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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  My experience so far has been good - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chris - May 26 - 6:26 am

  I drive my trucks until they die and in 25 years owned a Toyota a Nissan and now this 06 Chevy Colorado. All are/have been 4x4s. I cant say how the Chevy will compare with the others over time but after owning it for 8 months and putting just over 6k miles on it Im not disappointed. Ive had no mechanical trouble so far, fuel economy has been in the low twenties, sometimes slightly better, the Chevy engine outperforms the others and I must be one of the only people who likes the plastic interior (this is a truck after all not a luxury automobile). I would have preferred bucket seats, an exterior door lock on the pasenger side and a ,stronger body but overall so far Im satisfied.

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  I Love It! - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Mary - May 26 - 5:19 am

  I bought this car used in 03 and have loved it ever since. I have had a few costly problems, but otherwise it runs great and is a blast to drive, easy to park, fun off road. The only problems I have had have been at about 30,000 mile the master switch for the power windows broke, cost of almost $300 to replace, but I found one on Ebay for $10! Also I Just replaced the rear brakes, $700 later. I have 60,000 on it now and plan to keep it for at least another 5 years.

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  Love it - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By John - May 24 - 11:23 am

  I love this truck. I drove it off the lot with 7 miles on it. 5000 miles later and not a problem. This truck will go anywhere. I even pulled a 4wd truck out of a mud hole. (after I drove arround him!)

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  Dependable - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Virginian - May 23 - 12:11 pm

  Bought the truck with 5K miles on it from a young couple having their first baby. I have almost 140K on it and it has been the most depenable daily driver I have owned. I knew about the potential ball joint problems and had grease inserts put in. I replaced the shocks at 50K,not because they were bad. Light trucks tend to fish tail over gravel and wash boards and I wanted better stability. I had the rotors turned and new pads put on at 75K, and the lower balls joints replaced at 135K. At 104K I changed the plugs, plug wires, flushed the radiator, replaced the lube in the transmission and rear end. Other than normal maintenance nothing else has failed. Oh, I replaced the battery.

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  Too many rattles - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By joe f. harris - May 22 - 5:57 pm

  The vehicle has numerous areas of vibrations and rattles. The gauges are almost unreadable during daylight driving. I did not opt for back-up sensors or camera. These features should be made standard because of the poor rear vision. Gas consumption is about what was advertised. The seating is very comfortable. The lighting in the rear bed should be improved.

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  Vette powertrain in a cheap box - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By larry - May 22 - 12:24 pm

  I have 105,000 miles on this car and it runs/drives like new. Still gets 23mpg and I do not drive it easy! Cant find more bang for the buck performancewise anywhere. Mustang drivers still look at these with respect 5yrs after theyre no longer made. Its has a cheap, plasticky, rattly interior, but if that starts to bug you just punch the gas and youll remember why you tolerate this thing.

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  New Style Silverado - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Doug G - May 22 - 7:56 am

  Upgraded from an 05 Silverado to the new body style 07. The ride is firm without being stiff. The road noise is reduced. The new gauge cluster is nice and easy to look at. The onboard computer is handy to show tire pressures as well as tranmission temp. Even with the 8/4 cyl. fuel management system, I average only 14.5 MPG with lots of highway miles. My 05 averaged 17.5. It is a very nice looking truck. I look forward to gaining better gas mileage.

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  Nice SUV, Poor Quality - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By dcn821 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Nice SUV, but test the hvac in the rear before taking it. Heating for the 2nd and 3rd row passengers that come from the roof blows out cold air only. Took back to the dealer twice. 1st time they said GM is aware if it and they are working on a fix. 2nd time, GM told they had a fix and to bring it back. Dealer measured the heat from the floor to the vents and there is a 30 degree difference. GM said that is acceptable. I have contacted the BBB auto line to get an arbitrator involved. Also, my truck was delivered missing 2 quarts of oil from the factory. Oh yeah, GM customer is a joke. Dont waist your time.

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  My 2000 Silverado - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By pokey52 - May 22 - 2:00 am

  My first pickup. Love it! Plenty of room in the extended cab for kids. My wife and I have sat in there while the adult kids had the front. A bit cramped but not uncomfortable and a fun change for us. Only one problem. In the year and a half I have owned it. All brake rotors were warped. Dealer replaced them at no charge. Once youve had a truck youll never go back!

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  LOVE my truck - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Revalimage - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Not good maintenance record - drivers armrest fell off 1st day! ABS brakes have gone out and a bad fuel pump has left me stranded. I feel VERY safe in the sturdyness of this truck with my family.