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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  a real solid performer - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By hd baby - October 14 - 2:00 am

  i really enjoy the 6.0 engine. it has plenty of power under any circumstance i have been able to throw at it. it has no knock. i am glad the ABS system is less touchy than in my 99 yukon. I am very impressed with the ride quality in this 3/4 ton, usually to have a large payload option you suffer in ride. not the case with this truck.

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  MY 2003 VETTE - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By PAUL H - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT IS MORE FUN TO DRIVE. ON A TRIP TO FLORIDA I WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE 20.9 MILES PER GALLON. AT 80 MILES PER HOUR THE ENGINE WAS TURNING ABOUT 2000 RPMS. GREAT CAR.

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  LOVE MY TAHOE - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By J. SCHOEN - October 14 - 2:00 am

  IT DOESNT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. WE ALSO OWN A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE BUT HAVE PASSED IT DOWN TO OUR DAUGHTER. RIDE, SIZE & COMFORT. TAHOE HAS IT ALL.

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  GOT A GOOD ONE - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RDS - October 14 - 2:00 am

  BOUGHT THIS FOR MY WIFE AND IT`S PERFECT. GREAT LOOKS, AND FUNCTION. MPG COULD BE BETTER, BUT PLENTY OF POWER AND WHISPER QUIET MOTOR.

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  TrailBlazer Review - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Michael Paladino - October 14 - 2:00 am

  This truck is awesome.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By je8bu - October 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had many trucks. This is by far the best I have ever owned

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  Sweet ride - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By C Curtis - October 14 - 12:03 am

  I have the LTZ 4X4, overall a great truck. Looks are outstanding and the interior is very refined. Engine sounds nice.

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  Great for the money - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Greg A - October 13 - 9:33 pm

  Compared it to the Cavilier, Malibu, Focus, and Aveo. Drives as nice as the Malibu for the money of the Focus. I use to have a 99 Prizm, and (so far) the Cobalt is holding up as well. It handles decent, gets good mileage (25.5 mix HWY/CITY), and is a very quiet ride compared to others of this size/price. I can get A-Plan on the Ford products, but still chose the Chevy. This is not a redesigned Cavilier! Much nicer. No rattles and no squeaks after 36K miles!

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  HHR Heaven - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By vg - October 13 - 4:43 pm

  I dont drive on the highway much except to the airport, I am an around town/back and forth to work driver. This vehicle replaced a Suzuki small SUV that I loved. However, the HHR is a great replacement. Very comfortable seats and very smooth drive, maneuverability, quiet,peppy (I have the 2.4L) and it is great in town. Good price for the money. I recommend it.

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  Gas mileage and off road capability - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Fred - October 13 - 12:46 pm

  Strangely enough I dont hear at all about off road capability in consumer reviews, especially when it comes to the Chevrolet Equinox. Why? Because the Equinox has no off road capability whatsoever. I felt safer in the snow in my Honda Accord. This vehicle is heavy and the all wheel drive system is not efficient. I used to drive a Subaru, and this thing his not even close. I drive all wheel drive vehicles because Im among the few who actually need it, and with the Equinox I wasted my money on a system that has no advantages over a FWD system. Gas mileage is also very disapointing. My friend has a Cherokee and burn less gas than me.