of electrical problems . . . first thing that happens is in cold weather, it wont start unless you have more than 1/4 tank of gas. Then the lights start to flicker, and the brake lights go (had the brake lights fixed once, theyre out again). Good luck trying to find the cause once the warranty expires

• 

  2005 Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By robert - December 6 - 11:50 pm

  The gas mileage is not very good. I get around 11 to 12 mpg around town. The ride is pretty good. The 3rd row seats hard to get to. Cant get the drivers seat in a comfortable position, maybe because I was used to my 2004 Silverado crew cab. Should have used those seats. Hard to get a hold of the seat belts.

• 

  Just off the lot and havig fun - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Bill Brennum - December 6 - 7:46 pm

  Good car with nice standard features for a decent price and mileage for a large room car. It looks small on the outside, but feels big on the inside. Love the dual climate control feature.

• 

  Loveit - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dudao90 - December 6 - 6:22 pm

  I bought the car in February and have already had the chance to take it on 3 long road trips. I love it. Power is there when you need it and when you are cruizing on the open road its not uncommon to see the fuel range in the 33-35 mpg. I had an issue with the steering column a couple months after I bought it but they replaced it with no questions and its been fine ever since. Id definitely recommend it to anyone.

• 

  Good Decision - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Diane - December 6 - 5:58 pm

  My husband and I just bought the car earlier this month but we researched it a lot prior to buying it and test drove many cars before making our decision. So far I am really enjoying it and we are very pleased with it.

• 

  One last chance - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mercury - December 6 - 4:33 pm

  One last chance for GM, mainly because of GM card credits. Initial impression is favorable. The Cobalt LS is quiet, responsive, basic. I like the higher seating position and the information display on the dash (outside temp-mileage-economy-coolant temp-trip odometers). Seats are firm, comfortable for a short ride. Fuel economy is good. Dependability is the question mark. So far-so good.

• 

  SS Pickup - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ron - December 6 - 11:33 am

  I cannot find anything wrong with this truck. Everything works and all the fits are tighter than anything Ive seen on a Tundra. Everyday I find more stuff it has and neat litte "toys" that make this a really fun truck. It also is great for towing... I had to pull a trailer back home (1100 miles) the first week I had it and never even knew it was there. Great Truck!