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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  Performance - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lorenzo menendez - December 26 - 2:13 pm

  No problems with the motor, was made by Izusu for Chevrolet, towed boats and trailers without any problems. However have experienced numerous mechanical, structural and rear lights problems, all cover by warranty (bought extended to 6 years or 60,000 miles), the dealer had to supply rental cars while it was in repairs.

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  Great Car! - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By SIXSPEED - December 25 - 2:00 am

  This car is all about speed and handling, its the cheapest race car you can buy...period! The interior isnt up to Audi standards, but is great considering what you get (engine wise) over cars in a similar price range. Great crash ratings, great gas milage!

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  jag reviewer - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By jag kid - December 25 - 2:00 am

  fun car to drive. great price for what you get

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  Love It! Love It! Love It! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rrhodes - December 25 - 2:00 am

  Wow...more than I ever imagined. So much fun to drive!!

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  Malibu Maxx is the MAXX - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dave - December 24 - 10:06 pm

  This is a great midsize vehicle. It gets good mileage and is very fun to drive. It has a fairly unigue style, so you dont look like every other vehicle on the road. The comfort features are very well thought out.

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  3 Months in Colorado in North Carolina - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dale - December 24 - 2:50 pm

  After 3 months, I am very happy with my new Colorado. I purchased the ext cab model with 4 cyl engine, RWD, and auto trans. I use it for commuting (mix of country and city roads) and for light hauling. Most of the time, I am alone in the truck. For the way I use the truck, it works very well. Its economical (19-20 mpg). It has enough room to carry my stuff, and my family can ride along when they need to. The truck is comfortable and very well equipped for what I paid ($16K). The only problem Ive had is a loose spot in the upholstery, which was fixed under warranty. It may not be exciting or refined. But, if youre looking for an economical, reliable everyday truck, this is a good one.

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  Could be a contender, needs attention - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mobeer - December 23 - 1:02 pm

  I really like driving the car, so it is a fun car with 6k into it. However in severe crosswinds unacceptable howling noise across cowl fuel economy isnt what expected at 25 mpg windshield wipers werent tighten and flopped all over. I want GM to have a contender in this class of vehicle. $12500 isnt cheap! Fix these things and GM will have one on both price and realiablity

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  Update for 11/28/06 review - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Matt - December 23 - 1:26 am

  I had this car for only a year and a half. I purchased it with 89k and the motor went out at 94k. The motor I have in it now is starting to knock and it has only 60k! Unfortunately I read about the hit and miss reliability of the 2.4 motors after I bought it. The transmission has clunky shifts between 1st and 2nd. The front end clunks and squeaks when turning. The mechanic told me its a "normal" Cavalier thing and no repairs are necessary. The fuel pump cost me an outrageous $500 at the dealer. My dash is cracked in 2 places. I expected better from Chevy. The non 2.4 Cavaliers are much more reliable. I might look elsware for my next purchase which might be soon with that time bomb of a motor.

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  1st Vette and not the last - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By vchanpe - December 22 - 1:38 pm

  I now look forward to my commute. I had a 1995 Lexus LS400 which was a world class luxery car but the Vette simply blows it away in driving enjoyment. I will never buy a luxury car again. I will never buy another sports car except for another Vette. Pros: Acceleration, Grip, Good gas mileage (20 MPG plus) with a stick. Cons: Noisy and harsh ride which are expected. Riding a roller coaster at an amusement park is also noisy and harsh but makes up for it by going fast, taking curves and the sheer fun of it. If you have fun riding a roller coaster and like to get your heart pumping, then this is your car. I am over 55 and I feel like a teenager again. (i.e. ready to pick up girls)

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  No Spare - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Nanuke - December 21 - 2:37 pm

  I’ll just start by saying…I love my vehicle, and plan on having it till the day I die. It handles very well in the turns, but because of U.S. law, it has a governor to limit your top speed… bummer, but it will still get up and go. I have the 5.3 V8, and love the sound it makes when you romp on it. I also love the fact that it looks like nothing else on the road, and that people still stop and stare when I drive by…priceless.