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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  Early Production 03 Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JoeMax - July 23 - 10:00 am

  Overall this is a wonderful truck. I love the size and comfort, in both the front and rear. Plenty of cargo space. Wasnt even on the market for a new truck. Drove by my local dealer and the had one out front, fell in love with the exterior styling. At the time of purchase, the 3rd row seat was not available in Z71 (it is now). One tap on the dashboard, it just reeks cheap!!!

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  should I should I not - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By winnie - July 22 - 4:32 pm

  I use to love my car because it had alot of comfort that I had not had before. I am not able to do alot of the maintenance that older cars require and I thought about getting a new one.

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  Average, But A Good First Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cris - July 22 - 10:09 am

  Overall its a good point a to b kind of car its nothing special but it does what its supposed to. I got it for around 10k used with 20k miles on it. Not a bad price at all, but unfortunately lacking in features. No power windows/locks therefore no keyless entry either. It just surprises me that these features arent standard these days. Every car should have them. The Cobalt is a great car for a first time driver though its cheap, fuel efficient, got a little bit of power, and doesnt look half bad in most colors (mine is white and its really not the best looking color for the car). Standard cruise control would be nice too.

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  3800 LTZ - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Tony - July 21 - 9:07 pm

  This car was my moms for 10 years and I just got it as my first car and what a great car it is. the only problem so far is a hole in a plastic elbow for radiator fluid line but its a fairly easy fix the only thing i dont get is why use plastic for something thats holding pressurized hot liquid ? The stock not supercharged 3.8 kicks on the streets and can spank most stock cars off the line

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  Love it and Hate it!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By DV - July 21 - 1:38 pm

  I bought this car three years ago and I absolutely love the way it drives, I love the way it looks and I love the special options. What I hate is that I have had several problems since the day I drove it off the showroom floor to include tire sensors, strange smell of radiator fluid, head gasket replacement (twice!!), new alternator, new battery, electrical problems with the seat warmers - sometimes they work, sometimes they dont, sometimes the electrical panel goes blank while I am driving- all in the first 37,000 miles! I got a dud! I love it and I hate it.

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  2000 Checy Prizm Review - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Rick - July 21 - 10:38 am

  Generally a reliable vehicle. But the following problems have surfaced in the past 2 yrs. 1) Check engine light analyzed but repair didnt fix the problem. 2) Seatbelt light flashes sometimes for no reason. 3) A/C stopped working - too expensive to repair. 4) Cruise control works sometimes and sometimes doesnt work. 5) Transmission linkage shifts out of drive into neutral sometimes. Considering this is a Toyota Corolla with a Chevy nameplate, I am rather disappointed in this vehicle which has had good reviews elsewhere.

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  Hope it floats - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dachismom - July 20 - 11:28 pm

  I purchased this car after driving a Focus for 9 years. I had it for 5 days and then it rained. I thought I WAS IN A BATHTUB. It has been at the dealer for over a week waiting for parts to come in. I think I know why I got such a good deal. Hopefully it floats.....

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  Love it - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mapanch - July 19 - 11:56 pm

  Bought this TB used with 30,000 miles. Have had nothing but good luck with it. I beat the hell out of this car (muddin and taking my toys out) and still have had zero problems with it (knock on wood). The I6 is an awesome engine, can hardly feel any difference when towing. The 4X4 is mountain goat strong - go anywhere. Comfortable for long trips, even to sleep in for a few days. Massive amounts of interior storage. All in all a good truck. Traded in from a Nissan Xterra - this is on par with an Xterra. Just a whole lot cheaper due to GMs crap resale value. Ground clearance stinks however, had to put a 3" lift on it - althought 98% will never leave pavement - still good offroad

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  Fun Yet Functional - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Lang - July 19 - 8:36 pm

  Ive had this car for about 18 months. I purchased it as a bit of a compromise. It has many nice features, had some zip, yet also had front wheel drive for northern winters. Turns out, not much of a compromise. Driving this car never fails to put a smile on my face. When you step on the gas, youre gone! It is by no means a high performance sports car. You can quibble about numb steering and other pretentious car guy stuff, but it has great muscle and a fun factor. The average guy, of which I am one, will have a great time with this car. A real plus, especially given $4+ gas, has been the mileage. I get 22 around town and more than 26 on a recent 1200 road trip.

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  09 Aveo Automatic - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Oregonaveo - July 19 - 6:07 pm

  Just purchased the 09 Aveo 5 w/ auto and air package. So far I am happy with it. With the cash 4 clunkers and employee pricing I am paying $8000 including Title and Registration.