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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  ZR2 - Worth far more than most say... - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By AirRyan - June 17 - 5:26 pm

  I have an 03 Blazer ZR2 that I bought new a year and a half ago now, with just under 15k miles on it. I havent had a single thing wrong with it other than a simple fix for the sunroof. The engine has great torque, and while it could use some more horsepower, thats not what this vehicle was intended for.

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  Big, Safe,Strong and Comfortable - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rick - June 17 - 3:46 pm

  Must have captains chairs which allows kid traffic to flow, and gives more elbow room for adults. The TV helps control climate of kids. XM radio gives choices when traveling. Big engine pulls my boat and eight passengers in vehicle. Great for beaching in the sand. No problems when it snows, Steering is effortless. Parking is easy if everyone parks straight.

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  Very good first car - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By cjeanine - June 15 - 8:58 pm

  Ive only had this car for about a year, and it was my first car. and I think for it being my first, I did pretty darn good. Its good on gas, and very easy to drive. The headlights turn themselves on at night, then off when the car is turned off, so I never have to worry about forgetting and leaving them on. The only annoying thing I can think of is that it doesnt always accelerate as fast as I want it to. Overall, a great, cheap, reliable car.

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  My second monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By VMX_PanicRev - June 15 - 10:00 am

  My first Monte was a 98 LS. I put 130,000 city miles on her before trading. In that time I went thru 4 sets of tires, 1 battery and 1 alternator. It was good enough to mak me trade for another Monte. I hope my luck holds out with this one. Great car so far ;)

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  Minor Flaws - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TAT2 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  Other than the typical problems (squeaks, creaks and rattles) that most people get from Chevy, have few problems. Yoke was bad (free fix), the tailgate handle broke (free fix), and 4WD push button was recalled (free fix). Recently had recall on tailgate supports. Mileage not what I hoped, but is 5.3L 4WD V8 with over sized tires - 16 isnt bad. AC awesome, even in Arizona! Never a problem with overheating, pulls trailer with 4 motorcycles w/o even noticing. Plenty of room for 4 adults, comfort acceptable on long trips. Upgraded exhaust and intake for performance, great improvement. Rear doors are too hard to get into though.

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  Good inexpensive car - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By linban - June 15 - 3:03 am

  I bought this car for a cheap economical commuter car. My uncle has owned 5 Chevy Cavaliers and recommended I buy this used one. His last one had 160,000 miles with no major mechanical issues and was still going strong. I have had no problems with mine. It had 73,000 miles on it when I bought it. I pushed it past 90 mph to see how it would handle, and it ran smooth. Granted there is alot of road noise and you feel like you are sitting close to the ground. But for a cheap little car, it is great.

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  Colorado - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By ross1113 - June 15 - 1:52 am

  I am very happy with my Colorado to date. Although it has already been into the shop for engine problems, and had new springs installed and new spark plugs. The fuel economy is not impressive so far. But, I love the drive and it is very comfortable on long trips. Took it on an 8 hour drive and it was a pleasure.

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  Vacation cruiser - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Robert - June 14 - 6:41 pm

  I bought it from a private seller who had just spent about $3000 (mostly warranty work - locks, rear turn signals, minor engine, tires, etc.) Rear light (poor design) and one door lock failed again 6 months later ($400). The battery terminal was cleaned but still needs to be jiggled sometimes to start the car. Great visability, easy to park, doors open all the way in standard space! Absolutly wonderful in snow, rain and on the long haul.

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  So far so good - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By POENY - June 13 - 9:13 pm

  My 2005 TrailBlazer EXT LT has almost everything I could ask for. With 600 miles on it everything is tight and working as it should. Based on a less than perfect experience with my last vehicle (2002 Blazer) I hope the not to report back that things have fallen apart in a year or so. I really like the ride and handling. Cabin space is much better than the 4Runner I was looking at, amenities are more affordable (at least up front, resale value is another thing). I didnt get the sunroof, it gives me an extra inch of head room but getting it out meant I had to get the DVD player (not needed but my daughter loves it). All in all it is a VERY nice ride every day, I am impressed.

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  Chevy 2500 - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Alain - June 13 - 6:54 pm

  This truck drives like a Lamborghini - plenty of power and excellent handling, far better than the 1500 series. After one year and over 10,000 miles, the truck runs better than new and is free of mechanical problems. I love it!