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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  great but not awesome - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Brian - June 25 - 8:48 pm

  Bought truck new and let me tell you, If you ever owned a Fiero this truck is a Godsend. Yes I have had some problems...driver side seat lever snapped (pot metal design) I have had the ball joints replaced and the fuel relay. also the heater core clogged but I blew it out with some water. the only annoying thing is the abs , which activates in dry weather...pulled the fuse..no abs but who needs abs it is useless anyhow...I think I have had one time this truck didnt start in 10 years..cause of the fuel relay..to me that is a dependable truck..the rest I can deal with.

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  Be ready for Repairs - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Colorado - June 25 - 11:54 am

  I bought this vehicle with an extended warranty, thank heavens. Within a month they had to replace the whole engine due to valve problems, after 50000 miles transmission cracked in half. Also thankfully covered under warranty. 30000 miles later transmission out again. This time on my dollar. Also clicking noises constantly under the hood that no one can figure out. We do regular maintenance but the big things just keep adding up. I love my truck, the look, the handling, and space but I couldnt in good conscience recommend it to anyone with such costly repairs continuing every time we turn around. They have major problems with the engines in that year and the transmissions.

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  this truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By pimprod - June 25 - 10:00 am

  this truck is kind of fats but it could use some more horespower it is down on the competion it needs a supercharger and it need not to be a awd truck

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  Mostly happy...so far - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Walter K. - June 23 - 2:42 pm

  We paid $44K for the 2003 TahoeLT4WD and looking back now the amount surprises me. Not that the truck is not a great value but we have invested in brake pads (twice), rotors (once) and other rear-end parts. There is a leak from the overhead A/C control that spills water (when heavy rain) onto the front passenger. The truck drives powerfully, holds the road very well and eats up potholes and off-road bumps with ease. The interior layout works real well with 4 captain chairs and 2 removable third row seats. We hope to get another 70k miles before any more investment or trade in. I would recommend this truck to anyone with need to travel distances safely with kids and a dog. Its worth it.

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  Transmission problems - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Morteen - June 23 - 1:44 pm

  From day one we have had transmission problems. Dealer said need new transmission but when we appealed to GM headquarter miraculously we found that it was electrical or computer generated problem. We were told this by someone other than the GM dealer. At a stop light when we give it gas the veh feels like we ran over a railroad track. Still having problems. 6/23/2009

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  Cobalt LS Sedan - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dee Page - June 23 - 1:46 am

  I am very impressed with the handling of this car. The car really hugs the road and there isnt any feeling of "losing" the back end in a sharp curve. I get better gas mileage than what is shown on the window sticker. The seats are firm and offer proper support. There is plenty of room and can get all my errands ran in one day. You get a lot of car for the money and is worth every penny.

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  Very Reliable Truck - Trailers Great!! - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By scott - June 22 - 10:05 am

  I have had pretty good luck with this Chevy. I bought it with 8K miles, and it now has 52K miles. I have driven across country with a boat trailer weighing 2500 lbs, as well as a camper weighing 3000 lbs, and also a camper weighing 4000 lbs. It pulled all of the trailers smoothly with no problem. It has the sport suspension package which helps great for handling. The longest drive with a trailer was about 600 miles, and it was the 4000 lb(24 ft) camper, I had no problem keeping it at 60-65 mph across KS and MO. I had the stabilizer bars on. It handles a trailer great with the added Class III hitch, aftermarket. Best gas mileage I had was 26mpg with full bed going 65mph.

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  Whats not to like - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By DEON - June 22 - 7:36 am

  Good strong truck. Will buy another. But I will miss that 496 C.I.D.

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  Like a Rock - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Kevin - June 21 - 8:30 pm

  This is my 4th Chevy Truck. This year I was considering another make, but after looking at the options, seeing the prices, I went with what I knew best, the Chevy. The employee discout was a great incentive too. I looked at everything but a Dodge (never a fan) and was real close to getting a Ford, but when it came down to it, I went with what has always been good to me. So far I have been very satified, and even got some nice comments from friends and neighbors. When I go looking for my next truck, I can assure you, Chevy will be the first I look at.

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  TB5.3v8 - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Nick Ricc - June 21 - 6:28 am

  First TB was 02, and didnt like 4.2. Was traded for 04 Tahoe that was great, but I was offered special incentives to trade on a 08TB 5.3, and have enjoyed it ever since. MPG average is about 18.2 and seems to improve with middle grade 89.