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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  The Skinny - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Gary Preston - March 26 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Trailblazer is a fun and peppy vehicle to drive. I have owned both a Buick Park Avenue and a Cadillac Sedan DeVille and the Trailblazer is a comfortable as either. We affectionately call ours the "Country Cadillac."

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  Do I have a lemon? - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By foodsgreat - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Our trailblazer has been back to the dealer several times for numerous reasons. The computer wouldnt reset the mirrors when I went to drive the car after my husband...the windshield wipers come on at random, just once to show us they will work should we need them...the rear door handles broke...and just last weekend it was in because the fan clutch had to be replaced. And to think weve only owned it a year. My dad has one for a company car and my aunt bought one for herself and they both have had NO problems with theirs.

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  LTZ Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tracey12 - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I love the look of the Trailblazer and have been happy with previous Chevys. Back cargo at perfect level for loading/unlaoding. Very roomy, comfortable seating. Only problem I have had is tire pressure going low. Had blow out at 3000 miles. Gas cap needs a little work to be put on properly.

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  Never Had a Day of Trouble - 1995 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rob Williams - March 25 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely LOVE this car. It rides extremely smooth, performance is second to none for a car this size anywhere in this price range, and it never fails to turn a few heads. I couldnt ask for anything more. Ive only had to change the oil and buy new tires.

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  safe, reliable and tough - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ROLO - March 25 - 2:00 am

  i have ad this vehicle for 7 years now-- -its about time to get a new one, but i have a hard time getting rid of this one--i still love it. it had had a few problems --ex--bad intake manifold gasket--at 6 years---$25 part with much labor--other than that no real problems except for normal wear and tear---i have 93000 miles and still going strong- -its a beast in the snow and great for towing--i would get another TAHOE---but not if prices keep getting out of reach.

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  Camaro V6 - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By NinoK - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Have owned my Camaro for just over 6 years, and never had any noteworthy problems. Among favorite features: sporty looks and affordable price. On the downside, car feels very heavy, and is not much fun to drive. Still arguably one of the best bangs for the money – and if I had to do it again (with my finances six years ago, and my ownership experience six years after), I would buy it no questions asked.

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  Transmission Nightmare - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By malibutrany - March 25 - 2:00 am

  With only 46,763 miles on my 2000 Malibu I didnt expect the transmission to go. Not to mention, warped brake rotors, cheap tires, and poor cooling & heating system. When the transmission went out I contacted two local dealers. Both of which didnt want to deal with the problems and gave me the 800 # for GM customer service. GM informed me that they couldnt help me either, as I didnt have documentation of service done at a GM dealership and couldnt prove that I hadnt tampered with the transmission! Ill never buy GM again due to product quality and NO customer service. My advice . . do not buy a Malibu.

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  Bang for the Buck - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 2000Z-71 - March 25 - 2:00 am

  As far as bang for the buck, its impossible to beat the Camaro. Where else can you get over 300 horsepower for under 30,000? Yeah its crude, loud, noisy and a few shakes and rattles, but that all disappears as you roll into the throttle. My only complaint about the car is moving to Phoenix and seeing my insurance rates double.

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  You cant beat this car. - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By ssmonte carlo - March 24 - 1:13 pm

  This is a great car. It may be old engineering, but what this means is that is has never been back to the dealer for any problems. Fun to drive and you dont need the supercharger, which requires premium gas. .

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  Basic but Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By BP - March 24 - 12:03 pm

  I got a base model Cobalt about 3 weeks ago and despite having nothing on my dealer "Options" form except "Floor Mats," this little ride has proven to be full of surprises. Its a quick four-banger and the standard CD player and roomy interior with folding back seats makes for many funs trips. I do think the seats are a bit stiff (probably to reduce driver fatigue) and the absence of a arm rest between the driver and passenger seats leaves my elbow searching for a place to rest. Otherwise the low sticker price and decent mpg make it a fair deal (currently 23.3 mpg). I find the new electric power stearing a bit sensitive on the expressway but the suspension gives a very smooth ride.