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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  Love It - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TROY HOLMES - September 15 - 3:33 am

  3rd silverado owned. Excellent ride. Super, super quiet in cab. You have to test drive this one. I waited 3 months for it to come out. Drove 1 1/2 hour to get what I wanted. It came with more options than wanted but whos complaining about remote start, and tire pressure monitors, Z71 package

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  Long Live the Chevrolet Suburban - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Freddie Hamad - September 14 - 10:54 pm

  I purchased this White 2007 Suburban LT 2 with rear entertainment system for my wife as we are expecting our 5th child ( in 4 years ) and her 2004 Mazda MPV was just too small to be comfortable. I, being in the auto sales busines, ( I have been selling Mercedes Benz for 2 years ), I researched every SUV out there. After driving everything, I settled down on the Suburban. My wife was very nervous about driving such a large SUV, But After a couple of weeks with the Suburban, I can not get her to let me take it out, she is in love with it and will never go back to a mini van.

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  I Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bowe - September 14 - 8:10 pm

  This is my first automobile purchase in almost 10 years, and I couldnt have made a better choice! The comfortable seats, cruise control, gas mileage and sound system are spectacular for a travelling long distance runner, such as myself! I do agree that the stereo controls are a little confusing but my teenage son help me to figure that out. I love my Equinox!

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  Tahoe 07 4x4 - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rttjr - September 14 - 1:50 pm

  Love the car with its new look, great array of options and excellent handling. Wish they would not of put plastic seat guard tracks for the third row seats. It leaves a very uneven cargo floor space and doesnt look clean when the seats are stored in the up mode.

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  Great Utility Vehicle! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By nca4731630 - September 14 - 11:16 am

  Chevrolet has hit upon something pretty special with this truck. It is one great vehicle. It can cruise to formal events and can easily transform into a work truck. The mileage is pretty good considering it is a full size truck/Suburban. I was worried about the switching from 8cyl mode to 4cyl mode on the fly but that works superb and is inditinguisable to the driver.

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  1500,000 miles and Still Going - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By TMcCall - September 14 - 10:40 am

  I have had my Z71 Tahoe since I bought it brand new in 2003, and I have yet to change the brakes! Yes, I have triend to get someone to change them and they wouldnt do it becuase they told me the Tahoe didnt need them. Amazing. I owned a silverado before this and the ride difference is huge. I installed a K and N cold air intake system on it and my accelleration is so much better. I travel all over the Southeast driving an average of 30,000 miles/year and this is a chariot. By far the best vehicle I have ever owned. When this one dies on me I will buy another one to last me another 5 years.

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  I Love My TrailBlazer! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jeremy - September 14 - 8:59 am

  What a great make by GM. I has a proud driver of the TrailBlazer. Dont get me wrong, there are some kinks to work out. But they are all minor. Other than that this is a brilliant car. Fun to drive. Im 62" and it was hard to find a car that I was comfortable in.

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  2005 Impala Base Model - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kristen - September 14 - 8:54 am

  This car has been great. Not really had much for expenses other than routine maintenance. Lack of options on the base model, but still a resonabley good buy.

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  Happy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tennille - September 14 - 12:20 am

  I bought my Equinox last week! I love it!! The exterior reminds me a lot of the Lexus SUV; quiet engine and roomy comfort. Cant beat the car for the price. Ive gotten a lot of compliments and am extremely happy with the car.

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  Excellent highway vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By agseraph - September 13 - 8:23 pm

  This is the best car I have ever had, which have included Mercedes, a BMW, a VW, Fords, Toyotas, and an Infinity. 20 mpg on the highway, smooth ride, and no problems in 142,000 miles. Wat it doesnt have in fuel economy, it more than makes up for in reliability.