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:

• 

  1999 Z28 by adult driver - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By kjbuster - May 10 - 2:00 am

  Fast, fun to drive, great trip mileage -28 mpg, lots of tire noise inside cab, poor overall quality( two broken sun visors, original battery installation faulty,failed window motor,failed clutch master cylinder, two trips to shop for A/C problems. Too many repairs for a low mileage and carefully driven car.

• 

  Hodges Experience - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Darvel Hodge Jr. - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I have had no major problems with this vehicle. It has been very reliable and it is so much fun to drive. When purchased I added ground effects with P275-40ZR17 Perelli SP 7000 and Fitapalidi Exclusive Chrome Wheels. I also added a K&N Air Filter System and an air flow director. It loves to run and basically poetry in motion. I will keep this car forever.

• 

  Lemon Nightmare! - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By madmom - May 10 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my TrailBlazer in April of 2003, it broke down at least once a month. Both tail lights broke - twice. The car had an electrical short that no one could find. Every time I got out of the car it would shock me. Each time I took it into the dealership they would tell me it was static - yea right. I have never had a car with cloth seats shock me EVERY time I closed the door. The transmission broke - but the dealership didnt think their was a problem. Good news - as long as you dont mind punching it to 4000 rpms everytime you take off it will shift for you.

• 

  Impala LS - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By broncoguys - May 10 - 2:00 am

  Excellent large car with exceptional gas mileage!!!!

• 

  Great for any age - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By madcrafter - May 9 - 9:10 pm

  Anytime you want to go some where you never have to worry you always have enough room and power to go anywhere. I love the truck.

• 

  You cant beat it - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Drseigler - May 9 - 6:06 pm

  I love this car! I cant think of anything that could give you more bang for your buck! It will SMOKE a Ford, looks great, and who says that boy-racer style s a bad thing? Im 16, and I feel that the car was MADE for me.

• 

  Not overly impressed - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Stevie-P - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Bought this truck to replace an aging Lumina 18 months ago. In that time Ive put 33K on it, with little problem. Replaced a throttle position sensor around 70K miles ($145). However, replacing a fuel pump is NOT cheap. The pump itself is $530, not to mention the premium price that GM dealerships garner.

• 

  Steer clear of these! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TeeSorter - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Malibu for only 2 years, and in that two years, it has been nothing but problem after problem. I bought the car with only 68,000 miles on it. The dealer I bought it from actually put about 1500 bucks into it during the first 6 months I had it (part of the selling agreement to fix some of the things)....I hate this car, and will never own another Chevy after this. Every fluid the car has in it, other then the brake fluid has leaked at some point. I just received a recall on it. The drivers side power window works when it feels like it.

• 

  GM take a hint. - 2004 Chevrolet Astro
  By Astro Fan - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The best vehicle in its class. The problem is that its the only one in its class. Because of no competition, GM has treated the Astro like an ugly step child. The last revision was nearly ten years ago. I upgraded to a 2000 model from the 91 I had. The only noticeable difference beside appearance was the reliability of a newer vehicle. After just a few years my new van rattled just like my old one. Ive had many service calls that were fortunately under warranty. Delco batteries only last two years in Florida.I love my van but Im sorry that when Im ready for a new one, GM will have done little to give me a reason to buy.

• 

  Its O.K. - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By mitchellaubrey - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Has a small engine noise(sounds like lifters on brand new truck). Going down the road it sounds like the window is open (they tell me its the roof rack.) $400 for an upgrade to 5 cd is a bit much. Not happy with sound and features of stereo for the cost of upgrade. bed of truck to shallow. would never get cloth again, like a magnet to dirt. not much room in back seat. two small children 4 and 6 and feet very close to driver seat. gas milage for small truck 15 to 18 mpg. small gas tank. re-fill about 200 miles.