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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  Best Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By car freak - April 18 - 10:00 am

  Love this truck,at 48,800 miles, it has been wonderful! Bought new, will keep until it wears out! Traded 1999 Ford F-150 4x4 for this and what an improvement! Just purchased first set of new tires.

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  POWER HOUSE - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Wooterdude - April 18 - 10:00 am

  EXCEPT FOR THE MEMORY MIRROR PROBLEM THE CAR HAS BEEN FLAWLESS SO FAR.WE NOW HAVE 14,500 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT.WE RECENLTY PURCHASED A 20 FT TRAVEL TRAILER AT 4200 LBS LOADED AND IT DOES QUITE WELL CONSIDERING IT ONLY HAS 275 FT LBS OF TORQUE.MILES PER GALLON PULLING IS ABOUT 10.5-11.7.EMPTY,EXCELLENT MILEAGE CONSIDERING IT WAYS 4700 LBS.WE ARE GETTING 16.5 CITY AND 21.8 HIGHWAY.

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  Mines for sale - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Steve Lovas - April 18 - 10:00 am

  Poor drivability. Engine has great top- end, but low-end power is short and has noticable dead spots. A/c performance is poor, steering very sluggish. Dashboard looks cheep. Front door armrests are too low to be of much use. Distorted windshield.

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  Wind Noise - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mac Rochelle - April 18 - 10:00 am

  There is too much wind noise around the front windshield

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  Happeness is my TRAILBLAZER - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ted Toland - April 18 - 10:00 am

  I happy. Overall quality is reasonable for this price auto. Would like less wind noise. Good overall handling. Easy entry ahd exit for a senior (me). Inst panel easy to cope with. I have driven upper models of JEEP...This is some better.

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  CHEV NO 1 TRAIL BLAZER - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By WDW1951 - April 18 - 10:00 am

  THE LOOKS ALONE IS NO 1,THE LTZ I HAVE IS OUT STANDING.THE RIDE IS VERY NICE,IT LIKE SETTING IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.ALL THE CONTROLS ARE AT YOU FINGER TIPS.HAS EVERY I WANT IN A SUV.

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  Awesome truck!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By zdub-333 - April 18 - 10:00 am

  The silverado ss is the best lookin truck,on the outside ever made. the handling is great....and it is so fun to drive. It has great get up and go. I love the lowered look with the 22" wheels. This is the best buy for any one who has any sense of style.

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  I was afraid at first, now I love it! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Minarets - April 18 - 6:46 am

  My wifeÂ’s Trailblazer wasnt cutting it with her new found 90mi/day commute. We needed more then 18mpg. Her father works for GM so the discount came to mind. She loved the looks of the HHR and I have to say, I was a little leary at first. After a few months of ownership I must say I am more then pleased. Sure there are things that could be better, but for a car in this price range, its tough to beat. Offers plenty of features...everything but NAV and HIDs are available...plenty of room for my wife, my 2month old and me! Right now we are seeing 31mpg hwy and 27 city. Easy to monitor when our commutes are all highway miles.

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  what a piece of junk - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By gimmeatoyota - April 18 - 2:00 am

  total mistake. dealer un helpful as well as general motors. currently on the 5th set (you heard me) of brake rotors. brake booster failed conviently out of warranty. water pump failed also just out of warranty. 3 shock absorbers literally fell off on the way home from the dealer. replaced alternator at 40k. fuel milage is horrific and it even failed emmissions!! the ride is ok but it rattles going over rough roads so much that you think the doors are falling off. cheap plastic trim and dash too

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  SOME PROBLEMS - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By AVERAGE - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT SO FAR. FOR EXAMPLE THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. WHEN I CHECK IT IT IS ALWAYS FULL. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION YET. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER HAVING THE CAR. WENT THREW TWO NEW BATTERIES BECAUSE OF THAT. NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THAT YET.