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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  Why we bought the Equinox - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By LOWELL - July 27 - 11:48 am

  Compared drive with Rav4 and Ford Escape. Drives more easily than Rav4. Ford surprisingly heavy to steer. Fun to drive this heavy 5000lb machine. Initial mileage around town about 19mpg. Relatively new to me. Solid and stable, but ease of steering could possibly cause oversteering. Visibilty on right side requires use of the side mirror. Acceleration good for freeways. Does not sway like my 95 Blazer tended to do.

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  CAV. - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By BIGGE51 - July 27 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS A GOOD CAR BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE DONE, LIKE BETTER COMFORT,AND BETTER SPEAKERS. BUT THIS CAR HOLD GA FOR A LITTLE BETTER THAT ANY OTHER NEW CAR I HAVE RIDEN IN. THIS CAR NEEDS BETTER TAKE OFF POWER.

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  Love My Trailblazer! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Kakki - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Luv It! Great so far! Luv the smooth ride & quiet engine (except when cold). Have had 3 weeks - Bought as used vehicle - got a good deal! First tank poor mileage - 11 mpg which depressed me, but noticed all tires were low (24 lbs) - After proper inflation (32 lbs) 14 mpg/city, 21.5 hwy. (Check your tires) Didnt have use for 4W, but glad I have it -Need place to use 4W once a month to keep seals from drying, Im told!

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  Luv My LTZ - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By LTZGuy - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Very happy with my LTZ 4WD bought 2 years & 60k miles ago. Everyone loves the way the car looks, handles and the quite ride. I looked at the Mercedes, X5, 4 Runnerand the MDX. The trailblazer had the best combination of price, power and features. Zipping around town so much more fun to drive than my Yukon. The car does have a personality with its various electronic problems including electronic side mirrors (replaced 6 times now at dealer) dash board power failures, occasional tendency to try to shift into 4wd Low! on the highway at 80 mph, alarm problems. Overall ive been very happy with a car.

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  Great vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hessdave - July 27 - 10:00 am

  The V-8 is very smooth and powerful. Great if you are towing anything. While the I6 is an excellent choice, the V8s 50ft/lbs of additional torque is easily noticed. Plenty of room. Try 6 people and about 14 pieces of luggage. Economy is decent for a mid size SUV. 4x4 system is great. Very comfortable vehicle to drive. Feels soft at first, but perfect after you are in the back country all day.

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  My 05 Vette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By aztommyg - July 27 - 2:35 am

  I always wanted a Vette and finally in March 2005 I bought one! It is everything you can ask for in a true sports car. The power is awesome, handling is great. The exterior design speaks for itself. I shopped around and dollar for dollar, this is by far the best car on the road.

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  Lemon - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By unhappy - July 27 - 2:10 am

  My vehicle has given me nothing but problems. My key continued to get stuck in the ignition and I had to take my car to get fixed 6 or 7 times until it was right. When I bought the car my bumper was not put on correctly. I have also had 4 different interior problems. The paint on the stereo came off, the fake chrome on the door handles was coming apart, the paint on the door pocket that you pull to close the door was chipping, and the carpet on the door was cut too short. I think the car is poorly made.

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  So not satisfied, wish I can trade it in - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Maria Kerr - July 26 - 9:34 pm

  The van is very uncomfortable to ride in and also drive in. Seats are not made for anyone overweight, no excessive weight. The car is only a year and a half old and has been recalled twice. The gas pedal is so small that our feet always slip off. Should have made it a little wider than it is. I have owned a Chevy before and never had any problems, until now. I know I would never buy another Chevy again.

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  This should have been mine before now. - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bob fowler - July 26 - 8:16 pm

  This truck is a blast to drive. I use it in my business and the enclosed bed is just great for delivering my product.

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  Frustrated - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By bthann - July 26 - 8:09 pm

  I have had my car for 11 months and it has been in the shop 13 times. It has had problems with the alignment, car pulls to the left, to the radio not working, needing to be replaced. Cruise control wont always engage, and the lock on the back passenger side broke.