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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  Unsafe - 2011 Chevrolet HHR
  By ray190 - March 9 - 8:38 pm

  You can not see out of this car. I am 5-10 and my head is in the roof and my shoulder is agaist the door. This is not a car its a coffin

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  old reliable - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By als camaro - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car new and still drive it everyday. The car has had no major mechanical repairs to it in all these years. I had to change an alternator once, and fixed the electric windows twice. That is it! It now has 158,000 miles on it. I will never sell my baby and will drive it for many years to come. If you are going to buy one, get one from an adult owner like myself who maintained the car. Kids just beat on them.

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  Disgust - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By uplandered - November 27 - 2:00 am

  tires wear unevenly because the suspension is poorly engineered. cheap plastic, breaks, starter is retarded, transmission slips, no rear air, manual rear windows (in a minivan?) battery in-accessible, this chevrolet is a glaring example of engineering by people who no longer care. DO NOT BUY ONE! you wont be able to resell this car.

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  Dont buy - 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Not Happy - November 15 - 2:00 am

  Do not buy this vehicle. If you only have a 10 minute drive to and from work OK but as long as it doesnt snow. Dont worry about talking on your cell phone. There is so much interior noise at times you cant. Only good thing, I didnt have to pay for it. The price is our of line with quality. Poor gas mileage, only gets 19mph with the inline 5cyl. Rough ride and uncomfortable seats. Could this be one reason why Chevy needed a bail-out.

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  Dont buy an Impala! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By NeverbyeaChevy - November 14 - 2:00 am

  This is the worst car I have ever owned. Nonstop problems I dont care if it has warranty or not. Major electrical problems, rear defroster does not work. Have to unplug the radio fuse and plug it back in to have it work. Lights dim while driving. Power Steering problems, heat problems front suspension problems. Even the gas cap does not work. I will never buy another GM product and tell everyone I can about it!

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  Poor quality - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By gail - November 13 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 2006 Equinox new and have had numerous problems, such as the two visor makeup mirrors breaking off - only used several times by adults. The battery is hidden so well that I couldnt find it! Now the heater and ac doesnt work.Cost to repair a defect in a flapper is around $1000.I need the defroster for my long commute, so I guess I dont have a car for the winter. Huge front side pillars make driving in parking lots dangerous - almost ran over a pedestrian! Seats are uncomfortable, and the rear door is stiff and needs two hands to close. The CD player is picky about what it will play. Very disappointed in this car-cheap materials, overpriced vehicle.

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  Vibration - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dissatify owner - October 31 - 2:00 am

  Driving at 50 and up mph with the windows open in the back, the car vibrates so bad your ears pop and hurt. Took it to service dealership and was told all Equinox have the same vibration. The mpg it gives around 22 miles per gallon not 30/32 mpg. It has a very bad blind side that you got to be extra careful. If you are a passenger in the back sit, it is very uncomfortable. The service department at the Chevron dealership gave very poor service. Be should to open the back windows if you are test driving the Equinox at 50 mph before you buy it.

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  What a piece of junk - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By buyersremorse - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Bought this car back in Jan 2010 to use as my daily commuter car. I was comparing to Fit, Versa, Yaris, and Accent. I picked the Chevy because of the low price and lots of incentives. I must say now that i am truly regretting it, I should have spent more and bought the fit. You really do get what you pay for. This car struggles to even get to 40 mph and the 4 spd auto is just lackluster. The check engine light came out 4 times in the 20,000 miles i put on it. Dealer keeps telling me the gas cap is loose and i know i clicked it at least 3 times. Gets 24 mpg overall and that is pathetic. Interior looks and feel cheap, cant hide the fact that its a cheap car. Already lost 5 grand in value, very sad

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  Scared to be in the car - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Terrified - September 7 - 8:24 pm

  Got car 2006. had recall on it. things keep falling apart that have been fixed numerous times. the car doesnt start half the time but how convenient the dealer never could "duplicate" the problem until I showed them then I was told nothing was wrong. car feels unstable and Im terrified for my children to be in the car. Im afraid it will stop running when Im driving. Getting rid of when I can. GM doesnt care about having their customers ride in safety. Do not buy this car

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  We only kept it 2 months - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Park - August 14 - 7:52 pm

  I truly hated the Equinox. Fuel door was on the wrong side (right side of the vehicle), could not get in without bumping head. It darted when being driven and driver had no involvement. Could not recommend this vehicle. We returned after two months and four days. Was very pleased to get rid of it. Went and bought a Honda CR-V the same day and are very pleased. I sure hurt to lose $4,500 and 11 days after the purchase Chevy started a program, if you dont like the vehicle in 90 days you could return it for a full refund.