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:

• 

  Wonderful Car - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By mizzoutiger18 - May 26 - 2:30 pm

  This is the first car Ive ever bought and I love it. Its such a smooth ride and it gets great gas mileage.

• 

  nice car but a rattle-trap interior - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By kenny6071 - May 26 - 10:00 am

  I really like the car except for the constant rattle in the glove box door and the unusually high road noise. You may not feel every bump in the road but you sure can hear it. The car has been this way ever since I bought it. It is great to be able to fit 2 shopping carts of food in the trunk, and another cart full in the back seat area! The stereo is nice but needs better sounding rear speakers. 24K miles later, it is showing its age as well as feeling its age. The car doesnt feel as robust as it was when new. So far no major mechanical problems!

• 

  Fix my seats & its ready for next owner - 2001 Chevrolet Express
  By what a soccer van! - May 25 - 7:59 pm

  Four kids each with his own space we couldnt be happier. Great layout inside and all the geegaws kept the kids quiet while we talked. Easy to drive. We made long trips with cargo packed in the rear and everybody well pleased. This car was targeted at us, and we loved it.

• 

  Value Received - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Harry J. - May 24 - 1:46 pm

  Well pleased with car, but still think that seats are lackluster in appearnce. GM Division could really have done better. Rear sunroof shade can only be called what it is - cheap plastic that doesnt work. Center console storage needs a stronger hinge to prevent wobble when opening and closing. Head restraints (for some reason) tilt forward at a strange angle. I might try turning them around! Rearview mirror hard to flip for bright lights.

• 

  Wish they still made them - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By John Beisner - May 24 - 12:11 pm

  This is our second Venture and they have both performed beautifully. The only thing we dont like relate to the size of the seats - they are too long and the seats cut into the back of the knees, especially on long trips. We consistently get 26-28 mpg on the road. The Venture handles mountains with ease and neither venture has required anything other than normal maintenance. Im disappointed that Chevy stopped producing them as we are in the market for a new one (we realize that the "Plain Jane" model we now have would be more enjoyable with power items and sunroof, etc). Well probably purchase a Cobalt now as we have moved to a different stage of our life. We have always loved the styling.

• 

  No Regrets - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tundraman - May 24 - 12:04 pm

  Bought the TrailBlazer 4WD LTZ brand new almost 5 years ago, trading in my 96 Grand Cherokee Limited. Fuel economy, handling, power, reliability and quality are all about the same. The Chevy has better interior space and comfort although I think the front seats could be better. I think the Chevys style, ride, stereo and other gadgets are better than the Jeeps. The only thing I miss is the sound of the V8. Chevys V6 might have plenty of power but the sound of it is almost embarrassing. The trips back to the dealer have been infrequent, just regular servicing, fixing the turn signal on the side mirror that the car wash people broke and to fix a ding in the hood.

• 

  My First Tracker - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By cgtrumpet - May 24 - 9:10 am

  My 2001 Chevy Tracker is my very first car. It is reliable and comfortable. It gets great gas mileage and is very efficient. I love driving to school and practice in it since it is just so comfortable. I plan on keeping my Tracker until I graduate from high school, which is in about two years. It is a great car for young, inexperienced drivers.

• 

  first new truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Sandi D - May 23 - 10:00 am

  I really like my truck. I have the Z85 with the I-5 engine(which wasnt an option when filling out this form). However, its not as comfortable to drive on long trips as I expected. The lumbar support hits me about 4 inches too high.Also, if you plan on using a childs car seat in the back of the extended cab (using the jump seats) try your car seat before you buy!!! My daughters car seat hangs off the jump seat by about 60%, which makes me relucatant to put her in the back. Unfortunately, I cant use the front seat because there is no airbag over- ride.

• 

  Nice truck but had problems - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jocatch - May 23 - 7:38 am

  Had for 7 years. At 24,000 miles needed a new engine because of oil consumption. At 88,000 needed a new transfer case. A few small problems like passenger side seat wouldnt slide forward and passenger door lock wouldnt work all the time. Some times passenger side seat back wouldnt lock in upright posistion.

• 

  What a Great Truck for Dad - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By YSSMAN - May 21 - 11:02 pm

  My Dad was looking to buy an Avalanche the day they came out a few years ago. But with all that plastic, he wouldnt buy one. But after Chevrolet made the plastics an option, he bought one up pretty quick. I was a bit dissapointed that he didnt go with an LT or Z71, but the LS works just fine. The ride is quiet, and around town the power is sufficent to keep the truck going. Fuel mileage isnt bad either for such a large truck, and even when we are doing 80MPH with the A/C on, we still average 22MPG. Added to that, the MidGate system is awesome. Going from a SUV to a pickup truck was a great idea for GM, and it has come in handy so many times, it is just awesome.