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:

• 

  Never Again - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JW - June 24 - 6:46 am

  Bought used with 30,000 miles, good looking vehicle. have had numerous problems. 4 wheel drive went out so did read end. Also dual climate doesnt work and has been fixed 3 times. Terrible wind noise, washer fluid quits working has been repaired 4 times. Very hard on tires as well will now get good mileage no matter how many times you rotate them. Terrible fuel mileage as expected. Parts are very expensive as alternator costs over $200. Oil is difficult to change with the cover plate and design. Make sure you change tranny fluid or you will have that to deal with. Overall a good looking vehicle but probably the last Chevy I will ever own unless I buy a Corvette.

• 

  Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rick - June 24 - 12:16 am

  I love this car, quick pick up, great handling, and I like the look of it, not to mention the gas mileage. A huge step up from my 03 Civic.

• 

  02 TAHOE - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MICHAEL JENKINS - June 23 - 9:56 pm

  This vehicle has been my pleasure to own. It has been fun customizing it because there are so many options to choose from on all the stuff you can do to it.

• 

  Solid Transport - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Fred - June 23 - 5:42 pm

  Runs great, got the basic model but comes well equiped without costly options. Sure it may not be as good as a Honda or Toyota, but costs thousands less. Doesnt get as good gas economy as imports but thats due to more powerful engine. Just drive easy and you will get good economy. After 2 yrs bought another one for another family member.

• 

  Wish it was better built - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By John - June 23 - 4:47 pm

  Great car. I wish Chevy had put a little bit more Chevy heart and soul. This could have been the best light truck/full sized sedan car ever made. My two biggest complaints are the fact that whenever it rains the car leaks on the floorboard If you own one keep an eye on this. The other thing is the fabric they used for the for the seats. Dont let a drip of water touch, it will stain.

• 

  Wow! - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By C.I. Crouch - June 23 - 4:24 pm

  Originally, I was going to get the wife a new Cadillac, and make my first Vette a used one. We both decided we werent ready for the a Caddy, so we got a new Vette. The only comment I can make that says it all is that it is everything I dreamed it would be and more. We got the Z51 package, which is a little bit stiffer suspension. I was worried it might be a little rough riding, but it isnt. Its smooth as glass. I reccomend the Z51. The one option I didnt get and wish I had is the dual mode exhaust. Even without it, it still has a pretty good sound to it. If you take it easy on the highway, you can get pretty close to 30mpg, which is amazing for 430 HP. Its a rocket on wheels.

• 

  Best deal on the planet. Great Car. - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Nate - June 23 - 9:02 am

  I was looking for a car under 15k, and I knew I was going to be giving up a lot to get it. This would be my daily commuter. After pricing a Civic, 3, Corrolla, and Focus I knew I was in trouble. Wasnt really looking at GM until I saw a Cobalt. I have seen them before but never really paid attention. Took it for a drive and was overly impressed. Got an LT and with options it was 4k less than a Civic with the same options. I love this car more and more, and with the rebates you cant beat the value. Very well built car. I would seriously consider this in lieu of the forementioned cars I was considering unless you are hung up on a name like Honda.

• 

  Better than a Cavalier - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chevy Always - June 23 - 7:53 am

  So far so good, this car is alot of fun. I have had only one problem so far as a high pressure switch went out on my air conditioning. It was gratefully worked on and fixed. There were a couple of recalls that I had to take of, but hey, for the price, no problem. I would recommend this car to anyone. Im only mad that I didnt get the higher performance engine.

• 

  Very good car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By anderson - June 23 - 2:44 am

  I bought my 1998 Cavalier new 10 years ago. This has been a great car. Very reliable. The only money I have put into it is basic maintenance and exhaust. I have 170,000 miles on it and I am still on the original engine, original tranny and this car leaves no fluid stains on my garage floor. I have been so happy with this car. My only complaint with this car is that that traction is not that great in the winter even with new tires. They spin very easy even on a snow packed road. Its like the car is too light. Overall this car has been a great purchase for me.

• 

  Some things questionable - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Vaughn - June 22 - 10:34 pm

  I have had the same problems as a lot of Z71 owners had, the instrument cluster is going dead, and the front suspension/shocks are brutal. I have always been a Chevy guy, especially going for the Suburban for size and comfort, but GM should know better than to compromise on this simple engineering.