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:

• 

  Not A Car for Everyone - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dale - February 5 - 1:53 pm

  This is not a car for everyone and it was not intended to be. This is a car for car enthusiasts who not only tolerate a firm ride and aggressive exhaust but demand it. I hear of buyers who want to quiet the car and make it more comfortable to drive. Give me a break. Why did you buy this car in the first place? After GM spent millions making the car lighter these buyers add sound deadening material. If your not used to driving high performance cars dont buy this car or be prepared to learn since traction can be difficult to come by even with traction control on. Also, you guys that have to ride around in plush leather living room furniture buy a Maserati.

• 

  Good Car - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 1996 Chevy Cavalier - February 5 - 11:27 am

  I really love my Chevy Cavalier. I have had it since 2000 and I am the third owner. I bought it at 56000 miles and it now has 219000 on it. I have only had regular maintance on it except for around 70000 I had to replace the head gasket which is normal for these cars.

• 

  Great truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By colejess - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Traded in a 1999 F-150 for my 2000 Chevrolet. Chevrolet has better gas milage, power and comfort. Have 19,000.00 miles, and to this point I have not had it to the dealer for any problems.

• 

  Big Mistake - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By bhults - February 5 - 8:31 am

  The vehicle is very attractive and urban design. Great alternative to the PT Cruiser design. Fun to drive when is not in the garage. Great fuel mileage on long hauls drive 1300 mile trips often and only use 3 tanks of gas for the whole trip. When it comes to reliability and performance it becomes a different story. I purchase new vehicles often about every 2-3 years and this will probably be my last Chevrolet purchase. Chevrolet customer service is great but if they cant build a reliable car then its not for me to purchase would recommend Toyota, Honda or Saturn.

• 

  2007 New body Aveo LT - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By xmktg - February 5 - 12:52 am

  Very nice car for the money. I was totally surprised at the interior design, fit and finish, layout and features loaded into my 07 Aveo LT. I switched out a few things and customized the car, like two tone black and tan leather seats. The factory only offers tan leather, a little too much. Gets good gas mileage, has plenty of space and really no complaints. I even went back to the dealer just to price some parts to see the cost and the parts are inexpensive!

• 

  Great Truck - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By lucyb - February 4 - 5:34 pm

  I traded my 2006 Tacoma for the Colorado Crew cab, 5cyl, 2wd. To be honest, this was my first American vehicle in quite a few years. I was very surprised and pleased with the quality of the truck and the power of the engine. Its a fun truck to drive and has all the creature comforts that I wanted.

• 

  Problems - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By None - February 4 - 1:13 pm

  I bought the 2006 Trailblazer EXT with 20,000 miles. A week after I bought it the emissions light came on. I have had it to the garage 6 times and every time I get it the light is off. After driving it about a week the emissions light comes back on. They have replaced sensors and fuel valves. The vehicle has been to a General Motors dealer but they have not fixed the problem. The fuel gauge drops to empty when there is a quarter tank of gas. When I start the engine the gas gauge goes to where it is suppose to be and then after driving a little distance it again drops to empty and the low full light gauge comes on. Any idea how to fix the problem.

• 

  This car has a lot going for it - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By JasonC - February 4 - 8:46 am

  My SS has all the options. Ive only owned this car for a month and have about 1000 miles on it. So far, Im very pleased with it. Car appears very well put together, best of any GM product Ive had experience with. I havent experienced any rattles or squeaks. Its hard to argue with the performance of this car. Suspension is a nice compromise between ride comfort and reasonable handling. A good driving car. Im averaging about 23mpg in mixed driving, but 30mpg looks doable on the highway. The fairly loose torque converter hurts the mpg in stop-and-go situations, and Im not sure exactly why they made that choice. Minor point, though, IMO. Seats are a bit flat, radio is ridiculous.

• 

  This truck is misunderstood - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By rickypaul - February 4 - 8:40 am

  I dont get the bad "expert" reviews of this truck. It is the only Crew Cab pickup available with a 4 cyl engine. It performs adequately and gets 26 mgh o the highway! Shes comfortable, quiet, and her exterior styling is the best in its class. I drove them all, the Tacoma rides rough, the Frontier is worse. It has the best back seat in its class. Dont be swayed by the so- called "experts." Test drive this truck and make up your own mind. By the way, all of the "innovative" features in the Tacoma and Frontier, such as the tie down tracks) will end up more of an annoyance than a convenience. The Colorado is a good solid, reliable pickup.

• 

  Awesome Look & Ride! - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By LTZ WIth Chrome Pkg! - February 3 - 2:22 pm

  Needed more room for the gang...went from a Cadillac SRX to the Tahoe LTZ Black with chrome package - 20" chrome wheels. What a beauty and fun to drive. Head turning looks...smooth riding on the 20s. Bucket seats are very comfortable.