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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  Great SS - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim and Pam - December 20 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is fun to drive! The performance and handling is great. We have gone on long trips with it. It is very comfortable and easy to drive. We owned a 96 Impala SS and the Silverado SS is the best. It is an all weather and versatile vehicle. It is close to the GMC C3. However is has more standard features. We love it. We have been looking for a vehicle like this for a long time. Great job Chevrolet.

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  Adequate for the cost - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By scottwalker69 - December 19 - 7:16 pm

  I have just driven this car over 59,000 miles since my purchase about 2 1/2 years ago. I average around 38 MPG on the highway and around 30-32mpg average on each tank I have not had to take the car into the shop at all since I bought it except for routine oil changes. There is a minor squeak when the heater is turned on and some rattles in the dash, but overall, I have been satisfied with my purchase. The material is "cheap" but does the job. I drive around 100 miles per day for my commute and I have been content with the car. It has been reliable. The only reason I would not buy this car ever again is because there are some foreign cars that are more reliable.

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  Good truck between major repairs - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Tim - December 19 - 5:30 pm

  Im the original owner of my 4wd ext. cab ZR2 with 100K mi as of 12/05, and the truck has been a blast to drive off road and to haul stuff with. However, there have been several major repairs that have cost much $$: Tranny at 50K mi, fuel pump, pwr window motor & switches, 6 batteries, oil leaks, two A/C units, two alternators, electrical problems, idler pulley and recently some ignition system problems. Also, at 16 MPG on the highway it is a lousy commuter. Im convinced the ABS never worked right in spite of at least 3 recalls/bulletins. The 4.3L Vortec V6 has been strong and burns no oil.

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  SUV king - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jim - December 19 - 1:05 pm

  Pretty much an optimized SUV.There is a reason why so many people buy these trucks ! My family and I are enjoying the heck out of it ! The only issue I have is with the gearing, GM went with the 3.42 rear gear instead of the 3.73 ( which the 2004 and older units had ) I the intrest of fuel economy. Drivability however has been sacrificed at certain cruising speeds.The truck is not turning enough RPMs in top gear, and provides a sluggish feel below 75 MPH. Which is problem considering there are not to many places that allow you to drive that fast ! However, @ 85 MPH I think Im only turning 2200 RPMs, talk about a highway cruiser !!!

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  I miss the older Prism - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By gudly - December 19 - 11:52 am

  I had a 94 and loved it. No problems, absolute dream even when traded it in with 182,000 miles on it because I needed a truck. My wife needed a car so we picked up another Prizm. This time a 98. The engine very good.300 Ride quality is wonderful. But It is far more cramped than the previous model and a lot of the plastic brakes easily Weve replaced the driver side door handle 3 times. Weve also replaced the starter already. But it gets us where we want to go, and it is very cheap to operate. Love the gas mileage

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  2005 1500 Silverado CrewCab Z71 4x4 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rossn2 - December 19 - 10:46 am

  Getting right at 17mpg with the 5300V- 8. It should go up. Ill also change to synthetic oil in a couple thousand miles. Im six foot and seat back so wish mirrors would extend more out so Im not looking down side of truck. Also, the headrests are cheap. you just push them up and down, theres no release button to lock them at a set height. Dropped down from a 2500 series truck with Diesel engine, was tired of paying 15-20 cents extra a gallon of fuel. So far like the truck, first Chevy product. Rides smooth..

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  The Blaze - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Abe - December 18 - 5:03 pm

  Having owned a 1978 K5 2 door in my teens, when it came time to upsize (from a 99 ZR2), I knew what I wanted. I chose the last year of the 2 door Blazer. I found a maroon/grey Sport with the "floor shift" 4X4 and the 350 V8. All in all, I LOVE it. After buying it I realized it was lacking in the "up-and-go" dept, but it had plenty of torque for pulling my 203500lb boat. So, I added a K&N FIPK Gen II, upgraded the plugs and wires, and installed a Flowmaster with a 3" single outlet. None of that made a huge difference untill I changed the fuel filter. Now the Blaze moves like no other 3000lb beast. Im already saving for a new motor and tranny when needed.

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  Love it, but try to find a parking spot. - 2006 Chevrolet Express
  By Jennifer - December 18 - 1:26 am

  I love my 2006 Chevy Express! My only complaint is that I can hardly ever find a parking spot for it. Its very long, and seems much wider than my other cars have ever been. (Suburbans)

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  Awesome - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Joe - December 18 - 12:28 am

  Ive only had the Trailblazer for about a month, but its great compared to what weve had in the past. The only complaint is the fuel economy on this SUV. Excellent vehicle for the family all in all though.

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  Better than expected - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By billy wheeler - December 17 - 12:50 pm

  I admit that this Tahoe was not my first choice. I wanted an Armada, but the wife did not want to wait while I saved. We compared it to the Expedition, and it was not an option for us, plus the 3 benches sold the wife on it. We got the 5.3l engine and I am very happy with it. I have installed a K&N FIPK on it and a Flowmster 40 series. While the 40 series is a bit resonant for my taste, the overall improvement (there was an obvious one) was WELL worth the resonation. I have towed a couple of compact vehicles on trailers with the Tahoe and there was little impact to the gas mileage. I wish that the drivers seat design had been designed better, but it isnt TOO uncomfortable for long rides.