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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  Daytona Sunset Orange - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By pk - July 27 - 6:09 pm

  I drove the car from California to Florida with absolutely no problems. I got 25 miles per gallon (per the trip computer). I have to say it is the most comfortable car I have ever driven (I have a bad back). I want the Z06 now!

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  Youll Love The Extra Room - 2005 Chevrolet Express
  By J. Hillsoto - July 27 - 5:42 pm

  The Express 3500 is highly recommended for large families or people who want to travel in comfort with a lot of gear. We love the extra roominess of the extended 3500 and for a vehicle of this size we have found that it handles very nicely and gets very good mileage. When it comes to parking, we sometimes have trouble in the narrow parking lots. Our 3500 is about 20 feet long and seat 15 adults comfortably.

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  Jenns car - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jennifer Hurtt - July 27 - 2:07 pm

  This is my very first new car and I love it! I checked this car out before making my purchase and every person that I knew that had one said " Its a great little car!" I feel the same way! I was also glad that it had a 5 star crash rating!

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  Reliable - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By imacruiser - July 26 - 11:50 pm

  Never a malfunction of any components.

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  Love My Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cathie - July 25 - 10:09 pm

  Very nice looking truck. Very comfortable. The kids love the DVD player (Playstation may be used) The ride is great, and I feel very safe! I had a Suburban before, and we got rearended. Te only thing that saved the backseat people was the size of the truck. Hit at 50 miles an hour sitting at a stop light . This truck saved us. I love this truck and will always own one.

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  Great vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Larry - July 25 - 10:08 pm

  We traded a 2000 Jeep Larado for this Trailblazer and just love it. After owning a Jeep for 5 years we noticed the Trailblazer is very soft riding. The interior is very large. I am 62 and I have plenty of head room. We just love the 2005 Trailblazer.

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  I Love My Malibu - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Corey - July 25 - 9:43 pm

  My husband went and bought me a new 2005 Chevy Malibu. We already had a 2002 model of the Malibu and I couldnt have been happier. I love Chevys and the Malibu is perfect for me and my family. I especially love the automatic start!

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  Super Blazer - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Eright - July 25 - 1:01 pm

  This is the second Blazer that I have owned. I found them to be reliable, and easy to maintain. I have had no major repair work, in fact other than an alternator on the other Blazer after 150,000 miles. Currently other than tires and general maintenance (oil changes, tires, wipers, there are no problems. What a super truck.

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  Happy with Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By James OMelia - July 24 - 10:19 pm

  I purchased it new and have had no problems. This is my second Cavalier, having bought a 97 new. Great A/C and heat, pickup, reliability, and gas mileage. I like its looks too. I disagree with Consumer Reports concerning this vehicles comfort and interior design. I would recommend it to anyone in the market for cheap transportation and some degree of style.

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  #2 and Lovin It! - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Laser - July 24 - 5:54 pm

  This is our second Suburban. We traded our 2001 for it. We have a family of 6 and it will make a great traveling companion. Many great improvments from the 2001 to the 2005. The brakes are much better than the 2001.