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:

• 

  Reliable Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Liz - October 4 - 7:58 am

  This is a reliable nice looking truck. I am a single mom and have felt very safe taking my son on long road trips in this vechile. Enough room for packing and shopping too. Great in snow.

• 

  Awesome Ride! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Robert A. Hill - October 4 - 7:05 am

  This is my third Avalanche and at this point cant think of another ride I like better. I liked the other two so much that I had this one Customized by Southern Comfort. Now its not only a great ride but a real eye catcher.

• 

  Roomy but a gas guzzle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mbz - October 4 - 2:26 am

  Ive had my Equinox for just over a year now. Its great for road trips in that its comfortable and holds a ton. BUT, I get horrible gas mileage. I am also starting to have clanking engine sounds and Ive always had odd grinding sounds when Im sitting at a light on the brake. Mileage, the best city I get is around 16 (no a/c and not foot heavy). Hwy the best has been 21. For basic city driving, Im filling up on empty having driven at most 230 miles. Not what I was expecting. All in all, a good family car if you need an SUV. Good horsepower, comfy ride, nice features, horrible cup holder placement. I like it better than others in its class, but Im going back to a sedan.

• 

  Style, speed, handeling and 32mpg - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Mitch - October 3 - 7:06 pm

  Just got the car, amazing performance all around. This car is as fast as my LT1 1995 Camaro was yet the 304HP V6 averages 32mpg+ on the highway with the cruise set to 67mph. Over all just and amazing package and fun to drive car. Great cornering, acceleration, and drop dead gorgeous styling.

• 

  Never Buy Another Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Nothappyuplander - October 3 - 12:57 pm

  I will never buy another Chevy product again! No fixes for the flickering problem. No arm rests in the middle row seating. The 3.5 engine is very lazy. The radio pops when I first turn on. I had water leaks. The dealership hit my van and repainted the bumper that doesnt match. I really wish I would have done more research before I bought this van. I am looking for a way to get out of this loan and trade in for a Ford. I didnt pay all this money for these kind of problems.

• 

  Cheap and Nasty - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chris - October 3 - 10:03 am

  If you like a car that you are continually gassing up, handles poorly, gets struck in 3" of snow,and has to go into the shop to change the headlight bulbs, this is the car for you!

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Carl - October 2 - 8:35 pm

  This is, by far, the best SUV Ive owned. It blows away the competition, if there is any. We bought the vehicle used and have had not one major issue with it. Its reliable and rugged. I would not trade it for anything. Well, maybe a new one after 250,000 miles!

• 

  Simply The Best Decision You Can Make - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Travis Johnson - October 2 - 8:21 pm

  I looked and test drove, Honda Fit, Toyota Scion, Toyota Yaris and Kia Rio... Former Suzuki Grand Vitara Owner (2005 Lease) .... ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DECISION WOULD BE AVEO!!!... I have little to NO engine noise whatsoever, very smooth suspension, it does not have the torsion bar (ind. suspension), lots of cool little "features" that are common on premiums, great handling and response and EXCELLENT fuel mileage and I could compare that to my families Toyota Prius... Just the BEST investment I could have made...

• 

  Last One - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LASTONE - October 2 - 7:59 pm

  Poor quality in overall woorkmanship. Seat adjustment handle broke off. All brakes and calipers changed after 100,000 miles. Windshield wiper module replaced (not recalled). Waterpump replaced 110,000. Oil leak from hoses to filter (25,000miles. Transmission tubes replaced come loose.

• 

  Undesirable Aspects - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Gary St. Hilaire - October 2 - 9:23 am

  Blind spots on drivers side make this a scary vehicle to drive. Dont expect passing gear to kick in and take right off when you are changing lanes on the freeway and really need it to kick in at that moment. It swallows one or two times first. Many driver seat combinations block the view of the speedometer in the 40-70 mph range. Drivers window up too high and leaning your arm out the window has your shoulder close to your ear or higher. Hardest riding, nosiest vehicle I have ever owned (Im 56). Although the vehicle has deft steering, turning off the Traction Control seems to help with the stability or whatever that odd feeling is with the vehicle. Glad I only leased it for 3 years.