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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  Arizona review of Malibu Maxx - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Frank S. - April 15 - 10:00 am

  No problems to report, no quality issues. Finding the V6 has plenty of power. Ride and handling are great for a car in this price range.

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  Surprising value - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By senseless - April 15 - 10:00 am

  The Equinox, though not perfect, is a remarkable buy. I was concerned about early reported defects, but mine arrived with no problems. Do yourself a favor and get the leather option. In LT trim, its only $550 and makes a huge difference in interior quality. The stock sound system has excellent clarity and the styling is a knockout.

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  2011 chevy silverado LT 4x4 5.3L - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By walker9736 - April 14 - 5:37 am

  I have had this truck for a month now and have about 1100 miles on it. No problems so far. Getting 15.9mpg average and most is city driving. Great power, great looking, and great fit and finish sold me. I keep my vehicles about 10yrs and after the last silverado I owned(2002) turned 132000 miles(trouble free) I decided to trade up to the crew cab with all-star package. This truck is a huge step up in performance and features. Especially like the bluetooth feature and the updated interior quality. You really cant go wrong as these trucks hold their value and are very capable vehicles.

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  sweet car - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By shane G - April 14 - 2:00 am

  the best car eer built

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  Sporty and Fast - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mytifyn45 - April 14 - 2:00 am

  I liked this car from the moment I saw it. I cant complain about the horsepower its quick. Great gas mileage at a time when gas prices are outrageous. Have had no recalls or repairs in 1 1/2 years. Sound system is great.

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  Excellent Truck! - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Mitchel - April 13 - 11:03 am

  I have been nothing but thrilled with my truck. It has been wonderful to own and drive. I will definitely purchase another Chevrolet truck when I am in the market again.

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  Good Truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim Pettersen - April 13 - 8:36 am

  Nice ride, very comfortable, quiet truck. My only issues are small ones. The 20" factory tires rub on the GM mudflaps when you turn sharp, the dealer tells me there is nothing more they can do. Some of the double faced tape that holds the body side moldings to the doors was too long and I had to trim off. I have to agree with some of the other reviews that the active fuel management system seems to be a joke. I just returned from a 3600 mile trip and averaged 18 mpg. My 2006 Silverado with 3:42 gears averaged 19 on the same route. Overall I do not believe there is an truck that compares to the 2008 Silverado.

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  Best small truck - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By DECline - April 13 - 2:00 am

  It was sad to see it go...

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  Happy w/ 99 Venture - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By jmp1970 - April 13 - 2:00 am

  We love our Venture. We have had it almost a year, purchased new. We previously had Caravan and had an Odyssey for about 1 yr and had major problems that I was told were normal, NOT! I would buy another Venture when the time comes.

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  This vehicle is sweet. - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By *THEMAN - April 12 - 4:50 am

  I love the 2005 Trailblazer. Mine is fully loaded with the Bose speakers and navigational system. It has a moonroof and so many extra gadgets I havent figured them all out yet. The vehicle is extremely comfortable with heated and power seats. If you ever buy one, I recommend the navigational system. It tells you where to go and where to turn, very easy to use. The digital readout monitors about every thing imaginable on the vehicle. It tells you your oil life percentage, avg miles per gallon, miles left to travel before runnin out of fuel, etc, etc.