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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  Service contract poster child... - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By MTK - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Bought my EXT new in 2002. We had several fit/finish problems which needed to be taken care of (primarily paint related). In addition the air conditioner has been worked on, the windshield wiper motors have been replaced, the fan clutch has been replaced, and the gas tank developed a hairline fracture and needed to be replaced. If you really insist on buying a TB, I strongly recommend buying a extended service contract. It has saved me several times.

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  good family car - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By energyguy - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a good family car that gives you a break from the minivan. My Monte Carlo is a reasonable compromise between power and fuel economy for an american product. It lacks in sportiness in comparison to the older rear wheel drive models, but it has been a good choice as a second family vehicle used for daily work commuting.

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  To the Maxx! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By njscribe - March 7 - 2:00 am

  Have now driven 2500 maxx-miles. Car came in perfect condition and no faults or flaws have shown up. Continued to discover features. GM has trumped the competition, including honda and toyota. The quality of design and materials is unsurpassed, and the price is a tremendous bargain for what you get. Edmunds has totally missed figuring out that the maxx really is an EXTENDED SEDAN like Chevy is advertising and not a "large wagon" like they have classified it. What is unique about maxx is that it provides so much comfort for four or five people. In that regard it is like a compact limo.

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  Robke Rules! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By katrinak - March 7 - 2:00 am

  This is a great truck. It is the perfect size, nicely powered and very comfortable - as are all Chevys products. Just a joy to drive.

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  2004 Owner - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Steve O - March 7 - 2:00 am

  The gas milage is terrible. I love my truck and didnt want to but anyhting else but the gas makes me not want to take it on tripts. Make more wiht out that ugly cladding. It looks a lot better without that junk on the side.

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  Trailblazer Bomb - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lllll - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but trouble out of my trailblazer. It is in the shop now for the 3rd time with transmission problems. The rear brake lights have never worked. I have replaced the bulbs 8 times now. Im trading this piece of crap.

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  Wow!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By debbiem - March 7 - 2:00 am

  I love it! I was knocked out when I saw it. Looks better than a Lexus and performs great but at less than 1/2 the price.

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  the truth is - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Colman Bieber - March 6 - 5:49 pm

  Great car, rides like a caddy, good looks and lines, quiet, great features especially in safety

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  Great truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By lbsorensen - March 6 - 3:30 pm

  We bought this truck 2 years ago. My husband is in construction and needed a work truck, but we also needed something that suit the family with 3 teens. Love this truck, lots of room, lots of power.

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  07 Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Angler70 - March 5 - 9:23 pm

  3rd row seats are useless unless you are a midget or child. Room is really compromised since they only fold up, and although removal is easy, putting them back in is a chore. They are quite heavy, and is you are not careful, you can scratch the plastic items in the back.