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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  Not Too Excited Over This One - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DC - May 15 - 6:23 am

  Poor design for console cup holders. Cheap design to hold headliner up around sunroof. Owned this vehicle since March 11th and already having issues. More money needs to be spent on better materials for interior and less on computerized options that arent used very frequently.

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  Astro-nomical costs - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By Astroslug - May 15 - 2:00 am

  I guess I would say that the Astro is fairly solid IF you get one with a generous extended factory warranty. Reliability "issues": --> replaced front pads at 20K --> had TWO experiences (one inside and one outside of standard factory warranty period) with "bad ignition" wires (>$450 each) --> transmission went to mush around 35K miles (fortunately just barely within warranty period).

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  Good Buy - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By repol - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Great Van. Drives well on trips. Not too noisy on the road. Could use some improvement

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  Great Car All Over - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By dumbcreep - May 15 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car brand new in 1998, Since then, I have taken good care of it and it has taken care of me, the only thing that happened so far is the battery died.

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  the best suv - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Vic Lashewitz - May 15 - 2:00 am

  very comfortable ride. Driving was fun, for being 55 years old, the drive from Cincinnati OH to Miami FL. was a joy. The quiet ride and smooth Driving did it. I towed a 18 ft bass boat no problems. At one time during the trip did get up to 19 mpg.

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  Clunk again - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By kramer-again - May 15 - 2:00 am

  Im having the cluck problem again (at 51000 miles)after having a new transmission put in last time among other things (see my previous review). It was corrected for a while. Im convinced there is a design flaw which cannot be fixed with parts. Ill be getting rid of this thing as soon as the dealership temporarily fixes it again.

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  Cant wait till 07s GMC, Toyota, Ford - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ronald Holstein - May 14 - 9:56 pm

  The truck is worth less than our 2005 Sliverado 4dr. 2006 Charged more money for less value on the same truck model of 2005. Chevrolet changed the hood, chrome on grill and painted the bumper for $10,000 more. Really wish we had not purchased. Less standard features. Chevy skimped on interior design. The only redeeming factor is we average on the road 19.9 to 21.0 miles per gallon and 14.9 to 16.8 around town if the indicator is correct. Chevrolet unless we get something for our money in 2007 you have lost our family, we will be driving either GMC, Toyota, Ford. Thanks for saving us money in the coming year cannot wait to trade this vehicle in.

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  TRAILBLAZER EXT 04 MODEL - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By carbuyer2 - May 14 - 10:00 am

  After a twelve hour shift in the ER you really need a smooth ride home, especially at midnight. It definately is a smooth ride. The kids love it as much as I do. Going on vacation is not a problem any more. The rear seat entertainment system allows the kids to listen to one of their Cds on headphones in the back, and my husband and I are allowed the radio or cassette player at the same time, not to mention we have plenty of room for the suitcases!The only thing I have found is in the winter when we leave the car to heat up we usually leave it around 90 or 80 degrees, and the car sets itself to 70.

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  Maxx-Happy - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Maxx-Happy - May 14 - 10:00 am

  Traded in Honda 2001 CRV with 19,000 miles, have an Accord but even there the Maxx is so much better. After driving the Maxx, the Honda CRV was like driving a truck. Though I hope the dependability is as good as Hondas.

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  Worth the Advertising Exposure - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CJStroy - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I am very impressed with this vehicle. The car is very roomy, great leg room, and great trunk space. The sporty look is nice for a sedan. Although the vehicle is good as far as performance, space, speed, gas milage both highway and city. I have had some problems with the steering wheel. The electical system malfunctioned and had to be replaced making it unsafe to drive. The remote start up is a good option for cold climate areas. I am also glad the 04 Malibu is in the top 5 as far as air bag safety -with its side curtain air bags. I would definitly encourage the purchase of this vehicle. You definitly get your moneys worth.