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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  Powerful Silverado - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dean Files - October 19 - 2:40 pm

  I have had several vehicles in my 22 years of driving. This is the first V8 that I have had since I was a teenager with a Z-28. My previous vehicle was an S-10 with the 195 hp V6. It ran great, but this Silverado has a deep throaty sound when you step on it, and has plenty of power to move it down the road. Its ride is far superior to some of the cars that I have owned. You cant beat the feeling of power under your hood. You may sacrifice gas mileage, but you make up for that with the safety. My boss has a Ram 150 4wd, and brags about its power. I can almost match his power and make him steam when I tell him how much I spend in fuel each week. Much less.

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  Its about time - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Beverly - October 19 - 1:53 pm

  I bought my Equinox last month and have put about 1000 miles on it. Overall it has been an excellant vehicle and fits into my familys life style. Our son is a hockey player and his goalie equipment fits perfect. From style to performance the Equinox would be a SUV I would recommend. The gas mileage could be a little better. I did put in a high flow air filter and have increased my gas mileage by 3 miles to a gallon plus acceleration and performance. If you are looking for an SUV that is priced right and has the features of the bigger SUVs, Equinox is for you.

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  the camaro is the best american-made car - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Camarofiend - October 18 - 11:40 pm

  The Camaro is the best car without a doubt. It is sexy and sporty. It can turn heads and even without ground effects it can be one of the best looking cars there is.

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  Broken Hearted - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By TANYA - October 18 - 9:11 pm

  This minivan was exactly what I needed in size and space. I never got into an accident with it. The mechanical parts have quickly begun to wear out after the 100,000 mile marker and now it is on its last leg. First the struts, the strut mounts, and now the head gasket.

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  Review - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Johnny - October 18 - 12:36 pm

  Extremely durable and powerful engine. For the time I have had the vehicle I have enjoyed driving it, comfortable and spacious even for the long road trip. Gas mileage isnt great I get around 15 in town and 18 to 20 on the highway.

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  Red Beauty - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Randy Mamola - October 18 - 2:20 am

  Nice, Nice, Nice. This red beauty has been great since the day I bought it new off the showroom floor on Halloween, 2000. Was actually looking for a Coupe w/ automatic tranny for rush hour commute. Luckily I didnt find one, and I have no complaints with this SLP 6-speed SS convertible! (Except perhaps original Goodyear F-1 tires which are now long gone!) Looks, performance, looks (and second looks)from women, comfort, decent mileage, plus lots of options (except traction control) make for a great car and ownership experience! Trick SLP options include exhaust system and chrome wheels, both of which I am very pleased with.

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  Rough rider - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Brian - October 18 - 2:12 am

  This was my first brand new vehicle and I was excited for it. I have been wanting a brand new Silverado for a while so I went down to the dealership and test drove one. I loved it right off, it had all the features I wanted and then some. The truck rode smooth and quiet so I pulled the trigger and traded in my 05 sierra. All was great until I hit about 10,000 miles... Ride: All of sudden the ride became rough and everything in the interior began rattling. Running over an asphalt repair strip was felt and the littlest of bumps in the road felt like I ran over a huge pothole. Driving around town which used to be a comfortable and pleasant experience has turned into feeling like I am being launched out of my seat when I hit a bump or go over a small dip in the road. Technology: My only complaint is the bluetooth quality when making calls. People on the other end have a hardtime hearing and understanding me. My wifes car (2014 Malibu LTZ) does not have that issue. Engine: My truck has the 4.3L V6. I was a little hesistant at first, but after test driving it I was impressed with the power. It felt more peppy than my last truck which was a 2005 GMC Sierra with the 5.3L V8. The test drive route we took was primarily flat so the lack of power had gone unnoticed. As I started driving the truck around my town, which is primarily hilly, I noticed the truck struggled going up hills. I have to floor it just to get it to maintain speed. As far as passing on the interstate goes, I have to make sure I get a "running" start. Our speed limits on the interstate are 75 so trying to pass a semi going 65 takes longer than it should as the truck lacks torque at those speeds. Going from 65 to 75 when flooring it takes nearly 10 seconds anf if there is a slight incline the truck does not accelerate. One of the details about the engine that did intrigue me was the fuel mileage. The sitcker on the window showed 18 city 24 highway. After having my 05 that was averaging the low teens on a good day, this sounded good to me. However, with the lack of performance I average 14 city and 18 highway. I do not drive with a lead foot however, with todays technology and advancements in engine performance I should not be out acclerated by some hippy in a prius. Overall: I have been a huge GM guy for a long time and so has my family. My dad bought a new truck at the same time I bought my silverado, except he decided on a 2014 F150 and paid about the same as I did for my new silverado. After being a diehard Chevy guy for years, my dad has officially declared himself a Ford man now. We both have about 30,000 miles on our trucks and his still runs and rides just as nice as it did when he first got it. Needless to say, I am done with GM... I cant wait to trade this thing for something with adequate power and torque that rides comfortably.

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  Nice Car - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Scott - October 18 - 1:27 am

  I love this car. It rides nice, looks great, and you can drive it for a long time before having to fill up.

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  results from my own Z06, 2006 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Todd Harris - October 17 - 2:32 pm

  I drive my Z06, 2006 everyday. I was expecting harsh ride and bad gas mileage. I have been pleasantly surprised. I get 17 around town and 24 on the highway if I drive consertively. The car is a true supercar but totally reliable. It runs just like any other regular Corvette but the 505 horsepower is absolutely like a thrill ride at the amusement park. The worst part is replacement of the supersoft run flat tires. Insurance is not bad considering the car but I also have a perfect driving record. It runs around 1800 annually for me, a 40 year old male.

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  What a machine - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By N Virginia - October 17 - 6:34 am

  A fine quality car that I use for just about anything. Lots of luggage space and the seating area is very comfortable. I drive this car on the back road twisties, to work, and to the grocery store. The steering is precise with plenty of feedback sliding through the corners at over 1g on the heads up display. All in perfect control in a perfectly balanced car (on a track of course). The shifter is perfect as well as the pedals and steering wheel now that it adjusts fore and aft in the Z. The more you learn about this car, the better it gets. You can tell that this car has had tons of R&D.