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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  Chevy Malibu 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MJH - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Good American built vehicle - it is about time. Hopefully it will holdup over the long term as well as it is now.

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  TOO MANY TRIPS TO MECHANIC - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By chammond20 - March 8 - 2:00 am

  We have had our TB LT 4x4 for 2 years and we have had it in for repair at least 8 times. At least three were for recalls, two times for the rear windshield wiper, two other times because it was stalling and failed to start, and another for the driver window coming off track. Its too bad because we reallly like the style and features of the vehicle. The ride and power are great, but you shouldnt have to deal with these problems wiith a $34,000 vehicle. This could be a great vehicle once the kinks are worked out.

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  03 LTX 4X4 - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By boatnut - March 8 - 2:00 am

  We have an 03 LTZ package and its one of the best vehicles we have ever owned. We looked at Mercedes, Lexus 300, Infinity QX4, Ford Limited, and Acura MD. The Chevy was easily the best vehicle out there in our opinion. The second to last vehicle we drove was the Infinity, which was very nice,, and the sales staff was much better then and Chevy dealership we had been to, we were ready to buy Infinity, but we waited to drive the LTZ to be able to compare all, and we are glad we did.

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  Good For Average Driver - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By dude - March 7 - 6:40 pm

  This may be a problem with just my 02 Prizm, but when traveling at speeds above 65 mph the steering wheel begins to have an annoying vibration. Ive tried several things to fix it, but it stays there, but other than that its great. It gets around 31 mpg on the highway, and is perfect for begining drivers. I would recomend it to anyone, but make sure you test it good first before you buy it.

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  My 2005 Chevy Classic - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Jon Black - March 7 - 6:54 am

  Overall, I really like the car. I view it as a value vehicle. Lots of nice stuff for under $20,000. Just the kind of car I like. I question some design and construction, though. 1. The hood blocks the outward movement of the wipers. Pulling them out to clean the lower windshield is difficult. 2. Transmission lever when in PARK, makes using the heater knobs difficult. Also heater knobs are under an overhang from the radio and some of the selections for the heater are difficult to see. 3. Carpet was cut too narrow in the drivers compartment and there is a gap between the edge of the compartment and the carpeting. A properly fitting piece of carpet should have been installed.

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  Good Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By batman563031 - March 6 - 9:53 pm

  This is the most powerful truck Ive ever owned! Chassis is also the stiffest as well. Much better than my 03 F150 which I got rid of after 7 months for the 01 Chev. Ive had problems with the A/C, got those fixed, also the annoying cold start knock, quiets down after warming up (recommend full-synthetic oil to quiet down). Tie rods and steering system needed fixing at 70,000 miles (very expensive without warranty).

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  Great car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Leo - March 6 - 12:53 am

  I bought the LT2 Impala used, with 7000 miles, and have driven 1500 miles so far. The car rides great, gets 30 mpg in combination city/highway, (about 75% highway)which is better than the 02 Nissan Altima 4 cylinder I traded in, can use E85 ethanol, and is a much more comfortable car. Looked at Accord and Camry, but the Impala is a lot more car for the money. I have friends with Hondas and Toyotas, and they are not as trouble free as some would have you think. If you drive as much as I do, and want a solid, cofortable car, with great safety ratings, check out the Impala LT

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  Nice, powerful and reliable ride. - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By SMac - March 5 - 10:41 pm

  Even though I dont have anything or anyone to haul around, I love having the room if I need it. Actually, I did once deliver a new stove and it fit in the back with the seat folded down. Not great gas mileage - but Im glad I have the power to get on the highway with no problems.

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  Lot of Luxury...Not a lot of Price. - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Steve - March 5 - 12:12 pm

  My wife insisted on getting an SUV in spite of her having a reliable 2dr car that was paid for. I shopped around for awhile and saw that the Trailblazers came at a good price. We bought used with low miles. I couldnt be happier with the car. Its got so many bells and whistles (we have the LTZ) it makes it fun to drive. Gas mileage is not the best but, its an SUV what can you do.

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  Equinov Great - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jean taylor - March 4 - 10:23 pm

  This is my first SUV. Handles well on long drives, very comfortable. The only negative would be mileage - even on highway I was only averaging 22 mpg. Have recommended it to others.