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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  Great SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dss21 - November 14 - 2:00 am

  This is an awesome SUV. Very fun to drive and tons of power. The gas mileage is ok average of 15mpg. I had to have the vehickle serviced at 120 miles for the pass lock security system went out and I was unable to start the car. had that fixed and hasnt been a problem since.

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  Buy one can"t go wrong! - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Sweet Ride - November 13 - 10:32 pm

  This truck has been an outstanding truck to drive. I have the ZR5 which has a very sporty look. Its performed great for me. So good that this is my first time ever writing a review. Its very economical, comfortable, stylish, and convenient. I highly recommend it!

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  Nice looking but too many problems - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By PHOQUR - November 13 - 7:05 pm

  Got this truck and it was great. The promise of an inline 5 engine to save gas seemed promising but it burns gas hard. The first thing to go bad was the air conditioning, it would just stop and only the highest speed (4) would work and the others would start when they want to. Then there was a problem where the brake lights would stop working, had to take it in to the dealer to fix these problems a lot and just the brake switch is OK now after we found there was a recall on the brake switch. The engine has this problem now that the dealer claims to have fixed twice where the RPM drops low/stalls and causes overheating cause engine fan spins too slow and the lights get dim.

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  North Carolina LTZ 2008 Update 11/2008 - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By avyowner - November 13 - 5:40 pm

  Well, it has been about a year since I bought this vehicle. I have even nicer things to say than when I had just acquired it. This is a very dependable, comfortable, powerful, luxurious SUV that also is a truck. And, you can write the whole thing off on your taxes because it is over 6,000 pounds and it is technically a truck! Buy American and feel good about it! Less costly than Toyota or others out there. Chevy will deal! I got the extended warranty but dont think Ill need to use it much this is a very reliable vehicle.

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  So far so good...I guess? - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By metalcrawler - November 13 - 1:57 pm

  I just got this car not too long ago. I was pretty impressed at first and after the haze of a "new car" went away I am still pleased. The dual climate control is interesting but not a must have. I love the trunk space and the roomy interior. The computer system that displays oil life, temperature, tire pressure, and etc. is a cool gadget. Love the remote start. The gas peddal felt a little stiff because I am used to a 4 cylinder. I like the chrome accents and so far no problems. The factory speakers are kind of weak and the drivers side leg room could be increased in the future. I tried out an 2004 Chevy Classic before I got this car and it was a huge improvement!

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  So far, exceptional value - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jake - November 13 - 1:38 pm

  I also bought "Go"balt during the GM employee price period. Nice incentive to get what turns out to be just about everything I hoped for, even the color I wanted - yellow. Great handling. Only 1600 miles but getting 27.2 mpg last check. Work ride between 40-50 mph at 60 miles each day. Wouldve liked hatchback. Rear deck just in the way & to hold speakers. Rear spoiler can block vision. Im 6-1"+ & seat is comfortable but I must cock my knees just so on entry. Interior a little chintzy but hey, its a commuter car with go-power. The refig display is different. I have trouble reading it in the variety of color combos it offers. Currently getting dealer installed cat- back system. A kid at 58!

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  2008 Impala SS - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mack McKlemurry - November 13 - 11:16 am

  While this car is not only fun to drive, as well as get into a little. I really appreciate the gas mileage when the MDS kicks in and your only running on 4 cylinders. I average 28 mpg per tank and thats with a little fun thrown in. Additionally, I found out that the 5.0 Pony car can not keep up on the top end on a good interstate.

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  Great SUV with few minor issues - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kerry - November 13 - 10:15 am

  I bought this car back at the end of 2006 and it has proven to be a great SUV. For an SUV, it gets good gas mileage. I drive over 100 miles a day (highway and city) and get about 23 miles per gallon. I have had no major issues other than the normal brake pad changes, new tires and oil changes which you can expect on a vehicle that went from 24K miles to 74K miles in 2 years! I would recommend this car to everyone, good for the price.

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  Like riding a wild bear - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Randude - November 12 - 11:38 pm

  It is a privilage and pleasure to own and drive a 2008 "Crystal Red" 427 special edition Z06 Corvette. I thought seriously about buying a Nissan GTR, but after seeing the GTR in person, I felt it remined me of a fancy Nissan Altima with new fenders. The engine sounded tame and boring. It just didnt excite me much. In contrast, just standing near the Z06 Corvete and looking at it, makes your heart race. I fell in love with this sexy beast from the moment it rumbled to life with a push of the button. The car looks twice in good in person as it does in pictures and sounds beautiful. Its incredibly fun to drive, and I have to beat the girls away from it. I absolutly love it.

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  Really Nice Car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JonW - November 12 - 10:26 pm

  I really wanted to own a car that was a practical family sedan but had the look and feel of something more. This car is fun to drive. It is quiet, comfortable and feels so solid. We have the LTZ V6 and it really doesnt lack any power.This car replaced a Chrysler 300M and I really dont notice a drop in quickness and power. I do notice this car handles very well and if you are not careful you will be speeding constantly. You really dont notice the road noise or engine rev. This car is really loaded with options for the price.