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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  Avalanche...An Ace! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By adjusterr - January 1 - 3:16 am

  The Avalanche is a sharp looking multi- purpose vehicle combining the plush ride of a Suburban with the utility features of an off-road pickup. The ride and handling is excellent and extremely quiet. It is loaded with neat features, several of which I have yet to figure out. Although it pulls a 12 foot box trailer full of antique motorcycles quite well, it seems to shift quite a lot, even in the trailer mode. This is my second new Chevy truck, the first was less than desireable. Quite honestly I bought the Avalanche because I could not get a decent price from a competitor. I am very pleased with the Avalanche and will probably purchase another.

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  Still going strong after 90k miles - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rbeach - December 29 - 8:59 pm

  I purchased my 2012 Cruze brand new and sold it at 38,000 miles because I needed a minivan. Im in touch with the new owner, who has been cross country a few times with it. The car has been very good to both of us, with no major issues other than routine maintenance.

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  Quality Vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Chuck C - December 29 - 7:50 pm

  We have recveived a lot of casual inquiries about this car. The style is creative, the interior is very functional, and overall the car is funto drive. The powertrain is well suited for suburban driving, and provides good gas mileage. This is an excellent choice for someone seeking to downsize their SUV.

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  Way Better than Expected - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Satisfied - December 29 - 6:00 am

  Wife and I were going to buy Ford Escape or Edge, but on a whim we stopped in at Chevy dealer to check out Equinox. What we saw blew us away. We went out to get lunch to talk about it. Both of us couldnt stop talking about how nice the Equinox was. Interior way more room than Edge with more features and style. Interior and exterior are nice. GM has XM radio, Ford does not. XM has baseball. After lunch, we returned to dealer, went for a test drive and negotiated a deal. Engine power was surprisingly peppy for a 4-cyl. We drove a 6-cyl also, but not a noticeable improvement in horsepower. Based on feature package, build quality, price, and dealer, we think Equinox is best vehicle available.

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  Best Car Ive ever owned bar none - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bryon - December 26 - 5:29 pm

  The complaint about rear visibility is true. As far as any sports car enthusiast is concerned, or any real driver for that matter, it doesnt matter. After only a few times of driving this car you will figure it out. It requires you to drive the car, really. And that is exactly why you would buy this car. The Gen 6 Camaro is the new Corvette, its that good. When Corvette begins to produce the Zora in 2018, this will be the car that takes its place. This car is so much fun and has so much power for a stock sports car, it should probably be illegal. God bless America. Be sure you get a good radar detector when you purchase this car. You are going to need it. I now have 10,000 miles on mine, because I bought it to drive it. I simply cant stop driving it. Its not my daily driver, so I can hardly wait for the weekend. Everyone, and I mean everyone who sees it or hears it falls immediately in love with the car. The only thing I dont like about the car is the decals used for the stripes. Even my wife who doesnt really appreciate sports cars normally loves this car. Enough said.

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  trailblazer is the best - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By chris dixon - December 25 - 9:36 pm

  i own a 2003 ext with the 5.3 V8 and it rocks

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  LTZ v6 3.0 lt equinox 2010 - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Me - December 24 - 2:40 am

  fun to drive, has lots of features. more than I expected.

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  Malibu equal to or better that imports - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By junie - December 23 - 10:00 am

  Chevrolet did their homework and have introduced a great car in the Malibu. I researched all I could find and finally was able to purchase this car. The Epsilon plateform is truly world class...tight, firm, quiet and confident. I had been an import owner, but never really believed in their hype. Now Chevrolet has the car that will convert many like myself.

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  Great Car - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By tintigab - December 23 - 10:00 am

  A great looking car with a well-made interior. No squeaks or rattles of any kind. Ride and handling are wonderful. Steering is tight and responsive. Plenty of power on the highway, but could use more low-end torque. (I am used to driving a truck, so this may be why I feel this way.) I am very satisfied with this car.

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  Finally a real sport sedan from Chevy - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By RNis - December 23 - 10:00 am

  The Impala SS has the best build quality I have ever seen on a Chevy (and I have owned several in the last 15 years): No rattles,squeaks or wind noise. Excellent acceleration which will fool many drivers of more expensive luxury sedans(BMWs).No body roll in corners and excellent handling for front wheel drive. Its not a V8 or rear drive but very competent.