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:

• 

  comfort and ride - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mogle - October 21 - 2:00 am

  love the trailblazer, had a 2002 and it was not as good as this one. the only thing I dont like is the brakes, there is a squishy feel in the pedal. I have 6100 miles and it was fine until about 5500 miles. very comfortable ride, engine responsive and great sound system. lots of cool creature comforts

• 

  ride - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ride - October 21 - 2:00 am

  In the amount of time I have owned the vehical I love they way it drives and the powwer is great.

• 

  More good than bad - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bird - October 20 - 6:03 pm

  I have had pretty good luck with my equinox, as long as you get the oil checked every 3000 miles and contiue to change the cabin filter and air filter the gas mileage is about 26 mpg. For the last 6 months though we have a musty smell in the car, up until a couple of days ago when I received my first flat tire, we went to get the spare out, and my wheel well was filled with water. I was reading one of these reviews and somebody else had the same problem, fortunatley still under warranty, it was the pressure cabin release valve cover missing, so with two days no car, it is now fixed, so maybe this will help someone else if they find the same problem. Other than that myself and grandkids love the car.

• 

  Very Happy - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ChevyFan - October 20 - 11:06 am

  Just traded in my 01 Sierra for an 07 Silverado. Not as fully loaded as my 01, but I havent missed the options yet. Seats are very comfortable and spacious. Driver cockpit area is user friendly with everthing easy to get to. Instrument panel and dash has plents of useful tech features without being cluttered. Plenty of storage area. New body styling is right on and has not yet failed to turn heads. Fuel mileage for the first tank was 16 and change with an even mix of on highway and offroad miles. I expect fuel mileage to increase once I reach break-in.

• 

  ss Monte - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By lmilone - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The SS Monte Carlo is superior all the way around. The handling, styling, comfort and performance is awesome. When you step on the accelerator you go without any hesitation and gas mileage is surprisingly good.

• 

  2000 Blazer 4WD LT - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By rmartelo - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The Blazer has been much like a car in its ability to fit into spaces and acts like a truck. It has 51,000 miles and never to the shop except for warranty work or recall. Mileage is 20MPG, original tires and brakes with very much life yet. 1st American car for a decade and plesantly suprised of its performance.

• 

  Engineering Masterpiece!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By JasonM - October 20 - 10:00 am

  The Z71 4X4 Avalanche is the best of both worlds with lots of toys! Its got the luxury and space of a loaded SUV with the hauling capacity of a full size pickup. I keep common tools (cordless drill/flashlight set, screwdrivers, etc) in one side of the locking compartments in the side of the bed and use the other side as a cooler for picnicing/camping or whatever.

• 

  The Av.... - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Nightshift - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Avalanche, the first was replaced by the dealership within the first week due to electrical problems. They volunteered to replace it! I love this truck! This is the Z66 version. Road trips with the cruise on = 20 mpg, not bad for a brick. City = 11 mpg. I have had no problems with this Avalanche, its versatile, takes about a minute to change it, unless you remove the hard cover. I have driven it in heavy downpours and have never had any leakage. All I can say, even though it took 2, Chevrolet got it right with the Avalanche, there is nothing else like it.

• 

  My hot car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kim - October 19 - 11:26 pm

  Overall I love it. I have a traveling job so I spend a lot of time in my car. My father is a mechanic and he typically is a "Ford guy", but he really liked the run of this model, which is a good sign to me! Due to my job, good gas mileage was the main reason for my choice with this car, its an added perk that it has so many other good qualities. One thing is for sure, my friends never turn down a chance to drive it!

• 

  Not Your fat, bald man driver - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Martha in Plantation - October 19 - 12:40 am

  I am a 5 ft 7 natural blonde. I know people expect to see a mid-life crisis male when they pass me. I love the Vette, but the ride is nothing like my Cadillac SUV. My boyfriend drives a BMW convertible, and people always think he owns the Corvette and I own the BMW. The noise level on the highway with the Vette is bad. I wouldnt think of a long trip in it. I just had too much disposable income when I bought it, either that or my mid-life crisis set in! I love the Corvette "wave" from other owners! Everyone should own one Vette in their life!