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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  The best van ever! - 1995 Chevrolet Astro
  By Jose L Rodriguez - April 15 - 7:38 am

  It has nice performance and very good reliability. Will recomend to everyone.

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  Best Vehicle I have ever owned - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Reed Fleming - April 15 - 1:21 am

  My Avalanche just turned 109,000 miles. Zero problems, original brakes. Oil Changes (synthetic every 15,000 miles)

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  Closet thing to a Corvette - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Mr. Hamm - April 14 - 10:30 pm

  This is my second Camaro. My first was a 1996 V6. Always wanted a Z28 every since I drove my friends 94. Dont let the age of these cars fool you, because the Z28s are still one of the meanest cars on the road. I still get the adrenaline rush everytime I floor it. If youre looking for an everyday driver, then you might want to buy an Accord or Camry. If youre looking for horsepower and speed, then this is the car for you. Glad to hear that GM will be bringing the Camaro back in 2009. Wish it was sooner.

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  Smooth Ride - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Arthur - April 14 - 7:03 pm

  When loaded with leather, heated seats, retractable sun roof and a fine sound system this vehicle is nearly as good as the Hyundai Acera. The car cruises on the highway extremely well. It does not have the pep I would like but it does the job especially when fueled with E-85. This flex fuel vehicle gets a big lift from the higher octaine gasoline that helps solve the sluggish pickup problem. I found the vehicle not as comfy as my Cadillac Deville but it was nearly as nice. The price of this vehicle is right. The 28k I saved made me feel a heck of alot better in giving up my Cadillac for the 31 mpg I now get on the freeway. Good value, good on gas and nice looking to boot.

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  Chevy 2500HD Great Truck - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Ed - April 14 - 10:00 am

  I just purchased a 2011 Chevrolet 2500HD LTZ. I have only had the truck for 3 days but it has been a pleasure to drive and I love all the gadgets. Remote start, satellite radio, bluetooth phone, onstar, etc. The seating is very comfortable and the build quality is exceptional so far. I would recommend this truck to anyone that enjoys driving, needs a work truck. My main reason for buying this truck was the Heavy Duty part of the truck, 4WD and the great interior. The Bose Stereo system has incredible sound.

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  Well done Chevrolet - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jdizzle - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This is a sharp car. It definitely has a luxury car feel to it without the price tag. I had a 2006 Acura TSX that was fully loaded, and I must say, I am quite pleased at how well the Cruze compares. The interior is very nice and does not have that cheap plastic feel to it. There is plenty of leg room in the front which is important to me as I am 64". I dont have to move the seat all the way back which is very unusual for any car, much less a compact. It is very sleek and extremely quiet at highway speeds. This is the first American car I have bought in 15 years. I definitely recommend this car. I feel like for the price, it is hard to go wrong for all that you get.

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  Great Vehicle! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Steve F. - April 14 - 6:13 am

  This car is fantastic - beautiful inside and out! I purchased the 4 cyl. and it has plenty of power (I used to drive a 6 cyl. 4.3L Blazer and dont miss any loss of power). The 2010 Equinox is very quiet, shifting is smooth, and cruises at 70 mph at only 2000 RPMs due to 6 speed automatic. Im getting 28 MPG combined local and hwy. driving. I love the Bluetooth and automatic climate control the 2LT offers. You also get the fog lights on the 2LT, which look much better than the fog light covers on the LS or 1LT. I think Chevrolet is missing the boat comparing the 2010 Equinox to the Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4 - they should be comparing it to the Lexus RX330/350!

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  Sweet ride - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By tony - April 14 - 1:10 am

  just bought this car, and like it a lot. Great interior, and the front of the car is very nice looking. A lot of room inside. A truck bed, a hitch, and a hard tonneau cover, its got everything you need. Free year of OnStar. Good car overall.

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  Still a quality truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By RDD - April 13 - 10:33 pm

  This is my 6th Duramax (and still have the 5th) and I love the new interior design with Nav and DVD players. Sunroof definitely better too. My only complaint is the new emmissions equipment really chokes this thing and kills mileage; I get 14 in town and 18 highway with some modifications. For those wanting a better ride, try a front leveling kit with longer shocks; it helps tremendously. Also try a cold air intake and bigger exhaust; helped my mileage alot.

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  Must have bought a lemon - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Davidson C. - April 13 - 3:30 pm

  The day we pick up the car the factory remote starter doesnt work , then the sales men kills the battery try to get it work, then on the third day of owning this lemon (365 km on it ) the transmission starts to act up.(it wouldnt go into gear.) And now less then a month later the starter is acting up.