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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  Watch maintenance expenses on older cars - 1995 Chevrolet Caprice
  By R - August 16 - 2:14 am

  Opti-spark ignition causes tune up to be $500+ in parts, and 8hrs+ labor. Good thing its got a 100K mile recommended tune up interval. Electronic speedo display prone to failure. AIR pump (smog control device) fails on nearly every car. Interior door panels (esp. drivers) prone to falling apart. However, in spite of this, I absolutely love this car. Drive it 31 miles each way to work, with about 21 MPG highway, for a full size car with 155K miles on it.

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  Good truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By John - August 15 - 5:23 pm

  Excellent in 4x4, like the push button as opposed to floor mount gear. Should come with spray in liner as option. Wish mine had air vents in back seat to force cold and hot air. Rear window defrost should be an option too. Love my truck.

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  Big bang for your hard earned buck - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By SEarly - August 15 - 11:10 am

  I wanted an efficient commuter car that was good on gas since I drive 64 miles round trip. Cheap to run, so I would not feel guilty about racking up excessive mileage. I have to say that I have been very pleased with this vehicle, especially when I factor in the extras and what I paid for it. I got my car out the door for around $11K w/taxes and fees. Decent performing with very low maintenance cost. I have been very satisfied with the engine and transmissions performance compared to the Honda Civic & Ford Focus with slightly smaller engine C.U.s

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  timJoan - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Tim Renelt - August 14 - 3:55 pm

  Excellent SUV, very comfortable with good gas mileage. Transmission/engine occasionally over revs when first started. Chevrolet needs to reduce wind noise.

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  Trailblazer Problems - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Big B - August 14 - 1:44 pm

  We bought our Trailblazer new, after hearing great things about it, and how it did not have the problems the Blazer was known for (electrical problems,etc.). We are pleased with the handling, performance and comfort, but very dissapointed with the electrical problems we are already having. The wire harness running under the rear seats has worn through. The airconditioner works erratically. Anyone that owns one can tell you of the multilple recall notices regarding brake problems as well as a permanent recall on the rear taillights (burn out continuosly). Our Trailblazer is up for sale... I think I am going back to Nissan or Toyota.

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  Ash review - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ashchevvy - August 14 - 10:47 am

  Been driving ny LS Sedan Aveo 2005 for a month. Till now good value for money. Goes about 415km on a full tank {with AC on}. Very spacious on the inside. Silver is perhaps the best colour here. I got my windows tinted silver..so it looks cool. The pick-up is not very powerful but once a speed is attained it cruises smoothly. The fuel indicator is very dim and fluctuates. The seat has no height adjuster. AC is very effective. Engine is spaced out neatly for air to pass around. Have overall enjoyed till now. I would recommend it if you are looking for a decent value for the money.

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  Roomy coupe - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Ericjay - August 14 - 10:00 am

  This is an American coupe. This means its nice and roomy. Im 63" and cant squeeze into a Solara or RSX.

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  My Review - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chevy Guy 2 - August 14 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Trailblazer for about (3) months now and have had only one problem. The weather stripping on the front edge of rear doors keeps falling off. It is an obvious design flaw as they rely on a small tab at top to hold in place and when door is opened the weather strip is pinched and pops off. The dealer finally glued them in place. The stereo system is so-so, power mirror controls are chintzy, wind noise a bit loud, front seats not very comfortable,and power steering is too over assisted.

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  Problems within a year - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tahoe07 - August 13 - 10:03 am

  I had a lot of problems within a year with my 2007 Tahoe. First, was the drivers seat. It happened 3 mos after my purchase. The auto function wouldnt work so I had to bring it to the nearest dealer. Second, on the fifth month, the digital display of my tire pressures wasnt working, again I had to bring it to the dealership. On the 8th month, major problems. My car wouldnt engage to Drive, I had to put it to 2nd gear in order for it to move. It took a week for the dealership to fix the problem. Too many problems with the vehicle, its been less than a year. Lastly, I average 15mpg.

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  I drive on and like it - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By billy bob - August 12 - 8:59 pm

  Its fun to drive. Theres lots of noise from the plastic over time, but overall Im happy with my truck. However, resale value is poor.