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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  Its no Tacoma! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By llamawalker - March 1 - 6:31 pm

  I bought this truck to replace a 2002 Toyota extended cab 4x4,v6. After almost 3 years of ownership that decision is haunting me. The Chevy does tow better and is more stable on the road, and I think it looks 100% better than the Tacoma, but thats where it ends. From the start the A/C wasnt cold. 2 trips to the dealer fixed the problem...leaking valve. Next it was the trailering wire harness,fried up. The dealer harvested a part out of a 2005 on the lot. Between those problems it ate the front tires up. Misaligned from the factory....not covered by warranty. All this with 23000 miles. At 42000 the entire throttle body and throttle position actuator were replaced. Boo,GM....BOO!!

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  2006 Colorado Crew Cab LT 2wd Review - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By tm4 - March 1 - 2:51 pm

  So far I have enjoyed this truck. Ive got the I-5 and it is quite powerful, it handles well at high speeds and is comfortable to sit in. The interior is utilitarian which makes it a little bland but very functional with controls easy to use and find. I had a problem, with the engine eary on, but the dealer fixed it under warantee and its been fine ever since. Overall, I am glad I bought the truck and I havent experienced all of the problems and flaws that others seem to talk about.

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  Glad I Got It! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Meggie022 - March 1 - 1:15 pm

  I bought this car because it was cheap, but I feel like I got a lot of car for the money. I rented a 2006 Malibu over the summer, and I think this is comparable in styling and driving (except for being only 4cyl). Its sharp and comfortable! Great visibility, and you feel like youre sitting high up. Love that it has an interior trunk and gas release. Good car for the money! I hope I find it reliable for years to come.

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  Love The Ride......Hate the Gas Mileage - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By yesman85 - March 1 - 12:46 pm

  Have had the Impala SS since November and love the performance and ride of the vehicle. However, Im really disappointed in the gas mileage as Im only averaging 19.2 mpg. Also, the torque steering does take some getting used to. Was also suprised that the owners manual suggests using premium grade gasoline.

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  Dissapointed - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tex - February 28 - 11:40 am

  Purchased car to support American economy and ingenuity after 25 years of foreign purchases. Found that the car has hidden flaws. Rear side panels become detached by a slight push inward. Took it back to dealer and I was told it was designed to come apart at impact. Cannot believe engineers would think this way after decades of safety improvements. The dealer also found out the most of its other Malibus on the lot had the same defect. I am very dissapointed, especially after what I had heard about the vehicle. I am very hesitant to buy "American" again, especially after the local dealer has been very deceptive after discovery of this problem.

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  98 Blazer - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Adame008 - February 27 - 8:44 pm

  I owned the Blazer for 4 years and it was a good truck. 4.3 is a tough little motor. I rolled it, and flipped it back over and kept driving, no serious problems even at 120,000 miles. Interior is cheap. But overall it was good. I put it through some tough off road terrain, and it always performed.

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  Very pleased - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By archcommus - February 27 - 7:03 pm

  Bought an 07 LS coupe in May, this is my first new car and also my first GM car. Have to say Im very pleased so far. Love the exterior looks, love the dash and interior layout, plenty of space for me and comfortable seats, excellent gas mileage (currently getting about 29.7 city), fun to drive, smooth ride, great features (automatic headlights, auxiliary audio jack, MP3 player), affordable, all in all a great car to own and drive.

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  Great Garage Queen - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By prsncat - February 27 - 6:30 pm

  Parked it when gas reached $4/gal. due to poor gas mileage. Love the way it drives now that it has an ARE shell (weight on the tail helps). Great for towing. Always reliable - no problems whatsoever. Cloth seat material is a PITA -- I put Wet Okole seat covers in the first month. It didnt hold its value -- I tried selling for $12.5K and didnt get a single call. I will resume driving it daily when the Honda Civic lease ends.

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  Good Basic Transportation - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Matt - February 26 - 1:26 pm

  Relable and smooth running subcompact. Only complaint is the dashboard warps and cracks too easily. Other than that, a very low maintenance car.

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  Good Buy - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kase400 - February 25 - 2:00 am

  I have had it for a half of a year and have been very happy with it.