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 Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Brian Ludwig - September 1 - 8:25 pm

  My wife and I have owned our Colorado for just over a year now. She uses it to travel for work and as our grocery getter. So far the truck has only given us one problem and that is with the sterio speakers. We keep the oil changed and the tires balanced and rotated, the alignment gets checked every 3 to 4 months, and is only slightly out in toe as expected. Other than that, basic maintainance, and the truck is awesome. I would recomend this truck to anyone wanting a clear view of the road and who doesnt tow heavy loads, especially if you have kids or pets. We just wish it got a little better milage (Best 22 on highway, 19 in town). Thank you Chevrolet.

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  New Lover - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By armygirl72 - September 1 - 1:52 pm

  I love the ride. The engine is a little noisy for my taste but the rest of car is self makes up for it.

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  Love my Burb - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ddb - September 1 - 12:57 am

  The 2002 Suburban has been an excellent ride. 90% of miles are on major, crowded, dangerous interstate. Car has held up very well w/almost no maintenance needs. Super comfortable. What I pay in gas is made up for in safety and comfort. Its the best car Ive ever had.

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  Purely Amazing - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Tim - August 31 - 11:04 pm

  Bought used after experiencing buddies SS. Absolutely amazing the exhilarations that this car brings is like nothing I have ever experience. Straight ahead speed and if you lay off the gas through turns it corners better than any sports car on the road. With proper care this car will run for years. As for gas mileage you wouldnt even know that you had a v8 engine (low range from small tank)...plenty of power to get in and out of sticky situations...if you have the opportunity to get this vehicle get it and get it quickly. Dont worry about the resale value, you will not resell this car. Still get compliments on a weekly basis by all types of people...

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  2005 Malibu LT - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Todd - August 31 - 4:59 pm

  Bought used. Great car havent had any problems. Pick up is great. Feels more powerful than 200hp. Brakes feel strong with no fade and are easy to modulate. Steering is nice with little effort needed for parking lot speeds and tightens nicely as you pick up MPH. Handling is okay for a sedan. There is some body roll on faster turns but the car feels solid and I havent heard any noises from the car that there shouldnt be. Needs better tires! Its not a sports car but it would handle better without any squealing if there was better rubber however, the tires are good for absorbing rougher roads. Suspension helps isolate really well and the seats are comfortable. I definitely recommend it.

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  Excellent power, sub par fuel economy - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By burt - August 31 - 10:51 am

  I pull a 2700lbs boat and I have been very pleased with the pulling power and handling when Im towing.

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  Good SUV for kids and City Dwellers - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By todd_k - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Got my 200 ZR-2 Blazer for a birthday present and I love it. Good ground clearance and a competent 4wd system has gotten me into and out of places even friends with other SUVs have not been able to go. Small and easy to park which is important to me as a city dweler. Good sound system as well. and oh-so-cool. The build quality could be better though

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  Good so Far - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Crookie - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Taking a gamble with an American made SUV following 3 year stints with Pathfinder and Lexus LX450. Needed the 3rd seat (3 kids), and the Trailblazer/Envoy had the best (by far) 3rd seat with room behind it for storage. Love the ride - much less "trucky" than the Lexus. Bose system is fantastic. Lateral seat support could be improved. Separate 2nd seat tuner is favorite of oldest child. With 2 child seats in second row - not much extra room for third person. A little too much plastic on dashboard.

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  Early but happy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jughead - August 30 - 11:42 pm

  Only 3 weeks into my new LS but all indications are excellent. Love the ride despite some reviews of mushy cornering. I dont take corners at 75 mph so its fine by me. Interior is just fine, easy to use and reach controls, simple and straight forward. Looks great on the road with planty of power. Hard to pass up with the GM family discount and rebate for just over 24k OTD. Overall I am very happy with it, so far.

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  Alright car - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Adam - August 30 - 12:24 pm

  I bought the car with 135k miles on it and within 800 miles I needed a new transmission, but other than that its a good truck to have