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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  huge fuel filter problem - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By hughessk - June 18 - 8:00 am

  this is a great truck as long as you only use premium fuel and drive it in warm climates. the fuel filter will clog if you use bio fuel, or a lower grade fuel. when the filter clogs the engine will go into a 2000 rpm lockdown and will not shift. this will happen even after truck is warm,the first time you try to merge onto the expressway in rush hour traffic, at 25 degree weather and snow covered road, YOU WILL BE IN FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE or FOR YOUR LIFE. I have 900000 miles on this truck and have had to replace the fuel filter ($35) 11 times??? I have purchased fuel from 15 different stations. CHEVROLET SOLUTION " use premium fuel, Use an addative($11)and let the truck idle 20 minutes

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  Just Loving It - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Mary - June 18 - 2:54 am

  I have had this litte ZR2 for 3 years now and still Love it. I normaly drive a Manual, but got an Automatic after test driving 3 manuals and they did not seem right. I drive to and from Northern WI a lot, and it travels great. Only a few wierd things have broken, master switch for power windows and locks (Over $250 to replace, but found it on Ebay for $10) and a wierd rattle noise from engine compartment, took dealership a week to replace under warranty. Will keep til it dies.

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  our seventh suburban - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kathyz - June 15 - 10:00 am

  what can i say...our seventh suburban.. the only vehicle that could "really" handle four kids, two parents, gear... and friends. our newest, the "z" is sportier...but just as reliable.the kids are growing and we are having a difficult time scaling down. we travel a lot and the third seat has come a very long way...but why not a 3rd seat option light?!?!?..we miss the movable head rests A LOT!!

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  The lemon in the bowl of fruit. - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Blank - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Sharp looking vehicle; good fuel economy for an SUV; handles well; However, lots of repairs, rattles and noises. Overall, it has all of the parts of the puzzle. It just wasnt put together well. Disappointing!! Selling it ASAP.

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  OK-good car - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By asdfjkl - June 15 - 9:56 am

  Was great for about nine months, then little things started to happen. Check engine light came on. Took it to autozone for diagnostics and they told me it was a camshaft position sensor. Its acceleration improved after that. The starter failed me in December...which I fixed. The V6 does not give a do-it-yourself person much room to work around. The wheel bearing on the front right side became very noisy and had to be replaced. As far as minor annoyances: Vent selector knob broke (without abuse), the "ding ding ding" of the alert when you get in the car or are low on gas is very annoying, cornering isnt great, nor is mpg. Its an ok-good car. Not the best, nor the worst Ive owned.

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  Nothing better Quality Control wont fix - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dalien - June 14 - 1:18 am

  A really nice vehicle for the price. It drives well, rides well, and the strong 5 cyl engine gives a steady 23 mpg mixed use. Wish it had come with XM radio, but those were hard to find. I immediately flushed out the cheap tires for Michelins. There were too many warranty trips to fix dumb things, but the warranty service was excellent and no hassle.

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  Great reliable car - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By A E Smith - June 13 - 8:18 pm

  This vehicle has been to college with 2 kids and has been a great...no accidents, cosmetic dent in left fender the size of large grape!!! And a cosmetic scuff along the right side

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  Sweet Magpie the Miracle Car - 1990 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Slanball - June 13 - 7:54 pm

  I bought my Lumina for 800 and it had 150k miles on it. My intention was just to drive it into the ground and buy a better car. But, I have yet had the opportunity to junk this magical car. Ive put about 35k miles on it and have had to do $0 worth of work to it. Sure it leaks oil, has terrible shocks that I wont replace, and looks bad, but this car has literally saved me thousands of dollars that I didnt have.

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  Lumina 2000 - 2000 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Faye - June 12 - 2:00 pm

  It drives very well and the speed is great. The interior is pretty good, its very comfortable. The only problem is the inside of the car needs a little work on its parts. A few are loose, but of course its a 2000. It runs rather well on the gas and the air conditioner (A/C) is great. Very much a family car. I had a 2000 Nissan Maxima before. Very sporty. It had quite a bit of mechanical problems which was getting to expensive to continously fix. I am very happy with my decision on purchasing a 2000 Lumina. It really puts a smile on my face.Oh and the Midnight blue color is beautiful. You gotta love it.

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  Visibility - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By N. Bruce White - June 10 - 8:02 am

  One of the main reasons that attracted me to this vehicle was the wonderful visibility. I found that my eyes easisly and comfortability could continually view all around the outside of the vehicle. No straining to make sharp turns. Adequate seat and mirror adjustments. A very efficient vehicile to maneuver, and drive relaxed.