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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  Too many trips to the service dept. - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By jones - March 17 - 10:59 am

  The truck is great...when it is not in the shop for service. Little things that should NOT be problems on a truck this age - with this little mileage and that is this well-maintained - occur over and over again. And the "fix" doesnt always stay fixed. So we have had too many visits to service, and too many repeat issues. The service people are always very pleasant and willing to help. But my guess is that something about the products is sub-standard. It is very frustrating to have to take it in and do without it so often.

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  Trailblazin with LOTS of room - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By pofolks - March 17 - 10:00 am

  This SUV was made with the middle man in mind. Finally a SUV that has all the comforts and performances of the "bigger brother" at a lower cost. Excellent truck for the price

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  Nice Economy car for a good price - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By PD - March 16 - 9:46 pm

  Just got the car today. Its a base auto with AC and ABS. It drives and rides pretty good for an economy car. Gets very good gas mileage so far 30+ mpg. Got mine for 12.5k which is a great price for a new car. Its not the most exciting car to drive, but thats not why I bought it.

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  Good little car, Good mileage. - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kellyraew - March 16 - 12:18 pm

  Fun to drive, great u-turns, and good mileage. 123,000 miles so far. For the most part, I have been happy with my Cobalt up until recently, and I dont know if I should blame the car or my teen who drives it a lot! The key gets stuck in the ignition, and if I pull back gently on the shift lever while in PARK, the ignition locks so the key will come out. The radio/cd player has locked up on it own a couple of times, but then unlocks itself. Check engine goes on and off occasionally, and ENGINE POWER REDUCED too. But I shut down the car, restart it 20 min later and the problem goes away. Might have faulty PCM, heard there is a bulletin out on that particular Cobalt problem.

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  Good value for the $$$ - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Palmetto - March 15 - 12:11 am

  110 K mi. Absolutely no mech.issues to date. Good road ride, front seats are very comfortable , rear seats are not comfortable, tight entry/exit. Handles well on the highway, a little whale(ish) around town. The 4,2 L 275 hp engine is quiet and smooth with more than adequate power. Gas mileage is decent: 16-18 mpg city, 20-24 mpg hwy. With 55-60 mph cruise 25+ mpg. LTZ model but a basic Chevy w/bland, cheap plastic interior appointments. Excessive wind noise around windows. OA a decent American SUV for the money, not great, but a good value so far. I have not spent a penny beyond basic maintenance, which is a pleasant departure and surprise for a GM vehicle.

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  Fun! Fun! Fun! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By I Love My Z 28 - March 14 - 9:58 pm

  I have owned this z 28 since new and could not bear to part with it. Its all black with the the black leather interior. I love this car but only drive it on weekends or sunny days. The only problem is with the Opti-Spark distributor, it has been replaced 3 times. The distributor sits under the water pump and shorts out if there is a leak. But I can accept that in a car that is this fun to own and drive!

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  Best S-10 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Pool_Hall_God - March 14 - 9:55 pm

  This is the best s-10 I have ever driven in the s-10 models with the 4 cylinder engine impressed me very much so.. And the handling was shaky at first but found out front shock needed to be replaced after that it is a all around good buy

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  best Ive ever owned! - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Brian Lagor - March 14 - 10:28 am

  I bought the car used with 77,000 miles on it. It is now 2009 and she has 112,000 miles in that time off hard Vermont winters the car has never stranded me. It will warn you if it is going to do something like the alternator I replaced it once. I have also replaced the fuel tank. She is the ultimate practical ride super reliable if not the showiest. I highly recommended The 3.1 liter engine it is awesome at 150 HP and still sips gas. The only hang up I have is the heater could be warmer.

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  Perfect for the price - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By demonspeed - March 13 - 9:16 pm

  My fiance and I purchased our TrailBlazer as a third vehicle for road trips to visit family in the north east. Gas mileage isnt stellar, but for the type of vehicle it is, I think its fine. Interior is basic, but thats exactly what we wanted - and it fits the price. The exterior is very Chevrolet and brawny. The tight turning radius is extremely welcomed in the congested traffic we have in DC. The ride is great for a BOF SUV and it feels nimble and brakes adequately for its size. Acceleration is fine, but at times it feels as though it could use some more power. I guess Im spoiled as my daily driver is a 2005 GTO. Overall, the vehicle is perfect for our needs.

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  Last of its Kind - 1993 Chevrolet Corvette
  By CorvetteLT1 - March 13 - 8:26 pm

  Bought new and will probably leave in my will. Love this car for its looks, performance and very unique features: true clamshell hood, rollup headlights, steamroller tires and ultra deep bucket seats (its very entertaining to watch a passengers ingress / egress).