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 little car - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mm - September 15 - 11:56 pm

  Have driven it for three years and it has not been in the shop for anything other than a burned out headlight. Has been very dependable and is really a nice car on the road as well as in town.

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  mikep - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By map80128 - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I originally bought the car because it had third row seating. But its too small to go on driving vacations - not enough storage space and back seat space. Also a bit wierd is the way the second and third row seating lays down to form a "flat" serface. Its almost like GM made this car into and extended version at the last minute. This car is too small to be a big SUV and too big to be a smaller SUV.

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  Cant Go Wrong - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Sodajerk - September 15 - 10:00 am

  This is the pickup I always wanted, and now I have it. It rides smooth, has plenty of features, and runs great.

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  Work truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 2004silerado - September 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought the basic truck no options and got a great rebate of 4000 off sticker.

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  Nothin but Chevys - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By NA - September 15 - 2:51 am

  This is the 2nd out of 3 Chevys ive owned and once again, no problems. I bought it from a young HS girl and even after a beating it still drove beautifully. Gas mileage was awesome, around 30MPG and a very peppy fun car to drive. A few minor maintenance issues, brakes, new battery, ect...but thats to be expected with any car. The seats were not the most comfortable and the back seats were not accomodating to anyone. Had a few problems with sticky buttons, dials, and such but I think it was due to previous owner. Truck space was good. Would reccomend to anyone looking for an affordable, reliable, fuel effecient, and peppy car!

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  Problem Free - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By NA - September 15 - 2:39 am

  Ive owned my Chevy for almost a year and have had absolutely zero problems mechanically. Its a suprisingly smooth and quiet ride. A little more get-up would be nice but the gas mileage makes up for it. I average about 27MPG. Thats better then most sedans. The stereo could use a little more beefiness and the seats are not the most comfortable things. Do not recommend extremely long road trips! The third door is an awesome feature that makes this truck very versitile, would recommend it!

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  Great truck - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By hobie237 - September 14 - 3:20 pm

  This truck has never given me any problems, other than ones Ive caused myself. Towing three times the capacity has cost me 2 transmissions so far. All in all, the truck starts when I want it to and takes whatever I need wherever I need it. I was a Ford guy. This truck made me a Chevy guy.

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  Very good mileage - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By gdeffendall - September 14 - 3:11 pm

  I enjoy the Aveo, bought it for fuel economy. I have checked mileage 3 times, 50% city & 50% hwy driving, air conditioning used all the time, mileage came out to be 34+ on all checks with air conditioning going all the time. Very pleased, quite comfortable, very economonical...

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  owner - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By avalanche owner - September 14 - 2:00 am

  this truck is excelent i have a magna charger super charger on it and you cant tell when you are towing a trailer the prob i have with this truck is the drivers seat is going flatat bottom part of you sit on i am thinking abought going over to the dealer to complane abought this my friend has a 2002 hd 2500 his seat is so flat that the fABRIC IS NOW BAGGIE ON THE SEAT MY LAST TRUCK WAS A 1997 TAHOE WITH A 170000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT THAT WAS THE BEST SEAT I EVER HAD IT DIDNT GO FLAT SPORRY OWNER OF A 2003 AVALANCHE SEAT

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  Aftermarket parts makes big difference - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By james t - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I installed a Airaid filter and tube Granatelli mass air flow sensor Poweraid throttle body spacer fuel milage increase,25hp increase,acceleration.$700 for all easy install worth every penny