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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  Great SUV - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sue - May 15 - 10:00 am

  We bought the Equinox just over a week ago after trading in our 2006 Equinox. The upgrades from the older model are great! I love everything about this SUV, from the upgraded interior to the updated exterior. This thing looks sleek, rides nice and is great on gas. I love the XM radio and onstar system. We are looking forward to adding another one to our driveway! I wouldnt buy anything else!

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  Love my Chevy HD. This is one bad boy. - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Gary - May 12 - 2:53 pm

  I love this truck! The 6.0 litre is powerful and smooth. With a locking differential and 4.10 gears this baby hooks for a 2wd. The one big complaint is bad MPG I average 12 to 13 no matter how I drive it; city or hwy. As far as its intended purpose it huals everything I want with no effort! Including, but not limited to cornering at 60-65 with a big heavy trailer and tractor very little sway and with the HD trans and cooler it never gets over 160 degrees with a load. Interior very spacious and well laid out. The suspension is tight and rides a little rough with no load but who cares its a HD.

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  Very Nice Car for the Money - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By David - May 11 - 5:42 am

  I have had this car since March and have put 17,000 miles + on it. I have had some interior vibration and rattles in the dash that seems to be poor design, problems with the adaptive cruise control being disabled for no reason and had that unit replaced. There have been issues with the sun roof privacy screen/shade locking up resulting in the sun roof not working and had to have it reprogramed at the dealer. While these issues are annoying overall the car is fantastic. The ride is excellent both city and highway. The gas mileage is outstanding 24+ in town and 33+ on the highway exceeding the published mpg ratings. The interior space in this car is excellent as well. I would recommend this car.

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  Great value! Great ride - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mondo1748 - May 11 - 2:00 am

  Im a Chevy fan now. This car is affordable yet it has the power to move when you need to and rides just as good as a Caddy. I would recommend getting the LT package. The upgade to leather seats with sunroof and other LT add-ons comes cheap and gives you alot of bang for the buck I have driven this car to work on terrible roads under slushy and wet conditions. The traction control along with the hadeling made the car an easy ride. I barely feel the pothole patch work road I cover everyday Chevy Pulled out all the stops on this car. This car gives safety features that most others dont even offer also. Congrates Chevy on a job well done.

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  My new Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By John fields - May 11 - 2:00 am

  I use this car for "around town." It has a hugh trunk space that fits 4 sets of golf clubs and assorted gear with room to spare.I have a bigger car but I feel just as safe in the Malibu.Pick up and speed is geat especially with the V6. The car magazines mention the "plastic interior but I see no differencce in the plastic dash on my friends Toyota.I have the LS that has all the comforts and extras found in the more expensive cars.I have put 2200 miles on it so far with no problems.

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  Great Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Ed cat - May 10 - 10:00 am

  My Av has been great, I love to drive it because it is so comfortable. The 5.3L motor is great, and is fuel efficient for the size and weight of this vehicle. If 20mpg is not to your liking, get a 4cyl. S-10 or Tacoma. I have no engine knock that some people experience with GM engines. I also got a great deal for mine, right now is the time to scoop one up if you want one. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fullsize truck who does not use it for work. If you need it for work, get a Silverado. The perfect truck for a family. P.S. Guys, your wives will love it too!

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  Hooray! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Zumboot - May 9 - 6:43 pm

  I decided on the HHR after 6 weeks of research and trying lots of small and tiny wagons. I loved the look of the HHR as soon as I saw it and knew it was the right car within minutes of my test drive. The editor reviews seem to care a lot about how fast (or slowly) the HHR can take off and its engine power, but hey, I wasnt looking for a hot- rod! Im perfectly happy with its power, and love the handling. Its not "mushy" - I know Im driving, but the road isnt abusing me. This is a terrific family wagon that looks so, so very cool! We were concerned about it being a new model - track record, so bought an extended warranty that refunds our money if we never use it! Im happy!

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  LTZ is great but not a buick! - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dr. Roy - May 9 - 4:38 am

  We miss these three accessories the most on our top of the Equinox line SUV. (1) the CD player (2) the glove box light and... (3) the heated steering wheel. A very poor decision on the part of GM management to eliminate these items.

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  My 1SS 2010 Camaro - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 20Camaro10 - May 8 - 3:10 am

  Perfect. 426 horsies for plenty o power. 8 airbags and tough roll cage for safety. Leather or cloth both are beautiful. Sunroof, power everything at your control. Sound..... oh that sound. Got yours yet?

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  C 6 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By FMark - May 7 - 5:20 am

  400 HP-FAST! I have 3200 miles on the car used 2 quarts of oil. Is that normal?