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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  Trailblazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mike Findeiss - May 4 - 10:00 am

  This is the best handling and riding SUV that I have owned or driven. This past May, my wife and I drove from Denver to Seattle, then down the west coast to Los Angeles and back to Denver. There was not a day that either of us were stiff or uncomfortable from the ride.

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  Could not believe it - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rks - May 1 - 8:20 pm

  I was going to buy an F-150, Toyota, or Nissan full size. When I began to compare I could not get over the size, comfort and fuel economy of the Silverado compared to the others. Best in fuel economy. I use the truck to commute and do small hauls. I average 18.5 hotshoting and 21 mpg on the road. I bought Chevy 20" rims and put a color coded bed cover and does it look great. All others could not touch the economy, not even Toyota. The wind and road noise in the others was annoying. We use the truck more than the car. The 4.8 has incredible power.

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  Great vehicle! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By sara - May 1 - 12:30 pm

  This car is comfortable and fun to drive. Its gas mileage is decent, and my kids love how the back seat reclines. it was a very great price for this car.

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  A Pleasant Surprise - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By bwia - May 1 - 8:00 am

  The Malibu is a fun car to drive. Coming from a Volvo I was reluctant to even consider a domestic. Then I test drove the Malibu and I was hooked. I really preferred the LTZ but the mileage at 17 mpg city is not great so I bought the LS and I was pleasantly surprised with its zippy performance. The car resplendent inside and out. With the two-tone cocoa and cashmere after market leather we installed the LS looks as good as, if not better, than the LTZ. Neighbors and friends are jealous. They canÂ’t believe the luxury features on this car for less than $21,000 (leather included). Oh, I smoked an Acura TL that brought a pleasing and satisfying smile to my wifeÂ’s face. It was almost orgasmic.

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  peppy little truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By harescrambled - April 30 - 10:00 am

  If you wanna turn heads quickly this is the truck for you.

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  Love It - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By imapalaguy - April 29 - 11:20 am

  Great interior space, very roomy and comfy. Easy to use instruments. Great mileage, and love the extra 5th gear in the new transmission. Its awesome on the highway

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  A contender - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By pulciano - April 28 - 10:43 pm

  So far so good! Real happy with purchase. V6 does the job. Exterior came a long way. Interior very classy and high end looking. Its about time GM became competitive with Chevy sedans.

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  Love this vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By James - April 27 - 4:26 pm

  What a smooth ride and just the right size. It has the European look and feel. I see folks looking at it to check out what exactly it is. After weeks, if not months, of searching this one was the best of all we studied...so we bought it fully loaded except for the leather, at a very nice price!

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  2 month follow-up on initial review - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By autofan2 - April 26 - 5:43 am

  Here is my review after 2 months/2000 miles. Car is rock solid; paddle shifters are effective and make driving fun again, even in a midsize sedan. Turn-by-turn Nav is not bad, but glad its free for now. Gas mileage has settled around 23.5 mpg in mixed driving. Driver comfort is excellent with all the available adjustments. Extra storage areas really come in handy. Remote start is a great feature, but key fob has not worked a few, unrepeatable times. I have no real need for sunroof; would definitely buy this car again w/rear power pkg.

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  Maxx is fun and zippy - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Bradley P - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Im having a ball driving this head- turner. I traded my 2003 Trailblazer because of its bad gas mileage in-town and highway (never better than 16-18 mpg). The 2004 Malibu Maxx LT has met all my expectations--it really does get 32 mpg on the highway and it really hauls! I am having run zipping around town and sieze any opportunity for a road trip. Love the roomy interior with space for me and four friends and the cargo room is exceptional for a midsize car. Get one and get fun!