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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  Finally got it. - 2001 Chevrolet Camaro
  By liquify - December 17 - 8:33 pm

  To be completely honest, Ive allways been an F-body fan. I dreamt of having this car in high school and I got it. Now thats out of the way, this truly is a great car. With $123 invested in a simple lid, the car runs 12.9 1/4 on street tires and puts down 310 hp to the rear wheels with an automatic. Just impressive. I have had the car up to very extra legal speeds and its rock solid. On the corners, it could use a better wieght ditribution, but itll still outhandle 90% of the cars out there. There is a leak on the drivers side window. I average 19 city and 28 highway. With this much power on tap, thats awesome. For my money, this car is everything I was expecting.

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  First two weeks with a 2003 - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kapptin - December 17 - 2:00 am

  So far I have been very pleased with my new 2003 LTZ 4wd. I have always been a Chevy fan and found that the TB was an excellet choice for mid size SUV. The only real thing that Chevy could have done better on is the front seats, too much slip side to side. I have leather and you have to hold yourself in place on sharp turns. Very happy with performance and handling. Great ride and easy to drive for around town use.

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  First SUV - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By OPRF Dooper - December 13 - 11:08 pm

  Just turned 5,000 miles. Close to zero defects. TB is fun to drive compared to our minivan. Front seating is comfortable and the ride is good, but it really rolls a lot when hitting bumpy corners. Maybe all SUVs do that. Havent tried the 4WD yet. Nice to be able to pull into a parking space and not scrape on the barrier or curb. Definitely like better than a passenger car. Mileage running about 17 mpg as advertised in the city, but at least that weight provides some safety (as do the side airbags).

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  Silver Nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By hkycoldrct - December 13 - 9:56 pm

  Overall a good vehicle. Very comfortable on long trips with an excellent lumbar control and drivers side seat with many positions to choose from. Actual mileage averages 18.5 mpg with 14,000 miles on the vehicle. The motor is fairly strong and responsive. There is ample room if youre going to haul a lot around. The rear seat movement is simply awsome. With the rear seat folded down there is more room than you would imagine for a vehicle this size. I would purchase this car again if I had too.

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  Second Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By charlied - December 12 - 9:44 pm

  This is the second Impala I have owned. The other was a 2001. Needs redesign but this has been an excellent value. I used my GM card rebate to save $2,200 after I made the deal. (You must not carry a monthly balance on your card to save any money). Looking forward to my third. The first Impala had a leaking seal on the front after 10,000 miles. The current Impala has 12,000 miles and has not been back to the dealer except for oil changes

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  2002 trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Wayne Baker - December 12 - 3:08 pm

  We bought our trailblazer new in July, 2001. We were attracted by the size (not too big) and design. We occasionally pull an 18 foot boat and the towing ability is excellent. Also, it is very comfortable for trips and safe for my wife to drive around town. Our LTZ came with all of the "bells and whistles" availabe when they first came out. We had a choice between a DVD player or sunroof, and chose the roof.

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  Chevy Suburban 1500 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Karen - December 12 - 11:31 am

  This truck is the ultimate in performance and comfort. Its great for long road trips, being able to accommodate passengers comfortably and carry a huge amount of cargo. The optional 4WD allows you to go virtually anywhere. The dash board is set up for easy use and it includes creature comforts such as CD player and cassette player. Leather seats make for easy clean up in case of spills. The head room and leg room are generous, allowing even the tallest person to sit in the second row without being cramped. Rear A/C controls let everyone be comfortable. The ride is smooth and the truck is easy to drive on the open road.

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  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By eng6fire - December 12 - 2:00 am

  Dont understand complaints about steering & suspension. Mine turns fine and rides better than most cars. Also handles sharp corners with ease.

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  Happy so far! - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By PA - December 11 - 8:42 pm

  Purchased it two months ago. Great ride going from 1999 Dodge Durango and great handling. Loaded with features in comparison, but way more expensive. Wondered if wife who usually drove minivan would like it, but now she wont give it back. Kids love the ride and the back seat room. Tested Ford Explorer and Toyota Sequoia but found cargo space and price value better with Chevrolet.

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  Clean Camaro - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By mindi dimeo - December 10 - 2:34 am

  Bought this vehicle used, re-painted to impove black sports car appeal. High mileage 120,000 - expected normal maintenance, brakes etc. Above that repaired many oil leaks - all minor problems, minimal costs - most major repair was alternator. Although you gotta love Chevy, purchased one from junk yard for $35 with lifetime warranty - still working now! Updated tires and wheels to 96 Trans Am style - most expensive addition, but improved look of car tremendously. Drives every day for personal and business use - has suprisingly high cargo capacity, excellant vehicle except in inclement weather.