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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  I love this car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Steven - January 19 - 3:23 am

  We put a lot of miles on this car, it has been a real work horse for the family. It has over 75K miles on it to date and it has performed flawlessly. I would recommend it to anyone in the market for a midsized SUV. One of the best cars I have ever owned and a great value.

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  Many new parts, still runs strong - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By byrofree - January 18 - 9:59 pm

  I bought in 1999 with 100k. I replaced transmission at 125k and a year later the transfer case went out and threw metal into the transmission. I had to buy another tranny and a new transfer case. Replaced water pump, belt, hoses, radiator, AC blower, brakes, rotors. The paint is flaking as I keep it outside. Recovered front seat cushions with leatherette. Previous owner put a Jacobs hot ignition in it, K&N filter and flowmaster exhaust with 3" pipe and adds a lot of pep. He said sluggish before also helped with gas mileage 17 on hwy. Has 32" tires on a 3" body lift. Never had a drop of trouble with engine. I am about to change starter as solenoid going bad.

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  Burb - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Barry - January 18 - 2:49 pm

  I drive Ford trucks at work and this SUV blows Ford out of the water! I love it! Chevys got me hooked. My F250 needs about 4 lanes to do a u-turn. My Burb needs like a two lane road and my outside tire will barely be off the road. It is so much more comfortable than the Fords. We test drove Expeditions and the Burb was no comparison

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  Overrated - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By micheal laraio - January 18 - 12:48 pm

  This has been the worst van I have ever owned. From day one the sliding door has not worked right. The engine light goes on for no reason. The dealership cant fix it. I cant wait to sell it.

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  Good Buy - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Aris B - January 18 - 12:26 pm

  I bought my 2005 Classic in September 2006 and have found it to be reliable and most of all comfortable. The gas mileage stated 25 MPG in the city and I would say I am getting close to that, maybe a little less. The comfort factor and generous truck space made it a sale. Price was a big concern. I was able to get mine for $9,000 with about 29,000 on it. It drives like a new car. I agree with the review about the carpet being cut too small for the passenger compartment.

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  Awesome SUV!! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ImaniJ - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Equinox about two months ago and I love every minute inside of it! The seats are so plush and it rides extremely smooth. I was also interested in the Nissan Rogue initially but the amenities you get in the Equinox for basically the same price of the Rogue, is no comparison. Fuel economy is awesome. The exterior design is so smooth....loving it!

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  Wind Noise! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By T Hensley - January 17 - 8:37 pm

  I have always had GM products. After all the wind noise my TrailBlazer has this may be my last. People who ride in the back seat alway ask if the window is all the way up. After a while my wife and I just laugh. When I took it back to fix the wind noise I was told this is a bad feature with the 2005 models. We took it back again, and let them know we didnt pay all that money for a bad feature. It has been at the dealership for 6 weeks. They have tried many things but wind noise is still there.

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  Very good van - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By hlima - January 17 - 5:33 pm

  My sister has a Caravan. I like that van, but when we tried the Venture we didnt think it twice. Its very comfortable. The only problem is my wife wants to drive it all the time. No repairs until now, only normal mantenance. The electrical system works fine but there are some minimal issues like the lights blink once when you press the brakes.

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  Best for the Money - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By spiderebb - January 17 - 2:14 pm

  The best of all worlds. A daily driver with bountiful power. Relatively economical to own, and an absolute blast to drive. The balance takes some time to get used to, but oversteer can be a good thing. Takes turns amazingly fast, just make sure youre dead- straight before touching the throttle. A glowing endorsement, but also its biggest flaw. Youll always be itching for the open road. Youll never find a road open enough. You always catch up to someone in a blink of an eye.

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  Working Out - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chris - January 17 - 2:02 pm

  Like many others, I had looked seriously at the Tacomas, but for what you get the price difference is too great. For $28,000 you dont get leather, power seats, etc. Ive go 26,000 miles on my Coly now and havent had a problem yet. Ive upped the tires to BFG ATs 32s, leveled the front, added a Magnaflow exhaust, K&N cold intake and it really goes. Sounds much closer to the rugged looks of the Z71. Even with the bigger tires, the mileage still hits within range the estimates. Yes, the PCM was calibrated for the tires. Its fun, quick enough and the leather seats are anything but uncomfortable.