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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  Do not buy a trailblazer!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Hector Adan - February 18 - 10:00 am

  In the past year Its seen the dealers service department 5 times and today its going on 6 because the left brake light went out on a truck thats 1 year and 3 months old.We bought the truck NEW! The first 2 times were because the key would get stuck in the ignition. Then they "FIXED IT" Then it happened a 2nd time. After that the driver door handle trim was falling off. About 2 months later the rubber trim around the license plate started to go underneath the plastic part. Then recently the A/C wouldnt kick on untill I turned off the A/C and turned it back on. The dealer said something had broken inside but they were able to fix it. Well see.

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  truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jeff g - February 18 - 10:00 am

  very nice truck, good handoling, user frendoly easy to drive and better than most stock trucks off road

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  My Car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By cindy - February 18 - 2:43 am

  My Aveo is 2 months old and so far I love it. It is great on gas and runs well in the snow. I recommend this car to anyone who is looking for a compact car with a lot of room.

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  Best of the bunch - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By wmcneil - February 17 - 10:26 pm

  This is an awesome truck. They added just the right balance of features. Everything that I wanted and almost nothing that I would not use. The suspension is a little soft in the twistys, but perfect everywhere else. The only thing that bugs me a little is a blank area on the dash. It is saved for the transmission temp on the HD model.

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  Disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mark - February 17 - 10:30 am

  I was excited when I first got this Impala, had all the makings of a great car. After living with it for 2 1/2 months I am no longer thinking this is a great car. I have had back to the dealership 4 times so far as the keyless entry and tire pressure system is not working, still is not working. We are going to go for number 5 and a new bulletin that has come out. Also way more wind noise off doors then should be, dealer states it is acceptable per GM standards, not by my standards. Too bad this could have been a great car.

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  GM Sales Consultant Owned - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Mitch Biggs - February 17 - 10:13 am

  I recommend the Maxx LTZ to anyone who loves functional space and long trip comfort. I average 24 mpg city and 30 on the Highway and have exceeded 34 mpg on some trips. A Large Size Pet Porter fits in the cargo area for hauling my 100 lb. labrador. A great amount of features for the money. As a performace oriented person, the LTZ is sufficient but I would love to try the SS on my next lease, as long as they add heated seats and auto dimming mirror options!

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  Bow tie is the only tie - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By kolden - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my Trailblaze a short but my wife and I love it, I never thought I would buy another American vehicle, until I test drove the Trailblazer. It had the best car for the money out of all the Suvs that I drove.

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  Balanced CrewCab - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Z71Dave - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Great truck. Has a great balance between power, fuel economy, size, and style. I really like the looks inside and out. I have the victory red w/ painted fender flares. I am averaging 19MPG with 700 miles on the truck. Driving a mix between city and highway.

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  Poor Quality - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Joe ny - February 17 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car fall 2003. It is now april 2004 and it has been in the shop 11 times already. First power window motor went, then carpet was wet after rain, took them 2 visits to find leak. Then car would not start one morning was told starter was defective. Got the car back 3 days later car is dead again, towed once again. This time they said ignition switch was bad. Why should a car have all these problems when you spend 54,000 for it.

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  04 Impala Base - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By K Pike - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Pleasant to drive, great stereo, very comfy and roomy, I am glad I turned my s10 in early!