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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  Poor Transmission - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Galalod - April 10 - 2:00 am

  After about 36000 the transmission will start slipping and goes out. The 96 mph governor also puts a damper on freeway passing

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  VETTE - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By REMAN - April 10 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS A BAD CAR. IT RUNS GOOD WHILE LOOKING GOOD.

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  great suv - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hef - April 10 - 2:00 am

  drives and handles excelent.alot less body roll than older suvs much less road and wind noise.rides very smooth.engine performs quite well however at lower speeds has a dead spot on acceleration.interior quality is fair.seats are comfortable,could be a little softer.exterior quality is good.only thing noticable to me rubber around doors do not all fit properly.overall the trailblazer is a real good suv.im happy and enjoy it very much.

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  Nice Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rhymas - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Overall a very nice truck. It does what I need it too, it is very comfortable and the ride is excellent. Even the fuel economy is good.

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  `02 Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dixonfam - April 9 - 8:56 pm

  I love this vehicle for the design and ride. Lots of room, heavy towing capacity, lots of cargo room. The ride is smooth. The sound system is not the best in the world, but hey, it beats riding in silence!

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  very expensive to replace or repair - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sherrykkkee - April 9 - 5:44 pm

  Drivers window has never worked right. About 400 to replace motor which helped for short time... Back window coming loose, that is a 595.00 cost. I have a fungus growing in back seat due to water leaks. Door rubber was replaced before.... Not a good car for tall people. Have been repeatedly ripped off by dealership and other mechanics.... I only put the top down about 4-5 times a year.... If I touch drivers window button, it could take 2 days to get it back up.....

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  Wouldnt Drive Anything Else - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jay Vara - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Truck is awesome, Power and Looks blow the competition away! No problems after 23,000 miles. At 3k miles replaced the stock Firestones with BFG KOs, handles exceptionally well, superior in snow, looks great and still 18mpg on highway. Doesnt use a drop of oil, change it every 5k using Mobil 1 Synthetic and K&N high flow filter. Only the best for this motor.

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  Drivers view - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By sailor3 - April 9 - 7:21 am

  I have been extremely happy with this vehicle. I have made two trips from Frederick Maryland to Florida. On one trip I drove across Interstate 75 at 75 mph on that trip I averaged 35 mpg. I drove to North Carolina and averaged 32 mpg. These are actual driving figures not EPA fudged figures. In city driving my average mile is 25 mpg. My only complaint is with the Cruise Control set up. Having the button under the switch that must be pressed to use the on off switch on the top of the steering wheel is a stupid design.

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  Love it - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cobalt_Angel - April 9 - 6:43 am

  What can I say..I LOVE IT. The gas mileage is wonderful and its very reliable as far as dependibilty. Ive always been a Chevrolet girl and with gas prices going up here in northern California it helps to have something that last longer on gas

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  power windows Tahoe 2003 cost - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By W Brooks - April 8 - 4:36 pm

  The care was never the greatest car but it is paid for and who wants to go through the hassle of buying another one. I just cant believe that it cost me $477.00 to replace ONE rear window automatic window on the 2003 Tahoe. Just before this, out of the clear blue, the drivers seat seatback broke and that was another $368.00. Just hoping the economy will get better soon so I can afford to get rid of this money pit. No wonder GM is going under. Who wants a vehicle that even after you pay it off you are still paying the big bucks for the little things you expect to last. I call this Tahoe my Yugo. Now the windshield washer reservoir has gone out..probably another $300.00. Never ends....