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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  Very happy with purchase - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By GM Wife - September 16 - 8:44 pm

  We leased this vehicle new in 2006 and have been very happy with it. We occasionally use this vehicle to tow with, commute to work, and to take on trips. Last summer, we drove the vehicle 9 hours to Tennessee with four adults, luggage, and loaded down with a trailer and it performed beautifully. The engine is strong and the turning radius is amazingly tight. This is the easiest vehicle I have ever parked. Even though it is two wheel drive, the traction control makes it handle great in the snow. Im going to miss it when we turn the lease back in next May.

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  Love This Car! - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Awsomeness!!! - September 15 - 2:36 pm

  My First car I ever bought. This car did alot of 5 hr trips to Mammoth Mountain. Also it was my commuter car... Easily hit speeds I shouldnt have been driving and very roomy. Love the fact that I could fit 6 people in there and did it often. I am still beating myself up for trading this car in for a Jetta... Ugh, the jetta blows compared to this truck!

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  LOve the vehicle - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Joe - September 15 - 12:42 pm

  I currently have 10,500 miles on my Traverse and Im pretty happy with the comfort, performance and gas mileage the car has been getting. I drove a Tahoe before this and its just as roomy and it gets better mileage. Its my first AWD car and I notice slipping when turning corners and rollback on inclines. Wondering if this is normal?

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  Still glad we bought it after 16k miles - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Lonniegl - September 15 - 2:00 am

  2002 LT w/ Autoride - Its been a year now and 16k miles and we still love the truck. It hasnt required any warranty service. We got the center buckets because we were used to that feature from our minivan. Kids can walk between the seats to get in the back; but you drop to 7 passanger capacity instead of 8. Gets 19mpg on the highway and about 13 around town which is respectable. Minor interior rattles, one notably from a center bucket seatback. Stereo sounds great at high volumes, average at lower volumes. Ride is excellent. Car is quick,drivetrain has been flawless. This is my wifes car and she absolutely loves it.

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  great car 4 money - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By chevyman - September 15 - 12:19 am

  very easy to work on, plenty of room, for the money, it was very worth it. especially the gas mileage. we average around 31mpg.

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  Chevy Quality? - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bman - September 14 - 11:51 pm

  Bought this truck in 2003 with 35k on it. have put 100k on it since then. steers more like a mini van than a truck, rides better also. Have replaced every power window motor at least once, replaced transmission at 105K have replaced 4 oxygen sensors and still have engine trouble light on. push button 4 WD switch doesnt always work, door locks occasionally dont work, check 4 WD light comes on but no mechanic can figure out why, wheel speed sensor in front wheel hubs were repaired under recall once but again dont work causing ABS to activate at speeds less than 5 mph such as when you are trying to stop at a redlight, causing brakes to not work, have had several near fender- benders.

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  Leaky - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By madmae200 - September 14 - 6:18 pm

  The car drives great and is pretty reliable. It rains in puddles on the back floor board and back where tire is stored. Nothing else in the car gets wet. I vacuumed a 1/2 gallon of water. The dealership has no idea where the water is coming from. Seats, headliners and inside interior are all dry.

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  Good Truck - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By black s10 - September 14 - 11:50 am

  I bought my s10 with 94k. after i bought it the alternator went out. i replaced front pads, rotors, and wheel bearings at 100k. new tires and front ball joints followed at 130k. ive replaced the fuel pump twice. the truck now has 160k with no signs of stopping. its a dependable truck. parts can be pricey but with proper care, the truck will last as long as you want it to. gas mileage is great, its under powered with the 4cyl, but id prefer the gas mileage over the acceleration. if planning on lowering it like i did, be prepared for suspension components to fail.

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  2001 Chevrolet S-10 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Chuck - September 13 - 7:53 pm

  When I purchased this vehicle used in 2004 it had 38,000 miles. It has always started and has been one of the most reliable vehicles that I have owned. The 4.3 engine has excellent power and I have towed a 16 boat through the hills of Maryland and Pennsylvania with no problems whatsoever. The vehicle gets about 20 to 21 miles per gallon, and other than tires and brakes, the only thing that I replaced was a power steering pump.

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  04 Monte Carlo is a pleasant surprise - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By blucas2 - September 13 - 6:49 pm

  I bought this car as a "work" car due to driving so much for my job. I liked the styling and the price, so i bought her. She had 70,000 on her when i brought her home. I have had no problems with this car. Routine maintenance and a set of tires. She now has 126,000 miles and I am noticing a squeeking noise coming from my front left tire. Its probably a wheel bearing, not surprising at all. Not a big deal. This car has tons of power and gets about 27 MPG average. I cant ask for more from a car that is 8 years old and has 126,000 miles. Chevy really screwed up when they stopped making this gem. Get rid of the freaking Impala and start making the Monte again.