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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  Worst vehicle Ive ever owned... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By MMarks - March 5 - 10:00 am

  I have very little to say except that my Blazer is awful. Its in the shop as much as its on the road. Rear end had to be replaced at 34,000 miles. I had to replace both front shocks at 30,000. Front seat broke at about 32,000 and while it was in the shop they went ahead a fixed a recall. I will never buy another GM vehicle after dealing with this LEMON.

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  love my cavalier (CA-VAUL-E-A) - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By virtuous woman - March 5 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car! I purchased a 2002 cavalier LS coupe with the sports package and it is nice. It handles very well and is good on gas. Also, I was able to take advantage of the rebate offer, which saved me a lot of money. If you want a sports car, but do not have "sports car money" I recommend this car. Make sure that you get a coupe with a sports package. This car is really nice. It far exceeds what I expected. Chevrolet has come a long way with the Cavalier!

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  mmc knows - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mmc - March 5 - 9:36 am

  This is a great vehicle. I hear some complaints about headlights. Mine are great and I can see good at night. Thhe steering is very tight. No one has mentioned the tight turning radius. Wow. This SUV can park in tight spots no other chevy of comparible size could even think about. I dont like the non-removable mirrors on the visors( I got the LS model).Out of all the reviews I have read on the trailblazer I have not read one thing about the killer stereo. Good thing I have cruise control, because its real easy to drive faster than I ought to be driving. mmc

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  Almost Perfect - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By mcd1995 - March 5 - 3:46 am

  My 2005 SS Monte Carlo was my personal dream car for my price range. After bypassing the 2004 Mustang Cobra because of price, I picked the Monte up used with 30k miles for just $13,000 and Im loving it. The interior is very sleek, contrary to the Edmunds review. Trunk is HUGE and theres good interior space. The car itself gets a lot of looks. Im now at 42k miles and have no major mechanical problems. Like most, I think Chevy ruined the Monte by not making it a manual RWD. Still, the monte can easily reach 300HP with $1400 in mods. Ive used these mods, so I basically paid $14400 for about 310 HP, great styling, and comfort. Great deal.

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  First Truck - Id do it again - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Scotty - March 4 - 4:20 pm

  Very, very reliable vehicle. Driven in snow, on beach, through woods, on the farm, and it has never let me down. Did have to have the steering rack replaced ($400) and the driveshaft needs U-joints now. Same anoying piston slap everyone complains about, but the truck is solid and does everything I expect it to.

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  Duramax 360hp 650 torque stock - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Rich - March 4 - 2:23 pm

  If anything, better than my 2002 2500 hd 4door long bed. Pulls my Montana 5th wheel like a dream, and as a new vehicle not broken in, I got nearly 11mpg between Albany and Syracuse, NY, but down to 9 through the Catskills. Most comfortable seats ever (my other car is a Ford ambulance). It seems to be the quietest diesel out there. OnStar is great and hooks right in with Verizon with the family plan. OnStar safe and sound is great. Love the heated seats, and the dual zone AC is great. It means the wife and I are both comfortable. The DVD keeps the grand kids occupied. Multiple mode sound means I listen to my CDs, the kiddies can use wireless for the movie, and 2 headphones for others.

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  11,000 Mile Rundown - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ChevyGuy - March 4 - 2:16 pm

  I must say that I am extremely happy that I bought my Silverado before GM decided to make them ugly for the 06 model year. The truck is doing fantastic. It is a joy to drive and has little malfunction. The transmission seems a little unsure but functions nonetheless. The mileage is good for the L33 engine and has plenty of range with the 26gal tank. The standard bridgestone dueler tires will throw all the rocks they come across so some ruberized undercoating wouldnt be a bad idea. I highly recommend the Z71 package, it came in really handy in about 14 inches of surface slop during the 05 whitetail season. Its a great truck overall, I cannot complain.

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  Great Product, GM is doing it right! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Joe M - March 3 - 6:23 am

  My Maxx is a great car. Smooth ride, comfortable, and quick with great mileage, Much better than the imports I drove. Why would any one consider a forigen car? This car is really a winner. I drive 75 miles each day to and from work, and I enjoy the drive.

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  Wish I had may Dodge Back - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jan coppock - March 2 - 1:56 pm

  Purchased this truck new, to get the fuel management system, in December 2007. In Jan. 2009 the check engine light came on. This continued with repeated trips to Dealer. Well, we have had to replace a map sensor, valve spring, 2 oxygen sensors (not under warranty), manifold and gasket,& wiring to cargo lamp. Thats not the end. We now have no dome light, there is a chattering noise by the dash board when you let off the gas and go from 55 down to 40-45 (very annoying). We traded a 2 year old Dodge P.U. (fully loaded) for a Chevy (with less on it) and all we got was approx. 3 miles more to the gallon on gas, and a truck with problems and not a comfortable to ride in. NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!

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  I love my Aveo, I named her Beulah - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Laura - March 2 - 1:10 am

  My car is great, she looks great!! If you are thinking about an Aveo Hatchback, go check it out in person! It makes a big difference. They are sharp! There is so much room in mine. I forget that Im in a small car. In other words, she looks good, she runs good, and shes great on gas. I love my Aveo, and her name is Beulah.