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 Walk Off GRAND SLAM - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Loving it - October 12 - 3:40 pm

  I was shopping for a new small SUV and the dealer i went to is a Toyota/ Chevy Dealer I went in search of a Rav 4 and had not even considered the Equinox or any chevy for that matter. The salesman told to look at this Equinox and keep an opened mind. And Am sure glad he showed me this. It far exceeds my expectations and spanks both the CR-V and Rav-4.

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  CAVALIER is one of the BEST COMPACTS!! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By carlvr1 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  I have had 45 different cars in the past. I drive my personal car for a living and can tell you that I have actually OWNED (not just test-driven) almost every car in this class! Just look at the Cavaliers POWER, PRICE and GAS MILEAGE and compare it to any car in this class. Is the platform dated (aka-RELIABLE)-YES. Also, I read that the 5-Speed is not very good. WHAT?? The 5-Speed Transmission is a GETRAG "Made in Italy" 5-Speed and is easily as good as the Honda 5-Speed Transmission I had in my Insight.

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  Best car Ive purchased in 28 years - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By qwerty123 - October 12 - 2:00 am

  Smooth, powerfull, quiet, roomy, easy on gas and loaded with usable features like side curtain air bags. This car has the is the best value I found while shopping around.

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  the truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By a man - October 12 - 2:00 am

  an awsome truck the sam truck is the freaking best truck i have ever droven in my freaking life there b jk

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  Chevrolet Rules - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By miller - October 10 - 10:00 am

  Since I purchased my Silverado, Ive put 12,000 miles....worry free..Not a single problem except people keep bugging me with questions , how I like it,,how does it drive,,and the number one comment is thats a Sharp truck..I drove fords in the past but I will never go back..Chevrolet Rules..they have definitely done their homework

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  Yes to chevy - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Robert king - October 9 - 5:31 pm

  We have had great luck..in the last 3 years....the only negative is No rear vents....for ac and heat..and noise level is way to loud!

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  Better my Equinox than a Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By David - October 8 - 5:13 pm

  Its a great looking vehicle for the price. It looks better than a Lexus 330.Fun to drive. Good on long drives. I drive a lot of miles and this a perfect SUV for it. Save me gas over that huge gas guzzler Suburban.

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  Love my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wayne - October 8 - 4:03 pm

  We put 2000 miles on our HHR the frist week we had it. It is a great road car to travel in. Comfortable seating up front and a lot of luggage room in back. Solid little car. Lots of miles between gas stations. Cruised the mountains at 75-80 mile per hour without a problem. All in all, a best buy for me. I generally but a new vehicle every two years but think that this one will get out of that rotation. It is a keeper.

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  My first Vette Ever!!! - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By viceroy2019 - October 7 - 9:15 pm

  Never wanted a Corvette in my whole life until this one. Always liked them a little, but never loved them enough to buy one----always seemed made for guys in their 60s. This is the FIRST Corvette clearly made for my generation!! I was hunting for a used 911 Turbo or GT-R last Spring when I saw the first reveal of the new Stingray. WOW!! I knew then the Porsche and Nissan were history for me.

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  "The Big Black Hoe" 2003 Black Suburban Z71 4x4 - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By André Brocato - October 7 - 3:59 pm

  I bought my Z71 new. Has been an excellent SUV, has 155k miles on it now. Friends say you ought to trade it in. I say WHY, its loaded, leathers seats, sun roof, etc. Im fixing to purchase another set of tires for it. I love my Z71. I drive it on long trips, I take to the country. I love the 33 gallon gas tank. I just fill it up at half of a tank ,so it will already to take a trip if need to. The Z71 has a stiffer ride, but everyone that rides in it loves it. I just wish it had a back up camera, thinking about having one installed. It seats 7. I have bucket seats for front and second row, then third row seat. My next one will have 2nd roll bench seat. But that will be a long time from now. Just bought a new SUV for son, he said dont you want it? I said no way, I love my "Big Black Hoe". By the way the name came from a previous SUV , a Tahoe, which I hated, it wasnt big enough. So my Z71 is black and its larger than the Tahoe. When I first got it I wanted to be the one to put the first scratch on it, so I took it hunting. Hey I didnt get a Z71 to drive on the road only. My Z71 been places that most people wouldnt take their truck. I drive in country during week and weekends take it on road trips, Just take it to local Car wash, and it comes out brand new. The black color exterior color shines so well. My wife has a nicer and newer SUV, but we always take mine on trips. I feel so much safer in my "Big Black Hoe". One negative thing that I havent figured out yet, is that I have 17 inch wheels and the spare is a 16 inch wheel. You never put a smaller wheel on a 4 wheel drive vehicle. All wheels have to be the same. But I have never had to use that spare yet. I had my first flat tire last weekend, I noticed the tire was lowFriday, but I forgot about it and by Sunday it was flat. I just took my air tank out and filled it up with air and drove to tire place. I buy the best tires, Michelin. For my vehicle. According to my mechanic he said that the 2003 model is a great year. He is right. ( he just changes oil, etc.) As far as MPG, goes I drive different some times I floor it from stop lights, mostly I drive it slow in town, on the highway I drive fast. So I dont care about the MPG. With my 33 gallon tank. I go on a long trip.