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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  Excellent as winter Station Wagon - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Mainer - November 28 - 6:06 pm

  No problems with vehicle as such. I just wish that the back door opened up or split up and down. It is sometimes difficult to get enough room in a parking lot to open the door. The automatic transmission works excellent and the cargo size is adequate practically with the back seat down.

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  very happy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Bigtshipp - November 28 - 10:00 am

  It really has a lot of room. I love the way it rides on the highway.

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  Solid Van - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By DJ - November 27 - 9:53 pm

  I had a 95 that only was in the shop a couple of times for non-maintenance work - a bad EGR valve and the exhaust system rusted out at 92k miles. Based on my experience I bought a new 2001. Its five years old and has 120k miles on it. Ive had a few non-maintenance repairs. At around 50k miles the turn signal switch went out. This was a $450 repair but about three years later, GM had a recall on the switch and re-imbursed me. I installed new front shocks at around 70k miles. At about 105k miles the fuel pump went out. This cost $750 plus the towing!

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  Colorado Z71 crew cab - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Justin Barbato - November 27 - 9:05 pm

  For the money it is the best compact pickup out there. I have about 8000 miles on it so far and it gets about 19-20 mpg. It cost me about 5 to 6 thousand less than a Frontier or Tacoma. Great buy.

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  Fun? Of course, its a Camaro - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Baron3800 - November 26 - 12:20 pm

  Although on the hunt for an LS1 Z28 for my next car, my v6 3800 Camaro has been bullet proof and a very fun car to own. As a long time Camaro enthusiast, of course I modified mine and a new intake and cat-back really wake these v6ers up. Also the handling is great and showing up even Mustang GTs in corners isnt difficult. And of course, the 3800 series II (10 best engine award winner) has been reliable as the day I bought it. Do not buy import trash and these fake sport compact cars, the v6 Camaro/Firebird is an insurance friendly sports car that has big aftermarket support and will get stares from many.

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  RPM Change while driving/Idle Change...? - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jaxarmyguy59 - November 26 - 10:08 am

  The Chevy dealer said that this was "Normal an that it was the alternator" kicking in. The truck while driving at any/every speed will idle up an then back down about 100 RPMs. I have put duel flowmaster exaust on it and now this is undeniable. You can also feel it in the truck itself when it kicks in almost every 30 seconds or so. Im pissed! I payed alot for this truck, and work hard for my money. I hate beign lied to an I feel like that is just what Chevy did! Do any of you guys know what this might be, or what it sounds like? Thanks for the help, -Jon

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  Bargain - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mjw - November 25 - 8:14 pm

  Purchased for college daughter but mom stole it away. Great value. Build quality not up to foreign standards but loaded with convenience and safety features. Gently ride, adequate handling. Not bad looking. Rear doors allow excess wind noise.

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  C6 with Z51 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Scott - November 25 - 7:39 pm

  I love the exterior styling and after a year the car still gets loads of positive comments at the gas station etc. I have done four track schools in the car and have been generally disappointed with the performance. The automatic transmission will shift at inopportune times and even with the traction control set in the "Performance" mode the car feels rather unbalanced when going through a off camber down hill which causes the tranny to hunt for a gear. The Z51 suspension along with the run flat tires gives a very harsh freeway ride which becomes punishing after about two hours on the road. The transmission puts out loads of heat and the center console can toast your right leg.

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  My 1998 Chevy Malibu - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Fran - November 25 - 4:54 pm

  For the most part, this car has been a great friend! Always reliable, & gets me from point A to point B. Not a fancy car, and nothing to really look at. But if you are looking for a vehicle that is well made, reliable, & can sit 4 to 5 persons at one time this is the vehicle for you!

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  Comfy, Roomy, Cool, but not Sexy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By W. Moreno - November 24 - 9:53 pm

  People who ride in this car say things like, "I like riding in this. Its not a very good looking car, but its comfortable". The A/C here in LA is great. The ride is smooth, but not as quiet as Ive had it other cars this large. At 30,500 miles, after a 40 mile drive, the engine temp gauge went all the way to the top! It caught me off guard. I turned the heater on, but to no avail. I quickly pulled into a parking lot to check the radiator, and it was fine. Turns out the water pump went out. Thankfully, it was covered under warranty.