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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  my 2004 cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By winky681 - May 26 - 2:00 am

  i purchased my 2004 cavalier in december 2003. i really like the styling of my car and the dependability.the downside to my car is the stiff and bumpy ride. and the interior design is somewhat hampering. especially the cup holders and heating and air conditioning controls. controls are too low on the dash. and are hard to reach. especially if you are using the cup holders.

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  Rides great! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TBdriver - May 26 - 2:00 am

  I have enjoyed my Trailblazer for the past two years. No major defects or problems. Great acceleration off the line. I have had several passengers comment that the ride is very smooth. I would agree. The interior styling is not as attractive as the exterior. Inside is mostly one color plastic. Gas mileage is poor (about 16 city), but fortunately I do not rack up a lot of miles. Very easy vehicle to get in and out of (unlike the Mitsubishi Montero).

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  uncomftable unexciting - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By haroldthart - May 26 - 2:00 am

  Car is very uncomfortable to sit in. Workmanship quality is very good.

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  2003 Z71 2DR - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By llogan - May 25 - 3:16 pm

  Have had this 2003 Z71 2-dr since new. It currently has 134,000 miles. No complaints about reliability with just basic maintenance. Original tires only lasted about 40,000 miles. Replacements have lasted about 80,000 so far. Only parts that have broken on me are two rear U-joints,water pump seal seeps, and the battery died after 7 years. Clunking noise from steering column is a little annoying, but apparently common for this model. Under-body rust is a problem even though I regularly wash the underside of the truck. 4x4 system has been rock solid in snow, ice, mud, you name it. Tows/hauls with no problems although trailer brakes highly recommended for heavy loads/high speeds.

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  Unsafe to drive - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By G. Allen - May 25 - 10:53 am

  Transmission pauses after coasting or when starting out. After coasting causes a heavy jerk on driveshaft and rearend. Dealer put rubber in springs to damper clunk. When turning a corner the pause in the transmission causes a sudden acceleration that causes the rear wheels to loose traction putting the truck into a sideways slide causing loss of control of vehicle at times. Also the small V-8 that GM puts in this truck has piston slap that the dealer says is "normal". I call it a design flaw. Hopefully it doesnt fall apart before I decide to get rid of it. Im a GM employee, and I beleive in supporting my paycheck source, but I believe in getting a quality product for my buck.

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  Great Value - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Joe - May 25 - 4:23 am

  Leased my LTZ Impala and am very happy. Fit and finish is crisp. Car in black looks great and gets looks back! Good performance, gas mileage good, not great, avg. 20mpg. Trunk is huge. A lot of car for the buck.

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  My First Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By msgt_gibson - May 25 - 3:20 am

  The 2005 Chevy Silverado is my very first truck. It rides good and Ive had no problems with it. There have been no extra costs outside of routine maintenance. The V6 has sufficient power for my needs. The back seat of the extended cab has adequate space for supplies but is a tight fit for adults. Overall, Im happy with the purchase.

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  2000 Chev Astro Review - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By swancoatjm0691 - May 25 - 2:00 am

  We bought this van in 2002. It is very roomy except for the foot areas for the driver and passenger. Its comfortable and easy to drive. The 2nd & 3rd seats are removable but are heavy when taking them out. The only significant complaint we have is the gas and electrical. I only get 13-14 mpg and we have had some problems an electric window and keyless remote system. These are the only reasons I would have for trading it in for something else.

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  Good Value Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By aramf - May 24 - 4:35 pm

  I bought this one used at 60K miles. I currently have 120K on it. Chevrolet replaced the steering wheel on it. The left blinker burned out too often, untill I replaced the whole light from partstrain.com. Over the last 3 years mpg has been suffering. Recently two oxygen sensor went bad. Replaced both. The average mileage went back to 32 mpg from 24 mpg. I assume that both have to fail before check engine goes on. My front rotors tend to warp a lot. One thing that helps is not to use parking breaks. But I can got fast around the corners, it has a kicking accelaration and mpg has just improved. It is a nice semi-wagon with a strong enough engine for fun things.

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  I LOVE THIS SUV! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Lavender - May 24 - 10:00 am

  This is my first experience with anything other than a "car". I have never enjoyed driving a vehicle more than this one! Its comfortable, quiet, accelerates like a dream and is reliable. At first, I had a problem with my side mirrors re-adjusting themselves at whim, but these were recalled and have since been fixed. Other than that - no problems at all. The only disappointing thing about this vehicle is the gas mileage. I drive strictly highway and average 17.0 mpg. I feel like Im always as the gas station.