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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  Our 1st Vet - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Zachary@1537 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  This is a complete car. Fun to drive, a great looker and comfortable. My wife rates the ride better than the SUV that the Corvette replaced and was surprised that the car was as comfortable as it is. We bought the used Corvette over a new T-Bird after driving both. The convertible top seals so there are no leaks and is fairly quiet on the highway. Fuel mileage is excellent. Im experiencing 25-28 mpg on the highway and 20-25 in town. The car is striking to look at and provides excellent room in the cockpit and can easily accomodate luggage for 2 for a 2-week vacation. We took it on the trip over the wifes Cadillac DHS.

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  2002 Trailblazer problems - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By N{SAMBI - June 27 - 2:00 am

  We received the vehicle and the bolts came off a electrical module connected to the engine. There were several rattles not yet fixed or found. The steering wheel was crooked and the dealership tried to say it was because all roads slanted to the right. There is a loud rattle in the engine when the vehicle is switching out of 1st gear.

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  Looking forward to keeping this car! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By drnhrtwl - June 27 - 12:02 am

  Im a college student and this is definitely great for that. I bought it new. Once I got an oil change and rotated the tires it drove like a dream. It survived a harsh winter and still holds up. You might need better tires for the snow. I wish the speaker system was a bit better. Also theres a design flaw that causes the windshield to whistle from an air pocket when I drive on the highway. Also the check engine light is on and Ive only had the car for a year. The car is really roomy despite its outward appearance. Its definitely a good car. Oh yeah, amazing gas mileage! Saves me money!

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  Electric Power Steering As Useless As GM - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sgtsquarepants - June 26 - 9:47 pm

  This is the first brand new car Ive ever bought. Its now been back to the dealership at least 10 times for various reasons. Half of which Chevy wouldnt fix. Now the topping on the cake is Im driving down the road and the power steering simply quits. After researching the problem, it appears that this is happening to a HUGE number of vehicles. This is EXACTLY why GM is dying and I say good riddance. Ill never buy a GM product again.

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  Cobalt supercharged - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ladybug1701 - June 26 - 4:07 pm

  I loved this car when I first got it 5 yrs. Ago. Now I hate it the sunroof is messing up. I have had to replace 2nd gear already and that was at 50,000 miles. Now the transmission is going out and that is at 52,284 miles. Also my abs light is coming on and a mechanic informed me that it was my body control module, and there are 17 bcms on the car. The speakers have static. The glove box makes a noise. Also something in the door rattles. Plus to top it off it has a Saab transmission so you can no longer get parts without a huge hassle. It took me 3 weeks to get parts and that was before gm did away with Saab. Do not buy this car!

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  Great truck, reliable - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By peter m - June 26 - 12:33 pm

  This has been a great truck for us over the years, and I want to thank Chevy for building it. It has had a few mechanical issues, (replaced starter, air conditioning unit), but by and large we are still pleased after 7 years, 131,000miles. My wife drives it and loves it. She doesnt look forward to a new car, in fact, content to drive this one until it dies.

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  awesome - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By blue beauty - June 25 - 11:59 pm

  I bought this suv from a friend and it was in excellent shape it looked brand new all that we really needed to fix was the engine and buy new wipers but it is the best suv I have ever had....

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  great but not awesome - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Brian - June 25 - 8:48 pm

  Bought truck new and let me tell you, If you ever owned a Fiero this truck is a Godsend. Yes I have had some problems...driver side seat lever snapped (pot metal design) I have had the ball joints replaced and the fuel relay. also the heater core clogged but I blew it out with some water. the only annoying thing is the abs , which activates in dry weather...pulled the fuse..no abs but who needs abs it is useless anyhow...I think I have had one time this truck didnt start in 10 years..cause of the fuel relay..to me that is a dependable truck..the rest I can deal with.

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  First Chevy worth a look in years! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By B&K in SC - June 25 - 8:11 pm

  The only complaint I have had was that we got a bad tire from the factory (noises like a broken belt) had to get a little ugly with the dealer, but finally got it replaced. Very good buying experience and an excellent vehicle. Like I said in the title, its the first Chevy that I have even looked at in years. I think the LTZ is a better car than an Accord or Camry for less money, VERY underrated.

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  Be ready for Repairs - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Colorado - June 25 - 11:54 am

  I bought this vehicle with an extended warranty, thank heavens. Within a month they had to replace the whole engine due to valve problems, after 50000 miles transmission cracked in half. Also thankfully covered under warranty. 30000 miles later transmission out again. This time on my dollar. Also clicking noises constantly under the hood that no one can figure out. We do regular maintenance but the big things just keep adding up. I love my truck, the look, the handling, and space but I couldnt in good conscience recommend it to anyone with such costly repairs continuing every time we turn around. They have major problems with the engines in that year and the transmissions.