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:

• 

  first new truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sdrnavy - April 27 - 10:00 am

  good truck , always a chevrolet fan,engine is slow,a k and m air filter will help that.mirror fell off at 200 miles.can tell parts went to lowest bidders,but a very dependable truck.vibration in v 6 engine.bought 100,000 mile 0 deductable warranty with it.girls love looks of it.; )

• 

  Family Van - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By Bundo29 - April 27 - 2:00 am

  Its perfect for a larger family. We have three small kids in carseats, its the only van we could find that was able to fit all three perfectly, and its still affordable. We havent had any big problems with the van, just the normal wear and tear that all vehicles experience. This van has a lot of power, we drive up and down a steep grade daily, and it has no hesitation whatsoever. Definetly would buy another one in the future.

• 

  Our first SUV - a winner! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DLandL - April 26 - 5:23 am

  This is our first SUV. For a long time, we were against them, but when our daughter was born, we realized that our cars just couldnt cut it in terms of rear seat and cargo, especially when it came to road trips to see family. We first looked at cute-utes, but they were barely bigger than our Subaru, so we decided to look at the mid-size category. We seriously considered the Toyota Highlander as well, which is definitely a nice SUV, but with the $2002 cash backs and attractive interest rates, it was a no-brainer to go with the Chevy (it didnt help that we couldnt get a Highlander without a ton of options - and none of the dealers we talked to were willing to order one).

• 

  Underrated - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By tl1000s - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Solid vehicle. We have 2WD LT 2.0. Have had no problems in 2.5 years other than squeaky belts. Dealer has replaced pulley, Catalytic Converter and dressed the belts. I have my own spray on those humid days. Other than that minor issue - this is a reliable, reasonably well-built, utilitarian vehicle. Handles well but the 2.0 takes some planning on the freeway. I prefer BMWs but this little ladder-framed truck is okay to flip around. Just underpowered. Not an issue on fire roads and worse. Eats it up. Well-designed in that respect. Front seat are a little skimpy. Overall, get one. They are very undervalued on the used market.

• 

  BLAZERSTILLKICKIN - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By CHEVYGIRL8 - April 26 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Blazer since April of 1995. I have tried to trade the truck 2xs actually purchased a 2001 Pathfinder LE and went to get my Blazer back. The truck has needed maintenance:EGR problems,exhaust,brakes etc--all happened to me after truck was out of warranty--called Chevy to discuss and Chevy did refund part of the bill. This truck has never left me stranded in 8 yrs. Its putted home from NYC to Philadelphia but it always makes it home. Pickup and vortec are powerful. This truck performed better that a Pathfinder with 240 horsepower compared to Blazers 190. Also terrific gas mileage for an SUV (15" wheels help). I think Ill keep it.

• 

  Happy with our Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By fadedave - April 26 - 2:00 am

  Plain Jane? Yes. Built like a truck? Yes. Meets the needs of a family of four? Yes. The Malibu was our last throw-in" when we made our short list of mid size cars to test drive and after test driving the imports we found this Chevy to more than meet what we wanted in price, build and performance.

• 

  practical and fun to drive - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By TNRalph - April 25 - 2:00 am

  This "baby SUV" has met my needs. I wanted a car that gets good gas mileage, looks good and has easy-to-access storage and transportation. I have put a dog cage in the back (with a dog), plenty of groceries, and luggage with no trouble. The interior comfort leaves something to be desired but the design is very good and the car is fun to drive and reliable. For the price and category of vehicle, the Tracker has been a good bet for our small family.

• 

  My 4th Chevy truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dakneedrizl - April 25 - 12:26 am

  I have had my ride for 4 months now overall it was a good purchase so far. I would say if you have money to burn look at the Tundra but you cannot get a v8 long bed real deal pick up like mine for under 20g in any other brand. I am weary of the Chevy track record as I have had a few it seems there is always some little crap going on with them engine idling right? Rear end humming? Interior plastic has sharp edges mine only has 5 grand so far. I guess I will find out how things pan out at 10-20-30 thousand miles. The definite plus side to this truck is the gas mileage for being so big I can cruise at 15-1700 rpm on the freeway. The basic options that come with it are also nice.

• 

  Enjoyable - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kristine - April 24 - 1:30 am

  Ive had my Maxx for over a year. I love the power and on a 3000 mile road trip the mileage was as good as my old Honda Accord. Overall its a great car. I think I wouldve gotten a better deal if Id waited until it was on the market a while longer. Minor problems include the rear sunshades snapping, rear passenger window bumping when you open it, and the front passenger often hits the heat button for the seat on entry (not fun in the summer). Occasional hesitation on start up happened a lot at first (the dealer claimed its Chevy thing) and a recent problem with the wipers.

• 

  Engine Cradle/Transmission Problems - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mike Austin - April 23 - 2:00 am

  This car ran well at first. However,creaking and rattling noises started in the front of the car, noted in steering wheel. Dealer installed cradle shims (replaced twice). Transmission went at 100,000 miles (torque converter and 4th gear). Was told by servicing company the transmisison was new for 2000, and has reliability problems. Other 2000 Impalas were taken to the same service shop due to transmission. Also, rotors warp and need to be replaced often. I also had a problem with charcoal canister and emission system. I also had a problem with headliner sagging near sunroof. It is a shame that GM produced a car with this many mechanical problems.