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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  Tahoe LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bayern - February 3 - 1:25 pm

  Excellent acceleration. Smooth ride. Extremely comfortable and better fuel economy than previous models. I got every option possible and they all work flawlessly. Fantastic vehicle.

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  DO NOT BUY THIS CAR!!! - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Patricia Armstrong - February 3 - 9:33 am

  Bought mine in February. It only has 12000 miles on it. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED stranding me and in the process totally destroyed a piston and some other things. The dealer has taken over a week to even come up with the part and actually since these are MAJOR components on a NEW, I would prefer for them just to replace the engine. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER 2016 MALIBU in the dealership waiting on parts FOR THE SAME ISSUE. Car is a nice, fancy, UNRELIABLE POS.

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  Chevy trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chevy Trailblazer - February 2 - 7:05 pm

  I own a 02 trailblazer and I just bought it last year it has spent more time in the shop than in my driveway. It is now also in the shop for new transmission. I hate this vehicle. My mechanic said the housing was busting on the inside in big chunks. I gave too much for it and I am still giving with the problems I have with it.

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  Unhappy - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kevin - February 2 - 12:59 pm

  I bought this almost 2 years ago. Seats stain easy and dont like the noise the AWD makes. Going to need new tires. I have a couple of friends that have this and agree with me.

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  Practical and Fun - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JBM - February 2 - 2:50 am

  I was pleasantly surprised at the interior design ideas that went into the Cobalt. With four children, the weight sensing air bag control made this car a practical choice for our family. The seat and steering wheel adjustments made it easy for wife, husband, and teenager to comfortably drive the car. The cup holders actually hold normal-sized cups. The car handles very well. It is responsive to acceleration, steering and braking. For a smaller car it offers a satisifyingly quiet and smooth ride.

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  Great lowcost Money - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ulf187 - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car a couple of weeks ago and I can say that Im impressed. Great design, good fuel economy and even quality build. Far more then I expected for this price. Even its 95 percent made by Daewoo.

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  NEW AVEO 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mohamed Mavrakis - February 2 - 2:00 am

  Dealer was very helpfull with Finance & Sticker Price Reduction to a reasonable Sale Price for both of us. You can Spec.Order Sunroof&Power doors.

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  Love My Truck!! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By CallMeAce - February 2 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Silverado. I sold my 2002 extended cab 1500 silverado and bought this truck brand new in october. I love this truck. The ride is noticibly harsher then the half ton was but it really isnt that bad. The fuel mileage however is considerbly worse then my old one was. I used to be able to make over 400 miles on a tank on the highway while towing with my old truck (5.3 vortec) but this one doesnt wanna go much over 300 miles on a tank (hwy!!). The crew cab is great and my passengers all say that the back seat is great. Much better build quality too then my previous truck.

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  Maxx car for Mini price - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By maxxowner - February 2 - 2:00 am

  The Maxx is fun to drive. Its peppy, and the steering is sensitive, even though its front wheel drive. I got a lot of options for a relatively low sticker price. As for the interior, I like that almost everything in the driver’s space is adjustable, including the pedals. The leather seats are really soft and are texturized with little breathable holes that keep the leather from getting sticky and hot. I like the Maxxs unique design (built on Saab platform) and its safety features.

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  Find the truck that matches your needs - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By extremerider - February 2 - 2:00 am

  First off, this is NOT for the full sizer. GMs target market segment is the user who needs to occasionally carry loads from the local home improvement store. GM hit the mark. Good: Gas mileage Utility Cabin space BROAD powerband & SMOOTH delivery Accomplished ride Quiet cabin Driveability Aesthetic design The inline 5 doesnt have the low-end torque of a V8, but thats not what I needed. It has enough acceleration and also has sufficient highway passing power. I am impressed with the deliver of the I5s power. The power-band is very broad and smooth. It has a much more refined ride than expected in a compact truck. This truck really is practical.