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:

• 

  My little blue HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Joy - April 2 - 9:46 pm

  Even though we also own a Mercedes, I still love and miss driving my little blue HHR every day and that is why we decided to keep it. Its fun to drive, has tons of cargo space and gets great gas mileage. There are a few things Chevy needs to add but overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed owning this vehicle and look forward to more years of great use.

• 

  The new family car - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ChrisThe SpaceCowboy - April 2 - 9:06 pm

  My family recentley bout a white diamond edition LTZ Tahoe 2wd. The vehicle is excellent its luxurious but we still can tow our boat with it! The navigation system and power tailgate make for easy loading and directions. The OnStar system is also handy. My mom already got locked out, and they opened our doors right up. The car has some Escalade bling to it as well. The 20" rims accent the metallic white diamond paint well. The chrome grille makes the truck look more powerful. And it gets fairly good mpg for a full size truck as well!

• 

  Not bad but a lot of repairs - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By maddiesmom - April 2 - 7:14 pm

  We got our 2000 Blazer with a V6 vortec it has 86,000 miles on it. We put 16,000 on in 8 months. Our engine light has been on since about 1 month after we got it. Weve had to replace the front drivers side wheel baring twice, our blower moter is going, sounds like a bird in our dash. Now we are having troubles with it lagging between 1st and 2nd gear. Garage said it was most likey our tranny. Passenger seat is very hard to move back and forth. The center arm rest is all dented in, cannot put a child car seat in the middle of the back seat. Head lights are very hard to see with at night. We also had to replace something cant remember the name, but it makes a loud humming noise when starte

• 

  A Great Vehicle - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By A normal guy - April 2 - 6:23 pm

  The 1998 Blazer is one of the most reliable cars you will own. I own a 4 door LT 2WD. Mine now has over 160,000 miles and it still rides great! Its comfy(it has leather seats with electric adjustment), gets pretty good gas mileage (16-20), and is fun to drive! However, the best part about this car is its reliability. This thing hasnt broken down on me one time in 160,000 miles. It has lasted through many trips, and still works good. Its a great car.

• 

  3 years of Frustration - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Frustrated - April 2 - 10:27 am

  I bought my 2005 Impala in Dec/04 it was great for about a year. I come from a Chevy/GM family. Now I will never buy another Chevy. In the past year I have had to replace the ignition, fuel pressure regulator and have jerky and sluggish response when accelerating. Even the body is falling apart. Took it to the car wash and parts fell off and to add insult to injury after 3 years im still upside down on a trade! Chevy has really gone down hill! Dont buy a new Chevy unless they start making them like they used to!!

• 

  I love this car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Tom Spellman - April 2 - 8:16 am

  I bought the car in January of 2005. Great ride, runs great, and the gas milage is very good. I live in Nebraska so winters with snow are common place. Car gets around great in snow with front wheel drive. The only problem I had with the Monte is the multi-function switch had to be replaced. Luckly I bought the extened warranty as this was a 600.00 part. I put the car into storage with 53,000 miles on it. She will be worth some money some day.

• 

  It meets our needs - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By jaxncoog - April 2 - 5:26 am

  Once we got the third kid, we knew we had to go bigger. Fact of the matter is, you just cant look cool driving a mini-van. Besides the costs, winter driving , and power for the mini-van just doesnt compare to this SUV. This has been an excellent car for our snowy winters and our many outdoor activities. Fuel Economy is poor but comparable to other vehicles within its size range. The third row seat is roomy and has great sight lines. The front console is weak. You cant put drinks in it and get access to the central console controls.

• 

  Fun car - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By doug - April 2 - 5:16 am

  Im 59 years old and this is not my first new car but it is the best car I have ever purchased. Much more fun to drive then I expected. Its quick,quiet and smooth.

• 

  A true workhorse. - 2008 Chevrolet Express
  By Ed - April 2 - 3:06 am

  This is my second Express van. I have the 12 passenger van, just the right size. The 08 has been given many up grades over older models. The seats can easily be removed, and you can almost put your whole house in there. My previous Express van was trouble free. My 08 came with no defects, so a good start.

• 

  Love my Car! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Linda - April 2 - 12:42 am

  I love it. I looked at new cars for two years and I really enjoy this car. I purchased victory red, leather interior sunroof. I could not ask for anything more and the estimated mpg is better than the sticker. I am getting 28 city 37 highway and the warranty is wonderful. I suggest this car to anyone. Very sporty sexy. So far so good!