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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  Did not live up to GM standards - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By CGrammer - October 2 - 8:55 am

  This car is absolutely the funnest car Ive driven yet. The major downfall to this vehicle is the amount of times you will be bringing it to the dealer to have it worked on. I have had everything replaced from front struts/control arms all the way to minor trim detail falling off. Ive had my manifold sensors replaced because it was causing my car to RPM at 400. Thats not even at idle RPM. When you are getting ready to leave for work and your car display reads "ENG PWR LOW," you get kinda ticked off. My car had to be turned off and on seven times before it would idle at 1100 RPM... enough to get it out of my driveway. I would never recommend anyone buying this model car. Maybe the 08 model.

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  History - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By dondailey - October 2 - 4:00 am

  Truck has been a dependable vehicle. Performance is good, fuel mileage could be better. I am very satisfied with this truck.

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  Dont dog my Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By OPIE - October 1 - 1:38 pm

  This is my third S-10 vehicle and the best yet. Great looks, reliable engine, good ride, beautiful interior, very functional, and easy to work on yourself. Bose stereo sounds awesome. I would much rather have a late model Blazer than a Trailblazer. Fuel efficiency could be better but I did buy a truck...not a car. What do you expect. Overall I have no complaints from this vehicle.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ben - October 1 - 4:33 am

  I love this car. It has a smooth, quiet drive. I have never had a problem with it. My wife drives it on business trips and I never worry about it breaking down.

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  Stylish, but theres a reason its cheap - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By pkbjw - September 30 - 8:26 pm

  We have put about 5500 miles on it now and we are pleased with its gas mileage, 30 mpg average, and we like the look of the car. It is reasonably comfortable, although being a small car, it can get uncomfortable on those long trips. The ride is average and the handling is above average for the class. Now for the bad news. Its cheap. Im not just talking about price either. The sheetmetal on the doors is very thin. Dont lean too hard on them or youll be going to the body shop. Also the interior has a tendency to fall apart. Nothing has broken or flaked off on ours yet, but I have seen several Cobalts with interiors that are falling apart at 30,000 miles. Im worried.

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  Overall good, some small design issues - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By ValrieAnnie - September 28 - 10:23 am

  The exterior is not pretty but the ride is comfortable. Disappointed with the gas mileage. We are slightly below the low end of the range. Overall a great car. I would buy another, but since I buy a new car every ten years who knows if they will still be made.

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  Avalanche - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By skiman1j - September 28 - 8:06 am

  chevy trucks are great - the dealers suck. I bought two trucks at the same time a Z71 silverado & a Z71 Avalanche. in addition I bought the 100,000 mile warrenty for the avalanch because it is FULLY loaded. My dealer will not cover anything tranny leaks, bad rattle sinse the day I bought it, front light fixture etc. Oh and be prepared to pay 300.00 for a set of brake pads (labor & services not included) Thats more then my Mercedees E320

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  Irritants - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Peter Charlton (cda) - September 27 - 7:01 pm

  Pick up and ride quality are good. Interior design is adequate, but irritants are a dime a dozen. Wheres the shift selector indicator ? Buzz in the fan at 1? Wind noise at 80 kmh left hand side in mirror ? And on and on. GM engineers missed the boat on the interior ergonomics. Even the Koreans have a much more ergonomic interior. The seats are uncomfortable on long hauls. Steering wheel belongs on an 18 wheeler. No hand grips at 3 passenger doors. No manual control of dash lights. That stupid light sensor should be shot.

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Brandon - September 27 - 4:16 pm

  This is my first SUV, and now that I have my first child, I think I made a wise decision. Its a very comfortable ride. I wasnt sure what it would be like with an SUV, but the mileage isnt nearly as bad as I thought, and I have all the gadgets I could want! DVD Navigation, OnStar, Heated Seats, Sunroof....etc.

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  2005 Trailblazer 4wd - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RO - September 27 - 2:19 pm

  Bought a 2005 Trailblazer used with 20k miles on it. My wife mostly drives it. We absolutely love it. I love the Inline 6 it has plenty of power to pull my motorcycle trailer with 2 motorcycles. We have taken it on several trips and it is very comfortable. I replaced the factory stereo with an aftermarket unit as the factory radio is not the best. That would probably be my only complaint. One other complaint I suppose would be the oil filter location. I am a DIY kinda guy and do my own oil changes. The filter is a real pain to get to. Other than that I love this SUV. And the factory tires are not the best.