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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  Disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mark - February 17 - 10:30 am

  I was excited when I first got this Impala, had all the makings of a great car. After living with it for 2 1/2 months I am no longer thinking this is a great car. I have had back to the dealership 4 times so far as the keyless entry and tire pressure system is not working, still is not working. We are going to go for number 5 and a new bulletin that has come out. Also way more wind noise off doors then should be, dealer states it is acceptable per GM standards, not by my standards. Too bad this could have been a great car.

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  Bow tie is the only tie - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By kolden - February 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive only had my Trailblaze a short but my wife and I love it, I never thought I would buy another American vehicle, until I test drove the Trailblazer. It had the best car for the money out of all the Suvs that I drove.

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  Very good car (for older driver) :) - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By KS~Driver - February 16 - 10:00 am

  I decided to buy my Monte after totalling a Cavalier and deciding bigger WAS better. It has been very reliable! Its only been in the shop every 3,000 miles for its oil change. The only complaint is that it looks like a "old peoples" car and not very attractive for a teenager, like me, to drive.

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  New 2002 TrailBlazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Pete2002 - February 16 - 10:00 am

  Has a lot of power but lousy MPG. The sticker MPG rating is over-rated. Most consumers are getting around 13MPG in City driving with stop and go traffic. One thing I am very upset about is an annoying valve train tapping noise that appeared within the first 500 miles after it reaches operating temp. It sounds like a vehicle with high mileage. Dealer and GM do not want to attempt to correct until after 4-5K miles of break in.

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  Good/reliable car for the money - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Steve D - February 13 - 10:40 pm

  I leased this car in 1999 and now wished I had bought it. Pros... great mileage and reliability. I have had zero problems with this car. Cons...not all that comfortable but roomy enough for an averaged size male. I chose the manual transmission because it had a little more zip. Shifting is smooth and forgiving even for beginners. If youre looking for an economical, reliable small car...dont look any further.

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  TAKE IT TO THE MAXX! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By MAX X WELL - February 11 - 10:00 am

  Liked the concept, wife did not. test drove an Aztek and a Vue, looked @ some others and then to shut me up Wifey test drove the Maxx. Nuff said, two hours later it was in our driveway. We have two small kids, you can not beat the rear seats and remote starts, love getting in the cool car! (wish now we went for the LT)

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  This Aint Your Dads Compact! - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Hammerhead3812 - February 11 - 10:00 am

  I have the 4DR extended cab, Z71 4x4. It has plenty of leg room.This is no compact. The truck handles very well,and brakes equally as well.I also have the 3.5lt ebgine w/200 horses.After the cold intake is installed(approx.$350)The horses go up to 235-240. It gets 275-290 miles per Tank.More on road trips.That is w/the A/c running. It also has 15" rims(not bycycle tires).4 wheel drive on the fly comes in handy, especially in the desert.4drs w/no seats are nice for fishing,hunting or just keep your tools back there.It is not a fullsize bed,but then you wont have to move your friends. It still has enough room for medium size jobs.

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  Nice Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By dditter - February 11 - 10:00 am

  Going from a Cavilier to the Impala LS is a GOD SEND. This car has plenty of power and is absolutely beautiful. We chose the Superior Blue Metallic and have had nothing but compliments. I am extremely happy so far. Hope it remains that way.

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  regret buying - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By tobycat - February 11 - 10:00 am

  Purchased on 5/30/04. Went in to replace strut bushings at 600 miles. Went in to replace strut bushings at 1400 miles. Was told that there is a design flaw in the struts. Parts ordered. Now almost two weeks and no parts. GM tecnical services was involved at the second occurance. With the exception of this problem, I really like the Equinox. Being 65" tall, I have no problem with entering or exiting. . Right now I feel like returning the Equinox to the dealer for another vehicle. Feel very frustrated with the inactivity in correcting the problem with the suspension. If there is a design flaw, the Equinox should not have been sold without corre

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  Now over 30k, starting to have problems - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Gilanna - February 10 - 7:00 pm

  Purchased it new, was excellent first 30k miles. Now, cruise control wont engage at times. Brakes are now pulsating. The dealer says its normal for 30k miles. Both front directionals stopped working and had to be replaced. At times,the shifter stays locked when you go to shift. By setting the alarm back on then off, I can get it to release. Took it to the dealer, they couldnt figure it out unless it did it while they were working on it, it didnt. I have to wait till it does it more frequently. This car is starting to annoy me. My wife wants her VW Golf back, says she never had any problems until it had 100k miles. I hope these annoyances can be easily fixed cause my warranty expires in 1500 miles.