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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  Still Buying Another - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By grandpx96 - July 27 - 9:16 pm

  The TrailBlazer is an all-around fun truck. They need to add more leg support. The drive seat, to me, is more like a bench seat from the 70s. On the long haul, they are very uncomfortable. Styling is great. The 2003 features are great (they cut back on the 2005 I found out). But I am trading it in for a LT EXT next week.

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  I want another one - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Cliff - July 26 - 5:31 pm

  This is my second GM SUV. The first was a 1999 Yukon. When It hit 80,000, I had to trade for the new body style. This has been the best truck I have ever owned. I am currently holding out for the new 2006.

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  2002 trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By michaelshane32 - July 25 - 8:14 pm

  My only complaint is a cold engine noise that quickly clears up, and a taillight recall, theyre on backorder. Could also use a larger gas tank..

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  2 1/2 yr review - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By JC - July 25 - 6:43 pm

  Well I bought it because of the bed conversion capability. It seemed like a good idea, but in actuality more of a hassle to convert to full bed. The bed panels are a chore to remove and store. If you plan on using the full bed a lot, then get a regular pickup! No issues with the engine, but thats where it ends. In 2.5 years Ive been to the dealer for new rotors and pads all around at 5,000 miles, steering shaft replacement, Bose radio replacement, rear window replacement, faded cladding, center mount brake light replacment, regrease steering shaft, failed rear end, and failed transmission. All fortunately covered under warranty except the tranny. I baby the thing. Ive never towed or gone off road.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mike lynch - July 24 - 9:33 pm

  I currently have 71,000 miles on my 2003 Trailblazer and it has performed extremely well. It is still all original, including brakes. Tires were replaced at 60,000 miles. Performance is excellent and mileage of ~17.5mpg is acceptable. I will buy another one when I get about 120,000 miles on this one

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  Not a bad little car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By getelimi - July 24 - 5:10 pm

  This is our 3rd Cavalier. After drivivng it for 3 years, so far so good. The only problem is the AC stopped working 800 miles past the warranty. The dealer covered the parts, but we paid for labor- wasnt happy about that. Drove it to Florida 1300 miles, and it was very noisy on concrete highways, and in one instance the car would not start until I jiggled the shifter. I liked our 86 the best, and drove it 109,000 miles with no repairs.

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  somewhat stressed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By 2010 Chevy Equinox - July 24 - 10:36 am

  At test drive the Chevy Equinox drove, handled great. After purchasing the 2010 Chevy Equinox, and driving it for a month, I started hearing this motor noise (which sounded like a lifter inside motor). Took into dealership we purchased our Equinox from, explained to the service attendant. Service writer wrote up a ticket for the problem. After checking out our Equinox, service attendant called and said our Equinox was ready. When asking the service attendant about the noise he told us that it was just what that engine does. We have taken our Equinox in 2 other times and noting can be done about it. Now the noise seems to be getting worse. Engine is really noisy.

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  1995 Lumina - a solid performer - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Andrew - July 24 - 2:06 am

  I acquired this car from the original buyer 4 years ago at 82,000 miles. It is an exceptionally roomy and comfortable car for the price, and has run well. Brakes only last about 40,000 mi. This year at 130,000 miles, it needed a major tuneup, spark plug replacement, and intake manifold gasket replacement. About half my miles are cross country, and it has been totally reliable.

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  tblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By astro - July 22 - 10:00 am

  GOOD BUY FOR THE MONEY ESPECIALY WITH MY GM DISCOUNT AND REBATES!

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  80k miles and going strong - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By babel - July 21 - 6:59 pm

  A lot of fun for 4x4 in the snow or mud. This car seems a bit cramped at times for an SUV, but is definitley bigger than most cars. Lots of head room. The daytime running lights are nice, but impossible to turn off while the keys are in it ( like if you want to run the defogger at the drive-in). Its impossible to sleep in the back with the seats down if youre 58". 80k miles, 22mpg. Changing the oil requires removal of a heavy heat sheild ( not fun ).