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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  Fun to drive! - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By ekostak - February 22 - 11:55 am

  This is a fun car to drive. It has great response in 2 and 4 wheel drive. With a decent set of tires this suv will climb anything. Its small enough to go anywhere and will turn on a dime. I would like to see a little more power and the interior could use a little upgrade. Ofcourse with a price as low as it is those things are expected. This suv is a steal for the going prices.

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  All of the Above - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By rollingshadow - February 22 - 9:06 am

  Great truck so far. Bought a 2004 from the internet based only on the available reviews, features, price, and looks. Everything was true. Good power, torque, handling, ride quality, interior and bed space. Mediocre interior, flat bucket seats, lots of plastic. After 3000 miles I am very happy. The I5 and 4L60e work together beautifully. Quick shifts and instant downshifts. No busy shifting. Excellent ride quality and impressive handling for a small truck. The new I5 engine is impressive but has to prove its long term reliability. I am so happy to finally drive a vehicle that has over 200 ft lbs of torque available from a small engine.

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  Hi Ho Silver! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Silver - February 21 - 9:26 pm

  We looked at new cars and used, import, and domestic before buying our silver Malibu and havent regretted it one second. It is a program car so we know that its probably been driven hard and fast but it held up and is holding up. I believe mostly due to the maintenance required for program cars. There was water in the spare tire well when we bought it but the dealer had her cleaned up in a jif. The dealer thinks maybe the trunk gasket leaked while setting on the lot. We did have several inchs of rain. Ive driven it once while raining and saw a cup of water in the trunk. I think its from tire spray. It looks like GM put silicon on the joints of trunk floor where the tires are. We love our silver Malibu and will trade for another in a couple of years. Thanks GM for keeping us American!

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  Nice tight vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Brad - February 21 - 6:20 pm

  Have enjoyed owning the Trailblazer so far, handles well, and has alot of power.

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  Buying it for the power not the mileage - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lovemytbss - February 21 - 4:05 pm

  I have loved the TrailBlazer look since it came out, but never wanted to pay $30k for an inline 6cyl. Problem solved! I have been a Vette owner and this is a four door cargo carrying Vette. It rides great, handling is amazing, braking is very impressive, and its just the right size for this kind of power. The clean exterior with little badging is such a tasteful look. I got a 2007 fully loaded minus nav for just over $30k and the 6001 lb gvwr makes it a nice tax deduction. I know the mileage is bad but thats not why you are buying this vehicle. Buy one!

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  Great SUV! - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa - February 21 - 9:49 am

  The Equinox is a fun, fuel efficient SUV. Not only does it look great, it handles well in bad weather and it has a nice weight to it. The power window switches are in the center console, which would be the only design I would change. Overall, it is a great value and I would recommend it to anyone purchasing an SUV for the first time.

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  2007 - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ron - February 20 - 5:24 pm

  Bought this 2007 as an extra car. I am really pleased with the purchase. This Chevrolet is well engineered and very quiet and comfortable. The engine torque is down low, which makes city driving enjoyable. Good value for the money in my opinion.

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  Colorado is a poor truck. Buy Toyota! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By GB - February 20 - 12:05 pm

  My 2004 Colorado has had trans leak. Front axle seal and front differential seal leaks. Front end eats tires. GM re-aligned after several calls to GM customer service, now a bad vibration has developed with no fix by GM. Replaced heater blower fan twice. Replaced speaker, cup holder, seat adjuster broken. Interior very cheap. Been in the shop about 14 times for diagnostics and repairs. Have to fight GM for them to fix anything. Poor truck. Will buy Toyota the next time!

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  Very Nice - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mike - February 20 - 11:14 am

  I went from a Mustange GT to my Avalanche LT and all I can say is I love it! I got the maxed out truck (even the upgraded paint) minus the luggage rack and have experinced nothing but perfection. This is my first truck and dont see how I ever managed without it. The new 07s have hit the mark with the tailgate, rims, and upgraded interrior. Very nice Chevy, very nice!

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  Big improvement on C5 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Baldegl - February 20 - 10:59 am

  Owned a 2000 C5 and the upgrade in almost every respect on the C6 is very apparent. It is amazing how quiet and relatively comfortable the car has become. The C5 seems almost primitive in comparison and build quality is significantly improved. Top is tight with no wind noise or moisture leakage. No rattles in a convertible or noticeable flex in bumps and curves so structural rigidity must be good.