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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  THE BEST OF THE GROUP - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By LEO - November 16 - 10:00 am

  If you are considering a full sized SUV, stop right here and buy the Chevrolet Suburban! The vehicle I had bought was one of the "inexpensive Suburbans." This vehicle has comfortable front, middle, and rear seats. The handing and ride is very comfortable!!! Also, the sound system is great! There are many safety and theft features which are really great! All in all the new Chevy Sub is here and is hot off the lots!

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  I love this truck! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dmaxwellh - November 16 - 10:00 am

  It would be embarassing for me to list how many different automobiles I have owned over the last five years! I love this truck. The interior comfort is wonderful, XM radio coupled with the Bose is fantastic! Moveable pedals. . . and the Z71 exterior look is quite simply cool. I have owned four other Chevy trucks since 94 and been very pleased with each and every one. My new Tahoe is off to a great start!

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  Satisfied Customer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By D.S. - November 16 - 10:00 am

  Im not one to usually go with Chevy, but the Trailblazer is a great truck with a third seat that can fit a real person. And it can fit in the garage. It handles great and has all the power I could ask for. The gas mileage was also a pleasant surprise. Ive had the Trailblazer almost 3 weeks and am still very happy with the purchase.

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  Vastly improved car over prior generations - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Greg Miller - November 13 - 7:00 pm

  I have previously owned a fourth generation and a fifth generation Camaro. The fourth gen had good handling and surprisingly good fuel economy (especially for a V8), but was rough around the edges. The fifth generation was a porky car that seemed slower and while nicely styled, was impossible to see out of. It seems like GM got it right for this particular version. The acceleration (V8) is the quickest of any production car I have ever purchased, while the handling is glued to the road and the braking is first rate. But outside of the sports/muscle-car aspects, the biggest improvements are in refinement and features. In short, it is actually a nice to borderline luxurious interior that is comfortable with logical controls and well-laid-out instrument clusters and displays. The seats are essentially perfect, and even things like the steering wheel feel like they were made with optimal comfort in mind. Features like the controllable vehicle modes (Touring/Sport/Track/Snow-Ice) are a nice plus. Another plus (with the optional dual model exhaust I have) is that the car makes it clear that it is serious - the only description I have for it is that it snarls like it is angry with a dont-mess-with-me-attitude whenever you stomp on it or first fire it up. There are still negatives to the car - the biggest one is that while it is improved, the outward visibility is still not great. Another negative is the back seats are really only fit for children or small adults, so this is best thought of as a Corvette with back seats. But the pluses of the car easily win out. One other note - while I have always been a stick-shift driver, this is the first automatic vehicle (with the optional A8) I have owned that I actually like. The shifting of the auto is first rate. I am also seeing almost 27 MPG on the highway with my admitted lead-foot driving. All in all, this is by far the best muscle car I have ever purchased in a continual stream of them I have had all the way back to my high school days.

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  owner/driver - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mawkeex6 - November 13 - 10:00 am

  It has so many little added features that I really like the car. I have only had it a little over a week but I love driving it and it will get up and go. Fun to drive too.

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  Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Juel - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive and gets good fuel economy

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  I LOVE MY CAR !!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By yoa1212 - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE THE FEEL OF THIS CAR. IT HAS SO MUCH ROOM. People stop me to ask me what kind of car I have , They think it look so great.I was in an accident and was not hurt because this car is built so well. I highly recomend the maxx. The Only Con is that GM had a problem sending one of tha parts. I am still waiting for the new part, and the repair shop had to fix the old part. I get no satifation when I call chevy customer service. That is the only bad experience I have had with this car.

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  Sunburst Orange Crew Cab 4X4 - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By PFE - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Colorado Crew Cab with the I-5 engine and auto transmission. So far I just love this truck. Its got plenty of power, handles great, and its fun to drive. Others have knocked the interior. I have no complaints with the interior at all. Its comfortable, functional and quiet. A 100% improvement over the Jeep that I traded in. I can tow my boat and tow the Colorado behind my motor home. Chevy gets 220 HP out of a 5-cyl engine. My V- 10 Ford motor home gets 275 out of an engine twice this size. GM has a winner here. Go to your nearest Chevy dealer and buy one today. You wont be sorry.

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  i love it - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lll mom - November 13 - 10:00 am

  we have gone from a 4 door sedan to this mid size suv. it is very easy to handle, looks great and gets comments every where we go--cool design

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  Love my equinox!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By matttorby - November 13 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great value, my only complaint is that a larger motor with more horsepower would be nice. However, the 3.4 has enough power. Bottom line, a great and fun car to drive!!!