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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  4 year owner - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By wbertacchini - January 9 - 11:04 am

  We have had our TB for 4 years and have had very little wrong with it. Some issues in the beginning, but has been great since (knock on wood). We average 17 in the city and 21+ on the highway. For a big 4x4 with a big interior it is a great buy. We plan on driving it till it stops.

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  Too Many Repairs - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Kurt - January 9 - 3:46 am

  I bought this vehicle with the greatest of expectations. Duramax iesel, Allison trans. what a dream. It turned into a nightmare. The Injectors have been replaced 2 times, it seems that every time I turn around it is breaking. Heater, speedometer, transmision, the list and $$ go on and on, and this was all under 60000 miles but over the 36000 mile warranty. I have always been a GM corporation fan. They have always been good to me. This one makes me want to say GM you need a 100,000 mile bumper to bumper or Im going to Toyota, Sorry. I hate to disrespect one of my idols but they just dont seem to have the quality or dependability I demand. So GM here it is 100,000 bumper/bumper or adios

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  5000 mile Chevy Cobalt review - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kochise - January 8 - 6:19 pm

  Nice little car to get around town in. I dont like the seats or interior. I think the seats are made very cheap. I bought for gas mileage and the price range was what I could afford to keep maintained. I think the interior is really cheap.

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  Loving it so far - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By loving it so far - January 8 - 2:11 am

  We had just purchased it a few weeks ago. I have owned a 1999 Chevy 1500 2wd with the same 4.3 Vortec, and I loved that truck. So far, our Blazer has been flawless. Bought it with 110,000 miles, and last week we drove it over 600 miles for the holidays. It was icy at times, and the 4wd worked great! A great price and a wonderful purchase.

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  Would Be Great If It Worked! - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Lindsey - January 7 - 8:50 pm

  This is absolutely an awsome vehicle, when it works. Bought it used with 75,000kms, had a few problems with it not starting in -15C the first winter but overall it ran good. Last year we started having issues, we bought it for $26,000 and weve put $18,000 back into it in maintenance ($8,000 in the last 6 months) . We cant get it running long enough to sell it. Had the entire front end torn apart a few times but no one can find the problem.

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  Going on my 5th year of ownnership - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By proudboomerlady - January 7 - 12:39 pm

  Overall I have been happy with my purchase, the car is fun to drive and handles well. Not crazy about the dashboard, and the Onstar is worthless to me. I cancelled them after a 2 hour wait for a battery that died in 102* temps...Ride is pleasant but somewhat noisy on highways. Front and Rear seats are comfortable. Gas mileage is is great on interstates. I feel this car is excellent competition to the foreign manufactures. I now have a little over 50K miles and have not really had to use the extended warranty I paid for for the amount it cost me. Dont recommend buying it.

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  This is one great van! Bring it back! - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Ron - January 6 - 8:18 pm

  I have owned four of the Astro series and one Safari van since 96. Ive had only good experiences with them. Maybe I apprciate its comfort level, driveability and road feel because I dont expect this truck to drive like a luxury sedan. My Astros gave me better mileage than any pickups Ive driven from time to time (including the big new Toyotas), yet with much bigger enclosed hauling space for my tools, lumber, etc., with the seats out. Then, when you need it, unlike a pickup, its a great people mover too. And, as far as the styling goes, a nicely detailed 2002 Astro looks better than anything else out there. Im keeping this one!

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  1999 Suburban - long term ownership - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rob - January 5 - 12:05 pm

  I bought my Suburban new from the dealer with long distance driving in mind. The 4x4 option was not a consideration, but ended up with it anyway. Due to the weight of this vehicle it does go through brakes and tires frequently. Tire vibration indicates the tires have reached their limit. Ive replaced all suspension pieces, upgrading as I go, as well as all electrical (starter, alternator) and the water pump/radiator. I strongly suggest upgrading components as they fail and follow the recommended replacement schedule for the fuel filter. My original fuel pump still works fine after 136,000 miles.

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  Good Little Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Jon N. - January 5 - 11:49 am

  I did a lot of homework before buying this truck and test drove most of the competitors. I liked the Colorado and it met my needs at least as well as any of the others, but I was concerned because of the poor reviews the "experts" had given it. I think the experts missed the boat on this one. I had a couple of rough spots with it right out of the box (electrical problems and front end alignment) but these were quickly corrected by my dealer and I have been very pleased with it for the nearly three years I have owned it. Performance, utility and appearance are excellent and it has done all Ive asked of it. Dont be fooled by the poor reviews - this is a nice little truck.

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  Best Choice for our Family - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By The Macs - January 5 - 10:40 am

  We are a family of 3, with a small child, and this vehicle is perfect for us. The price is great for a working family. It has roomy back seats. The cargo area is great for luggage plus a baby stroller, not to mention the extra room with the cargo racks. If you want an SUV with a car like feel, this is the choice for you.