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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  Four wheeling fun - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By wadester - July 13 - 5:20 pm

  I already own an 03 2500 hd with the 6.0. It has been trouble free for 106,000 miles. Bought an 05 F-250 Powerstroke and had nothing but problems and happy to say I have traded for the 09 2500 Z71. The truck is tight in its handling. My 03 has 4:10 gears and pulls like a mule. I opted for 3:73 rear end on this one for better fuel mileage. The suspension is tight yet not jarring like my f-250 though both are 4x4s. The back seat could be a little roomier as I have two children in car seats, and with front seat at furthest position the car seats are cramped. It is very quiet whether on black top or concrete and the head room is ample for me as I am 64".

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  Great Value! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By P. Kirk - July 13 - 3:28 pm

  I do not trade cars that often, and I buy new cars only. Even though I really wanted a Cadillac CTS (could not justify the cost), the Malibu has proven to be a nice surprise! The exterior looks are great. Most people are surprised it is a Chevy. The handling and acceleration are good (I got the 6-cyl. LTZ). Gas mileage for my mostly town-driving is 22-23. We got 28-30 on a recent short trip, however, with the A/C on! The interior is comfortable, but I do not like the plastic door panels. Love the On- Star, XM, Blue-tooth and information center. Friends who are on their second Camry rode in the Malibu and could not believe how nice it was!

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  Falling apart - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Skydive1954 - July 13 - 12:42 pm

  This corvette has been a nightmare. The first thing was the top creaks when hot and has been to the shop 4 times and still not fixed. Both front sway bar links had to be replaced and the entire rack and pinion. The drivers bottom seat panel has to be replaced and the battery has been replaced. The problems just keep mounting and for a car that costs this much I would have expected better quality.

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  This was a great car that I kept up - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By DSO - July 12 - 9:12 pm

  I brought this car new. It is 8 years old now and I no longer need a mini van. I never had many problems with it until the A/C died and I got it replaced with GM (China parts) that GM does not even make any more.It died again before the warranty was up and fixed again only to die once more. I really enjoyed this car but the back door hatches are rusting and so is an area on the roof where the roof rack is. The worst thing about this car is the headlights. Very cheap. When it still under warranty and new,I had one headlight replaced because it was holding water. Now they are both foggy and hold water.

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  Great so far! - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Porkchop - July 12 - 8:31 pm

  I have owned this truck (my First) for a few months now and love it. It was used with a little over 9000 miles on it. Very easy to get in and out of. Have the 4 cylinder model which has plenty of power for me and is good on gas. Everyone who has been in this truck comments on how smooth the ride is. There right... takes bumps and bad roads very well! Just one heck of a smooth ride.. i still am amazed to this day how nice it is. The interior is not as nice as it could be but is not that bad either. in all i am pleased with this purchase.

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  A Well Proven Durable Truck based SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Garth - July 12 - 5:05 pm

  Chevrolet based this compact SUV on their S10 pickup. This means that it is a truck based SUV which is some what of a rarity in todays world. The down side is that this adds weight but to me, I plan to own this truck for a long time and the frame offers some great jacking points. The power trane is based on the Chevrolet 350 V8 minus 2 cylinders so the basic design has millions of development miles under its belt. From a service stand point, the push rod motor eliminates the need to replace a cam belt which is an expensive requirement on many of its competitors. The automatic transmission offers electronic control which helps with drivability. The truck is a proven design which I prefer.

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  New vette owner - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mike - July 12 - 12:26 pm

  First off let me say I love this car!! I have waited patiently (for the most part) to own a Corvette. I test drove a c5 version a couple of years ago and quite frankly it turned me off Corvettes. I just started looking again and saw the 05 at a great price and couldnt resist. I test drove it and fell in love. To me this is what driving a corvette is all about! It has power, style, and comfort. I am a tall guy (64") so sports cars arent exactly built with me in mind. I have take this on modest rides so far (2-3 hours) and I have no problems with comfort. To sum it all up, if you are thinking of buying a vette, buy the c6!

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  piece of....well you know - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Carolinagirl - July 12 - 11:17 am

  This was my first actual car and I was so excited...until. I got stranded in the middle of a road trip because of the fuel pump. Then the thermostat went, replaced rotors twice. Leaking coolant, had to replace gaskets and water pump. I havent had the car two years. Locks went weird. Overall its been disappointing to say the least. im in school and cant afford a new car any time soon >:[

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  Decent... - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By nick - July 12 - 10:54 am

  Good truck, too many problems. not reliable. Head gasket went out at 100k, should not be a problem at this mileage. Bought at 87k approx. 6 months before. Gas mileage is poor, truck has power and is fast, but its a cool little truck.

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  LOVE IT!!!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By MAXINE FOX - July 11 - 11:58 pm

  I always envied Lexus suvs. But your only paying for the price. I purchased a used 05 w/32k miles on it (a one owner older man), with leather seats and pretty much the upgraded package (not the highest) and its a great car. Its gold but a Nice gold. I test drove about 6 different types of suvs (comp to the equinox) and it was the nicest for the money. The car rides so smooth compared to my Ford explorer and you have a ton of room. I love the pic nic table in the back and some of the other perks that come with it. If you are in the market for a smaller yet medium size suv drive everything but the equinox then save it for last--- you are most likely going to know that its the suv for u