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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  Transmission bad deal ! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By CATHY - July 14 - 3:08 pm

  We purchased our 07 Tahoe in 06. It has been a joy to drive. I dont hurt when I get out of it ! Handles wonderfully in bad weather and pulls a load like no full sized truck weve had before ! We have had a few glitches tho we had a problem with the battery going bad after a few months. Bought a new one problem solved! Power lift gate off track still not fixed. The real problem is the transmission went out at 105,000. All our miles are highway miles. This should not have happened, it just went out ! We called OnStar for a diagnositics, couldnt find a problem! We knew there was one tho! So any way we got online and there are pages and pages of transmission problems. So check it out before you buy

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  kelzar - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By kelzar - July 14 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent vehicle. The reason for the lower score in the comfort area? -- the seat belt is not a comfortable fit. I use a "seat belt adjuster" (2 dollars and change) to tolerate. Other than that: Perfect performance, very good mileage and a fun car to drive. It is a buyers market for cars these days with the rebates and low financing... If I did decide to trade, it would be for another Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.

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  2 years of ownership - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By iluvmyz71 - July 14 - 2:00 am

  Overall the truck is a very nice vehicle. Have had a few of the usual problems. The 4 WD switch, a slight knocking, the steering shaft rattling, and the slight driveline clunk. I have been in other makes and they all have there down sides. I regularly dive fords, and would never own one. I use the truck on the farm, for trips down south and soon to haul a couple of twin babies. wouldnt trade it for anything.

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  A Solid Reliable Beaut - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By RickH - July 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck just about a year. So far I havent experienced the problems noted in some of the other reviews. The truck handles great, lots of power when I need it and just an all round joy to own and drive. I am concerned about other peoples experiences with GM regarding thier handling of deficiencies. But if my experience thus far with both the truck and the dealership continue dealing with GM Corp. Customer Service wont be an issue. I bought this truck because of styling and percieved Chev quality, so far I have not been disapointed.

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  This car has been fantastic! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Brent - July 14 - 1:57 am

  I bought this car for my wife brand new and we currently have 37,000 miles on it. Other than having the key get stuck in the ignition (fixed under warranty) and replacing front brake pads, we havent touched the car. It gets great gas mileage and looks good to boot. Couldnt ask for anything better.

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  A Good Product - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Satisfied Gal - July 14 - 1:40 am

  Purchased my Z34 new in torch red with charcoal leather seats and practically everything available on it. Feed it regular gas and synthetic oil with regular non-extravagent routine preventive maintenance. The Front wheel drive and large tires give outstanding control in snow. The Z34 Monte is most reliable car have had yet. Comfortable & attractive,everyone notices it -- not always a good thing! At 118K miles reliability degraded & a few quirky, not so small repairs started. Transmission hiccupped at 129K miles then at 140K miles. Cost some money to fix. Would get a Chevy again if could find a caring mechanic. Curious to see how long this car will last--was a good buy.

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  V-6 2010 Equinox LTZ, 4-wheel drive - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ken Waters - July 14 - 1:23 am

  This is the best GM car I have owned. Most of my driving is highway. In 2 1/2 months, according to the trip computer I am averaging overall 23.5 mpg. The car is a dream to drive, I love the XM radio, On Star navigation, information center and phone, the quality of the leather interior and overall fit & finish. If the cargo area were larger it would be perfect.

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  The Best Blazer - 1992 Chevrolet Blazer
  By K5Blazer91 - July 14 - 12:20 am

  My Blazer is very reliable and fun to drive. It looks great and has a powerful stance, I wish Chevy still made the full size 2 door. The interior dash board is awesome (1989- 94) everything is in easy reach of the driver, and is very modern with push button controls for the a/c and radio. Gas mileage isnt great for todays standards, but for a 1992 its good with 15 mpg.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Suburban
  By shane - July 13 - 5:45 pm

  Great car has lasted for years. Subarans are fun to drive. Had it for 8 years and looks brand new still. Great for going places and very reliable

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  Best in Class - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By brew - July 13 - 5:20 am

  I have to work hard to find faults with this vehicle. Many reviews complain about the mileage but even the EPA has revised the rating system to better reflect reality. The mileage is slightly better than any other vehicle in its class. The interior styling and comfort is vastly improved over previous models (I traded in a 2001 Tahoe). Acceleration is adequate and responsive. The transmission has a moderate shift shock when accelerating after applying the brakes. For those who plan to tow, be aware that the hitch reciever is considerably higher than most vehicles (I had to buy a new hitch with a lower drop. Overall, I am very pleased with the vehicle and would recommend it to anyone.