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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  wrong foot - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By chippox - July 31 - 10:00 am

  The only problem I have encountered is the location of the door locks. They tend to be easily activated while exiting the vehicle on both the passenger and drivers side. There is an alarm when they are activated but Im sure I will be locked sooner or later.

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  Best thing I have ever owned - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By hoosier daddy - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Great to tow the boat and a beautiful day or just driving to work.

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  A happy owner - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Richard Wantz - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Simply the best truck with a design that is unequalled within the truck and SUV industry.

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  great for tall drivers - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By nice truck - July 31 - 10:00 am

  im 65" tall, can sit up straight and see out winshield without ducking, have saved $ and actually eliminated chiropractor visits.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Lance Kellow - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Best sports car for the price! Great bang for your buck!

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  The Best - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By maindolfan - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This is a great performing and a great looking vehicle. The best of both worlds. I love this car !!!

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  Chevy TrailBlazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Bill Lehmann - July 31 - 10:00 am

  Great overall. 7000+ miles on it so far. Driving is mostly highway. Good stuff: acceleration, roomy, everything works*, fit & finish, good ride overall. Moderate stuff: Some wind noise at high speeds. No squeaks or rattles. Stereo good but lacks truly crisp sound. Somewhat poor distance reception. Front seats arent 100% comfortable -- too much lumbar -- and I put 30K/year on vehicle, so thats important. Ride, while good straight ahead and during normal maneuvering, is sloppy in sudden maneuvers, and the vehicle nose-dives during moderate to heavy braking.

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  One Awesome SUV! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cyberdoc95 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This car is simply awesome. I was shopping (for a replacement of my 7 year-old Subaru Impreza) for almost 5 months. When I test drove it, I fell for it right away. Even though Ive already seen my first choice which is the BMW X3, I still went to get the Equinox. It actually has more Cabin and cargo space and at least $10,000 less. The interior is great with all the conveniences. The dashboard is beautifully designed (streamlined and simply neatly designed). Its simply just comfortable. AC is powerful. Just a very comfortable, beautiful and powerful ride overall.

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  Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By starcatcher_6 - July 31 - 9:03 am

  I just purchased this vehicle 2 days ago. Its extremely comfortable, and the ride is so smooth. What sold me on this particular SUV was the crash test ratings. I was very concerned on the rollover potential since it was an SUV. It handles extremely well!

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  Transmission/Recalls - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Transmission - July 30 - 10:40 pm

  I have 7000 miles on my car. There is a noise coming from the transmission when it shifts from 1-2nd, only does this after the car has sat for about an hour or more. I have taken this to the dealership, let it sit for about an hour, tech said he THOUGHT he heard something, checked it out in the shop, said it was ok. I dont think so. I will go to another dealer. Also FYI there are already two recalls on this model. Over all I really like my car, fun to drive and I like all the features it has. The one thing I miss is a button to activate the garage door opener.