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:

• 

  The "NEW" Camaro - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J Leibenguth - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Its about time they designed a truck with an attitude. Silverados have always been known for their durability but were never much on street performance. This "truck" has the heart of the camaro and the balls of a silverado.

• 

  Cathy reviews the Malibu - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By cathy - January 27 - 10:00 am

  Hi! I purchased the car in Feb. 2002 and I love it. I test drove a ton of other cars, and I really liked the Malibu. Lots of power, but with good fuel efficiency. I also really like the spaciousness of the interior. Im not a big car fan, so this was somewhere in the middle- lots of interior space without feeling like its a boat!

• 

  hop in - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ez1over - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Only thing to say is "outstanding" and it sure is a babe magnet! The only thing I dont like is the fact that the front air foil scrapes on almost all driveways. But what the heck its fast and fun to drive and it cant take any baby seats.

• 

  Less than it should be. - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bill4884 - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Love the car hate the headlight motor failures. Also had computer failure were passenger door would not unlock. Battery failure occured early and in a Corvette you can not get into the car. Convertable top will rub through the clear coat and paint while top is in the up position. Looks very tacky when you put the top down. First time I ever felt like I needed an extended warranty. A sports car of this class should only see the dealer for tune-ups

• 

  Damn taillights - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Soccermom&dad - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Nice vehicle, smooth ride, lives up to performance and towing claims. Problems with tail lights. Has been in the shop 5 times now. Entire assemblies were replaced but still having problems. Needs a different gear ratio option to provide improved mpg. My full size Suburban gets the same mpg as the Trailblazer.

• 

  not bad - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Nismo 400R - January 21 - 10:00 am

  i have a 96 Z34 i bought it about 2 months ago and i have had no problems athough it acts like the alternator or something is about to go out but besides that i love this car. The only thing i ate about this car is that fact that it is a gas guzzler. it has 17 mpg a 350 can get like 14 so go figure. v6 - v8 17 mpg is pathetic when in a v6. i have a cousin who has a mustang that gets better gas mileage than me.

• 

  I like it! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mrpush - January 21 - 10:00 am

  This truck is great, period. If youre not sure if you might like it, go drive a club cab truck with an itty bitty bed and cramped rear seats, or a mini van and then go look at one of these. No doubt if you can afford it, youll buy it. This truck has it all. Roomy, comfortable, and an 8 bed! Driving it with my ripped jeans on, no shirt, and a load of building materials I feel like a rough N tough carpenter. Put on my tie and head to work, I feel like Im driving in a caddy. I have never had a car or truck I have enjoyed so much, REALLY!

• 

  Low gas mileage - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Butch - January 20 - 8:46 pm

  The last 6 vehicles we have purchased has been new, and almost all of them have had close to acurate gas mileage claims when purchased, however the 2007 Tahoe that we have is no where close. With an advertised 21mpg, we are experiencing 13.5mpg highway after 4000 miles. Our dealer is side steping every question we have and trying to stall us, telling us we will not see the 20mpg range until the vehicle has 15000+ miles on it. We purchased the Tahoe because we were only getting 12.5mpg in our Hummer H2, and wanted a better gas mileage vehicle. We feel that we have been mislead.

• 

  Couple issues - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By esnewt - January 18 - 3:26 am

  I have had this truck for about 3 mos and have noticed a few things I wonder if anyone else has 1. the back bumper is rusting right over the exhaust. This appears to be a design flaw 2. the 4wd control is right in front of a vent and gets HOT when you have the heat going. I hope this is the heater and not the control overheating.

• 

  Good Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By EveryMn - January 16 - 7:26 am

  Performs reliably under all conditions. Not one problem in 4 years. Gets decent fuel economy for a truck this size. Lots of interior room. Good power.