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 My "EEK" - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sue - April 18 - 2:20 pm

  I love my "EEK". It is sporty and fun to drive. The moveable backseat is a great idea and provides lots of legroom for a 6 and taller person. The dashboard looks great with the stainless console.

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  Love that truck! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By larryz4 - April 18 - 11:26 am

  I use the Tahoe mainly for towing a trailer so I dont put a lot of miles on it annually. I love each and every time I climb into the truck. It is so comfortable and a joy to drive.

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  A good car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Denis - April 18 - 10:13 am

  I was hesitating between a Mazda3, a Sonata and a Jetta. I finally choose the Malibu because of the price and the rating which was not so bad. After almost two months of ownership, and a trip of 2400 km (1500 mi.), I find this car very pleasant. Good seating position for a six footer, very good fuel economy, good acceleration and a feel of solidity. I dont regret my old car (1993 Mercury Grand Marquis) and hope that this Malibu will be of good service.

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  Aveo - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By cc7879 - April 18 - 3:36 am

  I have only had the car for one and a half years and have had to have it in the shop twice. Luckily I bought the extended warranty because the timing belt broke a couple of days ago and now I need a new moter.

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  Great Truck! - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By darkembrace - April 17 - 11:35 pm

  I purchased this truck with 57000 miles on it in 5/04. Ive had it just under 2 years and it now has 98000 miles on it. The only work Ive had to do is a starter, tires, and a radiator hose. The fuel economy is great. I drive it 600 hundred miles every other weekend through the Ozark Mountains to pick my daughter up for visitation. That is lot of hard driving for a 4 cylinder motor. I still havent even had to put a clutch in this truck, and I drive it hard. The a/c still blows cold. I would recommend it to anyone.

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  C-6 vs SL55 - had both, kept C-6 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By PHIL - April 17 - 10:56 pm

  This is my 3rd Corvette ,2 C-5s & now C-6. This is one high quality, comfortable, high performance machine. I did not get the nav system although I here it is very good. Until I sold it a few weeks ago, I also had a Mercedes SL55. Feature for feature, the C-6 can match the SL55 and while it is not as smooth or quite, it is actually more comfortable. I sold the SL55. Lost the status, but not the pleasure [I drove my C-5 convertible 85% of the time and the SL just set in the garage. Fit and finish are excellent. Interior is improved but still needs to be improved. Overall, why would anybody buy a Porsche for twice the price.

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  My Car - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By charcol grey - April 17 - 10:44 pm

  I just bought my Tahoe in January of this year and I would have to say that this is my best truck, suv, car Ive ever had and I have had many cars (lol). I love the way it drives and the space in the rear seats. My kids have enough room for their things too. So I just want to thank Chevrolet for making my dream car.

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  Good First Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By EMills - April 17 - 9:23 pm

  Good visibility. Fairly tight turning radius. MP3 CD player is a sanity saver. Acceleration is a bit sluggish. Automatic headlights good. Interior dome light can be turned off in sub-optimal situations. One-off wipers excellent feature. In winter, heater warms up quickly. Easy to enter and exit with driver/front passenger doors partially open. Real mileage is 20mpg. Cargo area high enough to not require bending to place and remove items.

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  First truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Peter - April 17 - 7:25 pm

  Actually I own the 5 cyl. version. (not a listed option on this review). Im enjoying the leg room and simple but user friendly controls. I considered the Silverado but didnt really need the big truck size or heavy expense at the pump. Its got the typical peppy GM engine/transmission and makes for a fun Sunday afternoon drive or ride to work. It has a surprising amount of back seat room for two adults. Im getting 21.5 MPG combined city/highway driving. Ive gotten a lot of compliments on the appearance of my cherry red Colorado.

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  Trans. and rearend out at 72,000 miles - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By mmfan56 - April 17 - 6:25 pm

  This is the second Astro we have owned, the other being a 1993 we sold at 170,000 miles with little problems motor mounts,elec. wondows, etc. This van has been babied since we had it, but I tow a small trailer occasionally, with heavy loads. The trans never seemed to shift quite right, but Chevy dealer always said okay. Recently, noticed the rear starting to sing, especially, at 40 mph, off gas. Oil leakage around pinion seal, 1 pint low. Took to Aamco, bad rear and trans being repaired as I write this.