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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  Warning....I should Have leased It - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Edward Caldwell - November 6 - 12:33 am

  This FWD Equinox had a definite stability problem, swaying left to right at even speeds and level roadway. Driver and front side passenger as well as rear passenger experience " Bobble Head" feeling, not quite car sick but slightly light headed dealer checked all struts and swaybars, allegedly all OK. Steering is terrible giving the feeling of not being in control of vehicle. GM advised no recalls or service bulletins on this problem. Vehicle was traded in at only 4000 miles use for a Chrysler Pacifica and at a loss of approximately $8000.00 Lemon law not applicable because GM denies problem exists, therefore Dealer cannot repair. Friends with the AWD did not experienced any of the above.

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  Great Buy - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Bill - November 6 - 12:33 am

  I purchased my Cobalt in March and enjoy this car so much. I cant get over how great it handles. It gets very good gas mileage and the car in general looks great.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jrmbubba - November 5 - 10:30 pm

  I have a white Z28 with t-tops and it is a very fun car. Mine is used for daily driving mostly. 300+ hp is very hard to resist as far as playin with it while driving in it. With my exhaust and headers I tend to be bothered by the police for noise pollution but no tickets though

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  Safety Problem - rear head restraints in crew cab - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jef14silverado - November 5 - 9:18 pm

  This is a very nice truck with a significant safety issue if you need adults to ride in the back seat. The head restraints do not move up high enough to protect someone over about 53" during a rear end impact. My 2005 Sierra crew cab had restraints that moved up considerably higher. I registered a complaint with safercar.gov and emailed a complaint to Chevy Customer Service. I have also written a letter to Chevy explaining my complaint. I did receive a response to my email saying thanks for the feedback and it will be taken into consideration in future designs. This is unacceptable. I and others have the unsafe current model. If I would have realized this, I would have bought the Ram.

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  Just took delivery of my new Tahoe - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Richard Weronik - November 5 - 11:12 am

  After due research I decided against the BMW X5 and the Mercedes GL320 in favor of the Tahoe LTZ, based on total satisfaction on my previous 2002 Tahoe. I am very satisfied with the choice and I saved $25,000 over the others. The Tahoe so far exceeds anything I experienced in testing out the BMW or Mercedes. The fuel economy should improve as I break in the engine. Recommend this awesome car! Also recommend the sun and sound options with the LTZ that includes the rear camera, DVD, Navigation system and sunroof.

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  Its Great! - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By East Atlanta - November 5 - 9:13 am

  We purchased the Tahoe Hybrid to enjoy the comfort, space and anticipated gas savings. We have truly enjoyed its performance and handling. We had issues with the brakes, but they were fixed. We also had the decals removed. The mileage is satisfactory, but its great in a lot of stop and go and on the highways; it averages in the low 400 miles per tank.

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  The ultimate Cruising Machine - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By aklug - November 4 - 9:15 pm

  I tried to convince her to get a minivan but she insisted on this tank instead. I am glad she did. This vehicle is the ultimate for hauling a big family with lots of gear. It is more comfortable to drive and be a passenger in than any vehicle I could think of. To ride in one of the rear buckets is a pleasure, I only wish I could experience more often. It also gets reasonable fuel mileage on the highway for such a monster. (better than 20 mpg).

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  Mega miles and still going strong - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By 240000 milesngoing - November 4 - 6:55 pm

  Canadian summers and winters - extreme. AC still running fine never used a block heater even at -40. Regular maintenance by neighbourhood mechanic. In past 9 years, gas tank, breaks twice, muffler clamp, tires, and recently a ?gasket? that meant the whole engine had to come apart... $850...not bad for 9 years...Honest. Had everything except sunroof...styling now out of date, but was there in 98. Its like my fathers car...a living room with plush upholstery. Bars starting to be felt in drivers seat...got a heat/vibrate cushion...now life is great again...

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  Malibu not a Threat to Honda or Toyota - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By company car - November 4 - 4:27 pm

  This company car is poorly designed.Door hinges cheap, front end replaced in 38,00 miles as was the a/c compressor, rotors, and wiper mechanism. There is a flutter in the a/c vent that no one can explain and is noisy. Others with our company have similiar problems so this is not a one caro thing. Also pwer steering problems with some

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  Dependable and Comfortable Hauler - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By krrt - November 4 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck used with 35K miles; it now has 66K miles. It is the heavy-duty version of the 2500 that was replaced by the 2500HD in 2001. This truck has been entirely dependable with no major mechanical problems. The 6.0L engine is smooth with plenty of power. No oil needs to be added between changes. The ride is quiet and comfortable (for a big truck), loaded and unloaded. The auto four-wheel drive option, which allows the transfer case to slip, is great for slick pavement. I have been very satisfied, and expect to keep this truck to 100K miles or more.