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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  Love IT - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By KA - June 15 - 2:43 pm

  This is my second Tahoe. The first was a LS. Very roomy easily seats 9 passengers and gives a smooth ride. I got this after trading in a new BMW X5 that rode horribly. I loved the Tahoe so much I upgraded to the Z71 4WD that converts to 2WD. It has all the amenities of a BMW but the ride is what sold me.The Z71 seats less but my kids are grown up now so I dont need as much room.

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  And he walked away - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TOTALED WALKED AWAY - June 14 - 9:01 pm

  My son Ryan, age 24, was cut off while driving on I-95. He lost control and spun across 5 south-bound lanes and slammed into a concrete barrier. The 03 Trailblazer was a complete total. But the built-in safety features absorbed most of the energy while the airbags and seat belts did their job. Ryan walked away with a minor neck sprain. I have nothing but high praise for Chevrolet building such safe and crash-worthy vehicle.

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  Very Impressed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bryankm - June 14 - 8:02 pm

  Ive had my LS AWD for a about a month now and I can honestly say I am very happy with this vehicle. The standard features are really impressive with this vehicle. XM Stereo, Onstar, push button automatic seat height and lumbar support all standard. The 2.4 L four cylinder with the 6 speed automatic is really a surprise to me. The transmission shifts smoothly and at the appropriate torque level. Acceleration is also quite good for the power train and of course, the fuel economy is atypical for a vehicle this size with AWD. Ride quality and seat comfort are what make this vehicle stand out to me though. The seats are so comfortable and ride so smooth, I find myself cruising well done GM

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  Love my SS - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Randy - June 14 - 1:44 am

  I bought a new leftover 09. I have owned several Corvettes, an NSX and a Viper and this is absolutely the most fun and best vehicle of them all! The power is so smooth you dont realize how fast it is until you look at the speedometer. I love my SS.

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  Amazing car! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By amazing car! - June 13 - 3:48 pm

  I bought my car in April of this year. Im a 16 year old girl and this is my first car. I have a 2 door lt orange car automatic w. Leather seats. I absolutely love this car! I couldnt have picked a better one! I love driving it and its very reliable. I havent had anything go wrong with it which is good. But it is a great car for new drivers! I would definitely recommend this car!

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  Second followup - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Walkabout - June 13 - 2:04 pm

  Millage between 12 and 16 thousand miles. Nor-Cal to Mass, optional V-6. Still very happy with everything. Gas MPG was way up on whole trip. One day across Wyoming got 29.2 MPG. Most other days MPG was between 24.5 and 28.5 at 75+ MPH. No problems at all. I need to get front end "Bra" as the front of the car takes a beating with road objects flying into you causing paint divots. GM and LaBra dont offer them. Oil changes, tire rotations have been at 7500 miles each with around 24% oil life left. The car climbs highway hills with no problem, cruise manages that well including gas mileage. Cruise memory can get overloaded sometimes just reset and your ok. Great long trip car the best for 2 or 4

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  First 1 ive owned after driving several - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By little joe - June 11 - 10:26 pm

  Most of the variations of the impalas Ive driven have been very good and dependable. The one I have just bought recently seems to be very dependable. It has been well maintained other than rock chips all over the hood, (former owners lived on a dirt and gravel road). It has a lot of miles, mostly long distance highway travel. The paint seems to be original and other than being enamel instead of lacquer, it has a quality paint job. The interior is very pleasing to the eye, except for the carpet. The exterior and steering wheel that should be a dark Gray or black color. Id buy all I could find of them if I could afford to (most would be used for passenger transportation in a shuttle business).

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  Frozen Doors - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By KC - June 9 - 6:08 pm

  Old Corsica is getting worn out and needs replacing. Will miss the great heater/AC & good ride (although road noise was bothersome) plus the cheap upkeep. The third alternator has lasted 9 years. Had to replace rear struts & lower manifold, no other big problems other than the doors freeze up in freezing rain/sleet (design issue). Worried that I wont be able to find another car this reliable. Doubt I can find another one in better condition with low mileage but plan to try.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Scoop - June 9 - 2:34 pm

  I find this vehicle is very fun to drive. My passengers have commented on a very nice ride. Feels bigger than it probably is, but things like parking and space in your garage it is really no more than a reasonable footprint. Head and leg room are excellent. My dealer was very good about finding and swapping a vehicle of my color choice since the one I ordered was taking much more time to get than we anticipated. I would buy it again based on the first 3,000 miles.

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  My Beretta - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Mae - June 8 - 5:15 pm

  I bought my Beretta used 6 months ago. With one previous owner, it is still in terrific shape. Though it has a decent number of miles on it, it is very reliable and fun to drive. I really appreciate the speed and acceleration. Very few problems so far. With new tires, a new paint job, and a little chrome, my Beretta easily compares to any new car.