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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  Will buy again - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Will - June 1 - 7:40 am

  Love the car, love the comfort, quiet ride, good power, love the sliding back seat, carries 5 very comfortably. best small SUV on the market. My mom liked it so much she traded he Honda CRV for a 2008 Equinox.

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  Awesome Impala LS - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kubes - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Impala used with 35k. Its been awesome since I owned it, no problems whatsoever. It currently has 51k and feels brand new. Great power, handling, comfort. Much higher quality and comfort than previous foreign vehicles. I cant recommend this vehicle enough!

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  Excellent - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By intercat - June 1 - 2:00 am

  I love this car. I purchased it to celebrate my graduation from college (35 years after high school) and suriving breast cancer. Its beautiful, and it is everything I wanted it to be.

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  Very Happy - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jvelderman - May 31 - 11:16 pm

  Just picked up my 2011 Silverado LT 4x4 Extended Cab Z-71. Its got the 5.3 Vortec engine in it and it is incredible. The truck has more power than I know what to do with, and is incredibly responsive in every way. Steering is tight, brakes are firm and react the way I expect them to, and the suspension is not mushy at all. The interior is comfy, but the dashboard seems kind of cheap to me. I suppose the LTZ is probably a little nicer. I got the All-Star package on mine, so it has the dual zone climate control, and the push-button 4x4 along with several other amenities.

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  I just bought one - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By lisa - May 31 - 7:30 pm

  Overall my experience with this vehicle has been overwhelming! I enjoy driving this, and moved from a sedan to this minivan.

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  Goes in the snow! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By D. Fischer - May 31 - 8:56 am

  The vehicle provides a feelng of security. It handles well on the Interstate, accelerates to pass and holds the ground. Road noise is minimal. The back storage compartment could be wider to accomodate a wheelchair more easily. The center compartment lifts up for a great place to put a womans purse of medium size. The back hatch door is a little heavy to push up, but doable. The leg room in the rear passenger seat is adjustable and accommodates long-legged people better than any other vehicle Ive owned. The rear headrests cannot be removed. They are a little wide and block the rear view more than Id like. Just have to be very careful before backing up. Im happy with the Equinox.

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  2008 Impala 2LT - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By trainguy - May 30 - 9:23 pm

  This is a lot of car for the money. Plenty of room for the entire family, easily holds 5 adults. We upgraded to leather interior. The trunk is absolutely huge. Very long list of standard frills on the 2LT is more what Id have expected if I had purchased a luxury model. Highway ride is smooth and quiet. A pleasure to drive. Avg fuel is 24mpg, mostly highway. Plenty of pep with the 3.9 engine. Biggest issue was finding one to buy, area dealers had none in stock, had to have it shipped in but still got a great deal.

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  Just Fun - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Tony Schwanda - May 30 - 6:40 am

  I truly enjoy driving this truck. It has performed better then expected it the snow and ice of northern Wisconsin. Yet it is only a 2 wheel drive. The one area that need some attention is the seating. The angle is too straight for long distance travel. I suggest that they make a small adjustment in this area as well as a little more room for the passengers feet. These are only minor problems and can be fixed with a bit of thinking. The ride is smooth and the road noise is minimal. great truck. Just having fun.

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  Great Vehicle! - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Doc Watson - May 30 - 2:00 am

  My first 4WD...Had 95,000 when I bought it but it had been taken cate of very well. No problems at all other than regular maintenance. Could benefit from larger brakes. Get a K&N air filter! No "Clunking" noise here! SNOW! Im not scared of any stinking SNOW!

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  Loving life so far... - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By VegasGT - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Im insane for spending so much on a car, but Im glad I did. Ive had my Vette 8 months and its rock solid, no shakes or shimmies, and rides suprisingly smooth - smoother than the Mustang it replaced. It gets better gas mileage than the Mustang GT, too. It handles like a dream and everyone loves it.