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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  Best Value - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ron - August 18 - 9:33 am

  I was very impressed with the ride comfort an handling of this car. It is a vast improvement over subcompacts of previous generations. I really like the european stlying direction GM has been taking with the vehicles it has brought to market over the last few years. It is a little strained to accelerate up a hill starting from a standstill (but what the hell! its no worse than our Jeep Liberty). The shift quality could be a little better, but here again, I didn,t purchase a Porsche. To sum up, in terms of interior and exterior styling, fuel economy, ride comfort, and handling it is a very good value for the money. I made my purchase chioce over Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris.

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  So Excited - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kimberly - August 18 - 8:42 am

  I gave up my Pontiac Montana with some hesitation. But the purchase of this car was a wonderful choice. It rides well, it is comfortable and sporty looking. I am a plus size woman and the comfort for me is wonderful. The only thing is I continue to get confused with the window controls not being on the doors. Otherwise a great car for the money.

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  A great vehicle so far... - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By RAM - August 18 - 12:40 am

  We replaced our Subaru Forester LL Bean edition with a new Equinox LTZ, and so far its been wonderful. The cabin is MUCH roomier and quieter, and the seats are easily twice as comfortable. And the mileage is blowing the Subaru out of the water, as are the great set of standard options. The Subaru was well built and dependable, but was an extremely uncomfortable car to drive and ride in, unlike the Equinox, which is a delight for driver and passengers alike.

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  2008 ZO6 - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By kevin - August 17 - 9:19 pm

  The acceleration is exhilerating, especially when the 2 valves in the exhaust opens. It is like afterburners in a jet. The tight handling is unbelieveable. It sticks to the road like glue and comes out of curves smooth as silk. When driving this car all worries of the day seem to disappear.

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  Old faithful - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By teton - August 17 - 7:53 pm

  While I certainly have many gripes, it has been a very reliable vehicle. I bought it new and it now has 162,xxx miles. Its never quit on me! I drive it in all conditions including plenty of off-road and snow. Outside of the typical repairs for this many miles (fuel pump, ball joints, alternator) and routine maintenance, Ive had only a couple issues, but none major and it always starts. I keep expecting more problems but they havent come yet. I have felt a few hard shifts from the tranny, but considering the too-tall gearing Im amazed it got this far. Gas mileage is ok for a V6 SUV - avg about 20 combined.

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  Our red HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By darlene Haase - August 17 - 4:23 pm

  Everyone stops us to ask where we found this beautiful car. They ask all of the usual questions , mileage, etc. We must be in our second teen years because we love this beautiful red car.

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  Looks and Feels Like a Million Bucks - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 3LT Black/Black - August 17 - 10:25 am

  When I drove this car into work for the first time, my collegues thought I had won the lottery or sold a kidney. Most people thought this car should have costed well over $100k when I paid less than $50k for a fully loaded variety. The fact that it stands out more, and severly outperforms a BMW Z4, Mercedes- Benz SLK320 and Porsche Boxter and costs the same (or even a little less) is astonishing. This car is absolutly gorgeous and I cant imagine why anyone else would possibly buy any other sports car in the $50k price range. There is nothing that car doesnt have that a $200,000 Ferrari does have. Car feels/looks incredible and the 5 year warranty gives me great peace of mind.

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  96 Chevy Beretta - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Rev Mackey - August 16 - 10:03 am

  Overall a great car for dependability. I have had repeated problems with the brakes (three times to Midas for front and back) and it took a little time to get used to front wheel drive. Not a good car for winter driving.

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  Great Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By tkaxman - August 16 - 7:04 am

  Very satisfied. Have had the truck for 34,000 mi. with little to no problems. Solid feel while maintaining decent comfort. Gas mileage is a little weak at 19 combined, but the overall driving experience is excellent. Good acceleration and braking, and overall fun to drive. A little jumpy on rough roads, but thats not uncommon with 4 wheel drives. Wish the bed was longer.

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  Great car - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By Paul L. - August 16 - 3:44 am

  I purchased this car as my first vehicle slightly after turning 16. We payed close to $5,000 and this car was worth every penny. It was reliable and great on gas. Because of the low price point it was a good learning vehicle. I really did beat the crap out of it, and it kept going like a trooper. I recently wrecked it by rear-ending someone like an idiot and really regret losing the vehicle. (I only had liability) This lead me to write a review about ol Blue as I called it. RIP, you always got me from point A to point B, you will be missed.