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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  Smooth Truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Great Truck - June 8 - 7:19 am

  I bought this TrailBlazer used and spoke to the original owner before purchasing. He traded my TrailBlazer for a new 06 TrailBlazer. He stated he would not own anything else. Well, now I know what he means. I cannot get over the comfort and the extra room I have verses my Explorer. The ride is so smooth especially for a 4x4. My Ford Explorer is also a 4x4 and is ridged and rough in its ride. I also love the extra leg room. My husband and son are really tall guys and they are cramped in the Explorer, they are loving the TrailBlazer! This is the best truck I have ever owned.

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  The best car Ive ever had - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dgingeri - June 8 - 4:46 am

  This car is the best car Ive had, and even better than most Ive ridden in. Awesome styling. This car looks both strong and sleek, truly the return of the muscle car. Better milage and more power than my last car, and I get to keep the air conditioning on. Leave it off if you want the better gas mileage, but it does degrade the power and mileage

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  Love this ride. - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Coleary - June 7 - 10:34 pm

  Owned two Expeditions and a minivan before Suburban. Gets better gas than them, 21/16. Rides smoothly, tight turns, handles beautifully, has plenty of power, loaded w/bells and whistles my Expeditions never offered.

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  Silverado is tops - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Doyle - June 7 - 11:50 am

  Only two warranty problems, one minor, the other a switch for gear position.Unloaded I get up to 28 mpg, with 3,500lb camper I get 16-19 mpg (Canadian gallon). Brakes lasted over 100,000 miles. Would prefer Dodge rear door opening, proper rear door windows, and better cargo tie-downs. Best vehicle I ever owned..

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  My new Siverado - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jaycro - June 7 - 11:36 am

  I drove and considered the Ford platinum ,the Ram Laramie along with the Silverado LTZ . All were really nice trucks. I chose the Silverado because it clearly drove and rode like a modern sedan,the Ram had a slightly better ride but drove like a truck and used a lot of gas,the Ford looked and drove like an older design..With 700 miles I can report the gas mileage is excellent. Today I drove 70 miles to a boat dealer to pick up a 15 jon boat and trailer. With 2 adults driving 70 or better I averaged 24.8mpg.Return trip with boat and trailer(estimated weight 600 lbs) I averaged 19.8 mpg. Not bad for a 5000 lb truck with 4wd. Fit and finish is excellent interior and exterior.

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  Best car (for the $) Ive ever owned. - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jeramyryan - June 7 - 8:24 am

  My wife and purchased our Aveo Sedan six months ago based soley on the sticker price (less than 10k) and the gas mileage. We were also attracted to the Aveos European style design. The longer we own it, the more happy we are about our decision. Despite what others have said, this car handles very well, especially compared to our Hyundai and it is much more comfortable. Like Dr. Whos Tardis, the inside seems much bigger than the outside-plenty of room, comfortable and ergonomic, with a HUGE trunk. Those who complain about power and a widely spaced transmission seem to forget they are reviewing an economy car. 6 months and no mechanical problems whatsoever.

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  The best ever! - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Kevin - June 6 - 6:23 pm

  This truck kicks butt compared to the Fords I used to always buy brand new. I had way too many concerns early on in the life of the trucks. This has held up very well and does everything I want it to. Plus the Customer Assistance Center is awesome- they help you out any way possible.

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  Mt 1998 Malibu LS - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jan - June 6 - 9:07 am

  I have loved this vehicle since day one! It has out performed my expectations and handles the road like a champ! My mileage has ranged 25 city and 32 highway consistantly for eight years!

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  Awsome retro ride - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By Thomas - June 5 - 4:14 pm

  See one, want one, buy one. This little truck has a few rattles, but is a lot more comfortable than my S2000, and gets more attention. The gas mileage stinks, but the tank is big, and you dont buy this type of rocket if youre trying to save a few bucks on gas. My other vehicles are not hybrids either.

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  Great "little" truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By RandyG - June 5 - 3:03 am

  This is my first pickup after many years in an SUV. The crew cab has plenty of room for kids and adults alike. The truck bed gets more storage than I ever had in any SUV. I loaded my Colorado up with almost every option and still spent almost 10K less than the middle and high end suvs. The truck has also performed great in the big snow storms weve had in the northeast this winter.