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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  Purchase of Enterprise Rental Car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Norb - September 8 - 2:00 am

  This 2001 Malibu has proven to be a smart purchase. Problems have been few and of a minor concern (heater/AC fan has 5 levels but only works at the highest 3 the "door ajar" signal sometimes goes off for no good reason).

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  Decent bang for the buck - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By rjf - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I disagree with those that say the car feels unstable - Ive had this thing on some uneven slopes and never had a problem. Overall, this has been a solid vehicle though not very exciting.

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  2003 Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By agoody68 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck. There is plenty of room for all 3 of my kids, and my wife. The DVD rear entertainment center keeps the kids happy too. The only thing I have noticed is a slight rattling felling through the steering wheel. I dont know if anyone else has noticed, or has the same feeling ?

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  03 Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dapper24 - September 8 - 2:00 am

  So far an excellent SUV choice. Plenty of power and responsiveness with a very good ride. Gas mileage could be better, then again its an SUV. No problems other than cheap radio preset dials, the black peels off over time, but is covered under warranty. We ordered our loaded (leather, 6 CD, sunroof, etc.) and it certainly feels like a luxury SUV, but without the debt.

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  Disappointed - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By lbh - September 7 - 1:56 pm

  Traded my 05 Chevy crew cab, got 17mpg. Now I only get 14mpg mostly hwy with new truck! A/c vent makes weird noise! Stiffer ride than my 05, does not have rear a/c vents like my 05, turning radius is too wide! Does have nice features like side curtain airbags, parking assist, nice looking truck but, been very disappointed so far compared with my 05 crew cab!

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  Ultimate Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By TScan - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I have put on about 6000 highway miles in about 2 months of ownership. I very much appreciate the ride quality. The audio system is superb!

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  Nothing to special - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chris03 - September 7 - 10:00 am

  Overall this vehical has been very good, 4wd has come in handy and worked well on icy roads..., however recently ive had problems with starting the truck, Ive taken it to 2 or 3 shops including a Chevy dealership and the problem still exists, the engine will turn over and over, ..theyre replaced numerous partsand tried different tests..so far nothing has worked its something that doesnt affect the driveability. I also have had to replace the U joint, apparently Chevy was inaccurae with their calculations when installing that (on all 99s) therefore you either live with a hellish noise, and adventually a vibration, or get it replaced

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  Its soooooo bad - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By What a lemon - September 7 - 10:00 am

  I have never bought a new car with so many problems. All these problems and it never went off road. All sway bars had to be replaced within the first 3 months to stop the banging noise when I made a turn. The entire left wheel had to be replaced and remounted. The squeeking noise during normal driving is driving me mad. Now the transmition doesnt always shift from 1st to 2nd. It has been in to be repaired at least once per month since I bought it. Im dumping it before the warranty runs out. DO NOT BUY ONE.

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  truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By phjunior - September 7 - 10:00 am

  good truck but needs less plastic parts. Everything makes noise in the interior.

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  Unsatisfied Mom of Two - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Traci - September 7 - 9:56 am

  This vehicle looks good but has to many kinks that need worked out. From new shocks and brakes to electronic failure, the Chevy Equinox was not ready for market.