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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  Mega miles and still going strong - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By 240000 milesngoing - November 4 - 6:55 pm

  Canadian summers and winters - extreme. AC still running fine never used a block heater even at -40. Regular maintenance by neighbourhood mechanic. In past 9 years, gas tank, breaks twice, muffler clamp, tires, and recently a ?gasket? that meant the whole engine had to come apart... $850...not bad for 9 years...Honest. Had everything except sunroof...styling now out of date, but was there in 98. Its like my fathers car...a living room with plush upholstery. Bars starting to be felt in drivers seat...got a heat/vibrate cushion...now life is great again...

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  TrailBlazer SS: SSweet. - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Matt Peters - November 3 - 10:14 pm

  Not many changes for 2008, but all together the vehicle is a fun and comfortable muscle-truck. The throttle response at all rpm ranges is strong and allows for a fun drive. The tight sport-tuned suspension leaves one with the feeling of driving a car much lower to the ground. The sound of the Corvette LS-2 engine is evident at idle and even more so in high rpm. The full option electronic interior with heated seats and leather/suede wrapping make for a feeling of luxury most GM SUVs dont allow for. Overall, the SS is very sporty in exterior and interior styling, strong horsepower, and tight suspension with the interior luxury factors making it desirable for even standard SUV fans.

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  Great van! - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Cindy Collins - November 2 - 8:42 pm

  Very dependable van! Motor and transmission strong no problems. We have driven this van to California, Colorado and Missouri with no problems. Would drive it anywhere. Only flaws I would say would be the lack of front passenger leg room and door handles (have 2 Astros and replaced handles on both of them) Our one van has 186000 miles on it and still runs great! Highly recommend this vehicle!

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  Just purchased used and verdict still out... - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By prof_turby1 - November 1 - 11:42 pm

  Just purchased a used unit with 93K miles on it. So far so good but the truck does need a new header stud bolt. Fairly common on vortecs. Gas mileage is 12 on commute and 14 on interstate. The 4.10 gearing plays a part in that but I knew that going in.

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  Still is Smooth - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Shortyflow - November 1 - 10:24 pm

  I had bought this vehicle to become a pizza delivery driver. It was my first vehicle with 45,000 miles on it, it now has 76,000 . it runs good and it drives great. Brakes are all that I have had to do.

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  Sad to see her go. - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By FastZinNC - November 1 - 10:00 am

  My Camaro has been my most entertaining car to date. Id like to address some of the complaints that people typically have about this car: 1) Ride quality: Its solid rear axle isnt going to provide a silky smooth ride, but it isnt bone-jarring either. 2) Build quality: as with all cars: if you beat it, it will break. The F-body has amazing mod potential, and people tend to go overboard with mods, and then complain about their cars breaking. 3) Noise: If you dont appreciate the throaty purr of a V8 at idle, or the wild roar at WOT, then you werent meant for this car.

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  Chevy Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By billyjcraw - November 1 - 10:00 am

  This truck (Z66,2x2 driving package) drives like a large car, smooth and quiet. The leather seating is comfortable, power is good. Turning radius leaves something to be desired. The styling is definitely for a particular taste. I like that Im getting a scaled down Cadillac Escalade (Same frame and body is used but with little style and cosmetic changes).Im interested in how reliable it will turn out to be. Ive picked up an annoying speed related noise coming from under the hood at about mile 3,000.

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  Love It! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Cruisin - November 1 - 10:00 am

  My husband and I have had our Avalanche for 5 months and we love it. It handles great on the road, very smooth, has room for our children and we can still carry everything in back.

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  2007 Malibu LS - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike - October 31 - 6:42 pm

  I am 55 years old and have owned all brands of cars, including new Mercedes. Although the car is new and therefore reliability cannot be determined, the first impression is very favorable. The car is refined, comfortable, and tight. It gives the impression of solidity. The paint and finish are top notch. Sitting position is upright. Frankly, I couldnt believe it was such a nicely designed car, European-like. All options you would want are standard, except for the safety package which is standard next year. Safety ratings are excellent. Time will tell about reliability, but out of the box its pretty much a home run.

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  OK, but not as good as older models - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike Nelson - October 30 - 8:15 pm

  I have owned 15 Tahoes, Yukons and Suburbans and they have been very reliable until the 2007 model year. My Tahoe has been in the shop 23 day in the first 5000 miles and still has problems. We took it on vacation a month after our purchase and it would not go in reverse. The dealer had to make some substantial repairs to the transmission.