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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  Eh, just ok - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jack - June 17 - 11:06 am

  I have owned the vehicle for almost three years. No crazy stories to tell, been a good vehicle. I have the 4.8 which really is fine if you dont want to pull anything. My complaint is the constant upshift for hills. In fact driving across Missouri in a snowstorm, the wind was enough to make it downshift. My brother who has the 5.3 states his is worse because you have to lay on the pedal to make it downshift causing loss of speed at every hill. Good solid truck, few rattles, but solid. The factory American general tires are worthless though, they got me about 28k and were shot-mpg is about 15 hwy/city but about 13 pulling a jet ski. I will probably upgrade in near future.

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  Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mspie - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Driving the vehicle is nice. It picks up speed good. The steering is not stiff. Car accessories are in easy to reach places.

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  05 Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By plyerhtr99 - June 17 - 10:00 am

  good overall. i wish the fuel economy was a little better. i dont get the mileage that it says its suppose to have!

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  Disappointed with GM - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rdmuri - June 17 - 10:00 am

  Have taken two extended trips and average 17mpg. Engine performance is acceptable, except to pull any grades must keep in trailering mode to keep trans from downshifting and over- reving. Have 12000 miles now and at 5000 developed clunk in the trans/driveline that is getting worse. GM says "normal" and refuses to fix. Cab roof is flimsy--buckles if windows rolled down at 60mph.

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  Back to American - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Charlie Crosby - June 17 - 7:23 am

  Very nice SUV. Great paint job. Wife likes as much as her BMW. Only complaint I have are the front brakes, in 36000 miles we have had to have the brakes done twice. I have never had brake problem with any other vehicle that we have owned.

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  Dont buy a 2003 or 2004 model!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By nomoreGM2day - June 17 - 1:50 am

  Chevy has a problem with the cluster panel in the 2003 and 2004 models. They do not stand behind their work and are not willing to do anything about it. My dealer replaces 1 or 2 a month....this is a serious problem and not just with the Trailblazer, but ALL makes and models of Chevys. GM needs to find a way to keep their loyal customers happy. (GM owner since the early 80s).

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  All around great car! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By FOXXX - June 17 - 12:49 am

  This car is simply amazing. I have owned many cars in the past but this car is my favorite. The body style on this car looks great compared to many other sedans out there. Although this car is sportier than the other sedans out there, it still allows all the great features of its competitors. It fits six people comfortably and has a giant trunk for storage. Although this is the base model, it has more than enough power to get you wherever you need to go.

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  Exceptional bang for the buck - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ray - June 16 - 12:35 pm

  This car has been everything I could have expected and more. Its getting around 30 mpg and the car is actually fast with the manny tranny. 5th gear is tall and the engine speed is comfortable at 80+mph It handles well despite small tires. With the rear seats down, the cargo area is surprisingly big. Only design issue would be that the rear seats are very close to the back of the car and I think in a rear-end accident rear passengers might be mush. Maybe. I drive the car pretty hard and it still gets 30mpg. The stick on the manual is pretty rubbery, not solid feeling. Dont buy a Civic. I paid less than 9k for my SVM model and had enough left over for 2000 gallons of gas-60k miles!

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  Nice ride - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Dave - June 16 - 7:46 am

  This SUV is not a Tahoe but the next best thing Chevy has to it. The ride is great and plenty of room. Gas milage is one reason I bought this SUV. The 4WD works great, and we love the separate climate controls in the front. Much easer to get into the third seat than the Tahoe, and the the third seat sits higher so your knees arent in your face.

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  Best Vehicle I Ever Had! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Trailblazer - June 16 - 5:17 am

  This vehicle has been used by my family for so many, many things from transporting kids around and loading all their sports equipment in the back to being able to put an entire shed building kit in the back. There is so much room in this SUV and it is super comfortable. We have taken it on trips and never one complaint. It is so versitile for so many different things. The rear air is really nice in the summer. The back opens up big so two of us can load groceries together or just sit in the back at the drive-in. I highly recommend this SUV whether you have a family or not. Endless uses and just so practical.