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:

• 

  Trailblaser not reliable - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jtruono - July 6 - 2:00 am

  Wiper moter went 1st week. Loose bolts under hood. Brakes went bad & fromt routers replaced dealer wont replace rear routers. Pinging noise in motor, computer had to be reprogramed. Four wd failed in snowstorm & needed to be reprogramed.

• 

  rating the ext - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tone1 - July 6 - 2:00 am

  rearend went out @ 7000 miles. brake lights went out 3 times.service bulletin was issued for this ,and the front suspension feels loose and rattles. other than that its a nice vehicle.

• 

  RATE THIS VEHICLE - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By rednic - July 6 - 2:00 am

  HAVE OWNED OVER 40 NEW CARS. TRADED CADILLAC FOR THIS CHEVY. TRIED OUT SEVERAL NEW CARS. THIS CHEVY IS BY FAR AHEAD OF OTHER MAKES FOR GAS MILEAGE, COMFORT AND EASY TO DRIVE. NO PROBLEMS.

• 

  WV Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ray - July 5 - 6:16 pm

  Its not a bad vehicle but it is not as good as the 2002 Trailblazer I traded for it. Figuring out the radio/CD controls is very difficult. The seats are comfortable. The ride is good but the gas mileage is poor. I got better gas mileage with the 2002 Trailblazer. This is a big disappointment!

• 

  Very Fun Car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By HHRfan - July 5 - 6:20 am

  I did a lot of research before I bought my HHR, but I was surprised at just how fun this car really is. There are a lot of extras and small touches that make the car something special. Of all the cars Ive ever owned, this one makes the best impression. Contrary to some reviews Ive read, the handling is fun. The ride is as smooth as glass, and the steering is very responsive. Its amazing how tight it turns in parking situations. I can make u-turns in very, very tight circles. The small windows and windshield give the car a fun attitude when you drive, too. The novelty of the doesnt get in the way, though. Its not over the top. Its just fun. My favorite car ever.

• 

  REVIEW2003 - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By jbrewer - July 5 - 2:00 am

  I NOW HAVE OVER 102k MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE KEY TO THE LONGEVITY OF ANY PIECE OF MACHINERY. WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A 3700 MILE TRIP WHERE OUR HIGHWAY GAS MILEAGE AVERAGED 28MPG. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

• 

  Nice Car - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Newf - July 5 - 2:00 am

  My car (1992 Z24)has 220000K on it and the engine does not miss a beat. I have recently ran into troubles with the water pump and belt tensioner (while on vacation) but I feel confident saying that the motor will last forever. I really like the look and feel of this car and enjoy leaving my friends behind on the highway (In their 2000-2003 caviliers and sunfires)

• 

  1993 Camaro V6 - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camaroguy1993 - July 5 - 2:00 am

  My camaro handles very very well, besides the poor fuel economy in town the car is great. I get 28 miles a gallon on the freeway cruzing at speeds of 80-85 mph. Front seats have alot of room but that back seats are kinda small but I am 62 and its not to bad for short rides. Handling around corners in the camaro is great it hugs the road really nice. The body style is the same from 93-02 besides the front head lights that changed.

• 

  The Heavy Chevy! - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By All-around Pleased - July 5 - 2:00 am

  The Cavalier has been a really good car for me and my family. It has a sporty look, but is pretty easy on the wallet. Gets great mileage (thanks to the automatic transmission) and has ample power for long time travel. Only problems Ive had, except for routine maintenance, is head gasket replaced around 80,000 miles, water pump replaced at 81,000 miles, car main computer down around 90,000 miles (replaced with used one), and alternator replaced around 95,000 miles. Sounds like a lot, but was very reasonably priced to fix (especially if you know some good "private" mechanics). All in all, not much to ask for a really hard ridden car.

• 

  best bang for the buck - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Helio Castroneves - July 5 - 2:00 am

  You can take this relatively inexpensive automobile and spend 3 or 4 grand on it to end up with one of the fastest rides on the street. I eat Corvettes, run with and usually away from Vipers, and put most of Europe to shame. Only the tuners with Japanese stuff can hang with me.