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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  Better then expected - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Rooster - March 13 - 6:24 pm

  I bought mine with 115,000 on it, changed the shocks right away but since then Ive had no problems what-so-ever. Started every morning through the Minneasota winter, heated up just fine and the 4 wheel drive was a blessing. Im just starting to see a little rust on the rear bumper but thats an easy fix. It could be a bit more comfortable ride but I have a bad back and for a SUV its not bad at all. Over all for the price I cant complain.

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  Nice car - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Guy - March 13 - 3:40 pm

  Very sporty looking car, but hard to maintain sometimes & I swear that it has the turning radius of a Mack truck! Id like to get my hands on the guy that designed those disc brakes. I cant keep a set of rotors on this car to save my life! There have been frequent, minor emission systems problems to troubleshoot over the years as well. Getting a tune up is expensive because of the way the engine is laid out. Gas mileage does not appear to be a strong point as well. The car looks great, but try & find a replacement for the rear spoiler brake light bar. I couldnt! Starting & battery system isnt that great either. Im buying a hydrid next time.

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  Reliable at best - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jay - March 13 - 10:45 am

  After 4 months of ownership my wife noticed a whistle upon acceleration. I was told by the dealership that it is air passing over a hole in the throttle body. Throttle body replaced and problem persists. Contacted GM customer service and they told me it is not a mechanical defect and that "if its not broke, dont fix it". My dealership stated they would keep me up to date on possible recalls related to this issue but after two months of phone calls they no longer call. This whistle is simply not acceptable for a $26,000 vehicle and GM wonders why customers are choosing foreign vehicles with better build quality. Interior plastic looks and feels cheap. I would not buy another one.

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  My Third and Best Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MrBill - March 13 - 7:38 am

  Was a little disapointed that it was made in Mexico, but that has taken a back seat to being in love with the quality and workmanship. Would have loved for it to be union made, but think it is a great value for the bucks. I pull a 30 foot camper trailer and a boat with it for family trips. Pulled a 30 foot boat from VA to Grand Lake, CO without a single hiccup. Performed well at high altitude as at sea level. Good brakes coming down Berthoud Pass. All in all a home run for Chevy. Not a grand slam, but a solid home run!

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  2010 Chevy Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dave - March 12 - 10:53 pm

  This is a great vehicle and its about time more SUVs are passing the 30+ MPG mark. The 2010 Equinox drives very smooth and deftly handles Baltimores toughest pot holes and curves, it also accelerates quickly and seamlessly through its 6-speed transmission regardless of having a 4 cylinder engine even with econo mode engaged, and the Equinox keeps road noise where it belongs...Outside Very easy, comfortable and fun to drive. My wife is already saving more than 2 1/2 times her weekly fuel costs from when she owned a 2000 Ford Explorer Sport. This vehicle also comes standard 6 airbags, adjustable back seats, has outstanding crash and braking scores and Electronic Traction/stability controls

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  Still kickin - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Mr. B - March 12 - 10:16 pm

  Ive now had my 98 Z34 for 5 years. Ive had few issues with her. She now has over 160,000 miles on the original engine and transmission and she runs smoothly. Surprisingly, the gas mileage has gotten better with age! I average around 24 MPG (21 around town; 28 on the Interstate). All of the accessories have held up well. One of the few complaints I have is the quality of the center console--there is a plastic coating that tends to rub off and the hinges for the console storage lid broke. Mechanically, this car has done pretty well. Ive had some seemingly unique issues: transmission solenoid failed at 40K mi.; plenum warped at 130K (plastic cover on top of engine). Overall, I am VERY happy with my 98 Z34!

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  1990 Chevrolet Suburban Performance - 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
  By lee ponder - March 12 - 5:09 pm

  This vehicle is extremely comfortable and has excellent space for passengers and hauling materials and equipment. It has done a good job of pulling a horse trailor occassionally. The vehicle has a rebuilt transmission about 2 years old, so the original transmission and engine have held up very well. The gas mileage is around 12 miles per gallon.

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  Yet another truck. - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Banjo Bill - March 12 - 4:35 pm

  Outside paint is not bad, exept the plastic grill, paint flaking off. Too much plastic for the sun to bleach on the back. Keeps the "back to black" company afloat with the amount I have to use on it. The inside is nice and plentey of room, but a bit plasticy. Seats are comfortable on a long drive. Sound system is great. It has plenty of power to pull stuff, with and without wheels on it. Motor cuts out over 95mph. Four wheel drive works well although a bit noisy. Nice ride for a truck. I use a 4x4 for what its built for on rough terrain and in the mountains. So far its doing well but a few more cross land trips will tell. This is my 8th truck in nearly as may years. I wore the others out.

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  Be aware! - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By enigmaz - March 12 - 10:22 am

  Got this car for my wife over a year ago. Took it on a 1200 mile trip and was great! Gave us good mpg, comfortable, no problem. But now after a year found out that the headlights are going dimmer, fuel economy is terrible (lost about 7 mpg), nasty belt noise and the brakes do not respond as good (almost crashed twice). Also, the resale value is very bad. I guess its like a brand new broom. Works fine just the first couple of times.

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  best cuv on the road - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By j.k.w - March 11 - 5:56 pm

  I purchased my 2010 equinox four months ago,i have been avg,25 to 31 miles per gallon city&hwy,fit and finish is perfect,rides smooth and handles well,if someone is looking for a new crossover i would highly recommend this one,if the rest of GM,s new fleet of vehicles are as good as this they will do well in the auto market now and in the furture,I have the 4 cyl and that is all a family needs unless you do alot of heavy haulin and are pulling a trailer, if thats the case buy a truck,my last ride was a 07 montana 240 hp,for the people who have a new equinox on order Im sure you will be pleased, i sure was ,I waited 8 weeks for mine and it was worth it.By the way thats CANADIAN driving,7000K