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:

• 

  Excellent Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Lisa - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is versitile. It has extremely comfortable seating and plenty of room for each person. The ride is incredible. You would never know that you were driving such a big truck. You feel totally safe and secure on the road in this vehicle. We would recommend it to anyone, especially those with children.

• 

  2002 Impala LS - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ric1275 - March 28 - 2:00 am

  This car is the best car Ive had so far.Changed grill and put cold air intake and now it perform iven better. GM done a good job with this car!

• 

  So far so good - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By condoriole - March 28 - 2:00 am

  Purchased our EXT LT V8 about two months ago. The wife wasnt crazy about us buying an American made vehicle but since the purchase she drives the truck more than our 2001 fully loaded V6 Accord. Hhmmmmmm. We have over 2000 miles on it and its been flawless (knock on wood!)

• 

  good vehicle requiring a few improvement - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Manuel Florescu - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I am pretty satisfied with the vehicle. It eats gasoline like crazy though. The engine runs smooth most of the times. There were a few times it made a weird noise but generally is ok. Handles snow and ice great. Has a pretty smooth ride although is kind of noisy inside, especially on the highway with all the wind and the engine runnig high. Mirrors are the biggest pain in the butt as I took the car several times into the dealership but they still cant figure out why my cars mirror dont adjust to the exact position as before.

• 

  Best of 20 cars owned - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Happy Chevy Guy - March 27 - 7:23 pm

  My 2004 Impala has been an overall pleasure to own and drive. After 100 K miles and normal service, it still rides like a dream and has great acceleration. I average about 34 MPG on the freeway and 26 on local driving - tank after tank.

• 

  Great Value So Far - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By aarondl - March 27 - 4:18 pm

  We bought this car almost two years ago with 82k miles on it. Now we are at 100k and not had any serious problems with it. We had to have work done on front brakes soon after we bought it (probably previous owners fault) and then cat conv went down which was expensive. CEL still on because of O2 sensor or something - we dont notice any problems. Car is super comfortable and large inside and in the trunk. We love the exterior design. Engine has been reliable and has great balance of performance and mileage. Great car for trips. Ride is smooth, comfortable, and sturdy.

• 

  Excellent All-around - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sillycat - March 27 - 2:43 pm

  Have been driving this car for over a year now. Love it completely. Considering its weight against Camry and Accord, the gas mileage is super at both highway and local. The body style is stunning. When I was waiting for green, I got people on the next lane complimenting the car several times. The interior is better than Japanese cars also, in my opinion. Options are cheaper too. Engine is from Europe, very reliable. Car runs very smooth after a year. The only complaint I have is the trunk entry is a little bit narrow. I can not even put my laundry basket in.

• 

  I will own nothing BUT an Impala SS! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By elalewine - March 27 - 1:31 pm

  I have had my Impala SS for about 2 years now, and love it, love it, love it! It is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned! It has been reliable, comfortable, and fun! I like the sedan look and the interior is also very nice (I love the sunroof). I am at about 27,000 miles and have not had any problems, whatsoever. I am looking at the 2010 Impala SS and cant wait for that to come out! The trunk space surprised me as to how LARGE it was!

• 

  1 FAST IMPALA - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By 1fastimpala - March 27 - 12:14 pm

  This is one great all around car. You can easily obtain 27 mpg on a highway trip, but combined your looking at 20- 21 mpg(still not bad for a v8). When I was purchasing this Impala I was also looking at the 08 Honda Accord 4 cyl. They were almost the same in price, but a huge decrease in Insurance on the Impala SS. I couldnt believe it. I have had no problems with this car. Chevys are great quality cars.

• 

  Too slow - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Ardis - March 27 - 12:06 pm

  This truck rattles like a tin can. It is extremely slow to take off and once highway speeds are achieved, it has no strength to overtake other vehicles though you may give it all the gas you have. The front end is squeaking and popping like popcorn on the road even on smooth pavement. Ive maintained the truck very well and Ive had to change the fuel pump twice in the last three years. Both rear calipers locked up on it within two weeks of each other. Lots of minor mxs but Ive never had a problem with the engine not working. It still starts right up w/o a problem but it has its domestic vehicle problems. Not built to last!