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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  03 Trail Blazer Ext TL - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By jd4u2 - March 4 - 10:00 am

  Very reliable with an excellent ride. Braking and steering take some getting used to after driving a sport sedan. Over all a very good vehicle with a great ride and interior space.

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  Malibu.......Reliable Fiamily Car? - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kshont - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I had my malibu for a month before i traded it in for more than perfect Toyota Camry. I visited the dealership 3 times within that month to fix an annoying problem with the electronic steering. After being told to come the fourth time i decided to visit a Toyota Dealership. I brought a new Camry LE V6 the same and i dont have any problems within the last 2 months. Buyer beware!!

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  Tahoe - SUV for the Rockies - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Don Douglas - March 4 - 8:57 am

  Best vehicle I have ever owned. It is equally fitting for driving around town in Denver or taking the toughest incline in the Rockies. I love the power my wife loves the comfort. We recently drove from Denver to Houston and it was the most comfortable long trip I have ever taken in a vehicle. The only complaint is slightly squeaky brakes.

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  2 door 3.5 eng with 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By KerryC - March 3 - 1:25 pm

  The interior space in the 2 door regular cab is plenty for me. I like the MP3 system / stereo. The 3.5 eng has plenty of zip and torque. Overall, the size makes is easy to drive in traffic. 4WD in Wisconsin winter weather is great! I found this to be much more reasonable price wise to the Toyota which I also considered.

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  Maybe a little too fancy - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Desertguy - March 2 - 12:26 pm

  Nice truck, looks like a luxury car inside & rides like one too. Smooth shifting transmission & powerful 5.3 L V8. The only prob I have is at night the headlights will dim for a split sec then come back up(Im taking it in to have them check this) & the volt gauge will drop when sitting at a stop light with the A/C on, annoying but normal according to the owners manual. The truck has an Electric Power Management system that can reduce the power demands of some accessories when needed. The A/C kicks on & the interior lights dim! My F250 never did these things to me, but it never gave me the mileage this Chevy does. A really nice, smooth, & powerful truck (if you dont mind a dipping volt gauge)

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  Great Muscle Car - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jsabowabo - March 2 - 11:59 am

  The Camaro SS Conv. is a great muscle car. Its got the fabled LS1 and a T56 6-speed and makes a honest 350hp stock. These cars are fast and will easily smoke nearly any car on the road. The LS1 is an absolute gem of a motor, the only better one might be the supercharged 4.6L DOHC motor in the 03-04 cobra. Things you should know though, the interior is shoddy, and there is only room for short people in the back. It does get good mileage for what it is, expect 19-20 avg in mixed driving. It does have a long overhang and it feels like a big car. A Mustang GT feels smaller.

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  Great second car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By John - March 2 - 12:00 am

  I traded in my gas guzzler after gas topped $3 a gallon. I needed a car that averaged atleast mid 20s to a gallon. After some serching and not wanting a 4 door the cobalt was my choice. I got the LT version for 18,000 including taxes. So far the car has performed well, but did have a paint peeling issue on the front bumper, which they repaired. There is nothing to jump up and down for on this car, its transportation. Its basic wheels.

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  Forget the reviews, REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By imagesinvinyl - March 1 - 11:27 pm

  I owned my truck for about 7 months now, and I was recently involved in a horrendous rollover accident in it. I was a sleeping passenger while a friend drove in route to Portland, OR. Needless to say, he fell asleep, I awoke to the truck losing all control and ultimately flipping several times. It was completely destroyed, not one part was left un-damaged. He and I both were wearing seatbelts, and both walked away. Banged up and bruised, but walked away, or should I say crawled out through a rear door window opening. DONT TRY THIS, but I am buying another Chevy. We lived with minor injuries.

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  Great for the money, but... - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By dadkars - March 1 - 10:20 pm

  Traded in my gas guzzling Suburban, paying the gas was just plain crazy! At first I thought I had settled for the HHR, boy I was wrong. I love my HHR. Fun to drive, not as nimble as a MINI but awesome for under $16K. We like it so much that we are considering trading my wifes car for the special edition HHR or the Super Sport HHR. One huge complaint, I really believe everyone should complain about the $395 option for rear air bags! Crazy! Chevy should include this in every HHR. That would seal the deal. If I would have know before, I would have ordered an HHR with the option of airbags for the rear seats.

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  Best Personal Use Truck Yet - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mjjust - March 1 - 10:19 pm

  This has to be the best personal use truck on the market. 16 mpg city, 22 mpg on highway, tows my 7000 pound boat without trouble, rides great, and comes standard with removable bed cover, built in locking storage (which work great as an ice chest), bed mat, etc. No mechanical issues, warranty expired without ever needing service.