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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  I loved it...at first - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By loreeb18 - January 28 - 9:46 pm

  I had a 92 Metro that I loved. When it broke, I got a new 2005 Aveo. I thought it was cute and fun to drive. I didnt have a lot of problems at first. But in the past couple months, I had to get my lock bezzle replaced, my fan blower motor was replaced once and is back in again for the same problem, and theres a crack in my brake system (which is why Ive had to refill the brake fluid 3 times in 14 months). My car has been at the dealership for 2 weeks now and Im still waiting to get it back.

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  Awesome - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By chris - January 28 - 6:27 pm

  I love this truck. Its perfect for driving around town. I am getting at least 20.9 miles in the city and about 28 on the highway. This truck also has a lot of room in it. Im 60 tall and have to move the seat up just to reach the pedals.

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  An Average Car for average people - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Julia - January 28 - 5:27 pm

  Thank God for the extended warranty. I have owned this car for 3 years, and in that time, its felt like packing marbles in a corner trying to keep this car from falling apart. I had to get the door welded on after the hinge failed, completely replaced the started, heater blowers, and control switch, rusted out far sooner than expected. The window/power locks panel is still hanging on by its wires, and the dealer cant really do much about it (been in to be fixed twice). The turn signal indicators stopped working. Im very surprised at how much its value has dropped since buying it. Why spend 23K on a car that wont last half as long as an accord or civic for the same price...

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  Best All Around Vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mr Wally - January 28 - 2:48 pm

  I have the Z66 Package with all the goodies. When I first tried out this vehicle, I was sold. We (wife and I) are snowbirds and travel back and forth from NY to FL very comfortably. Gas mileage could be better but we average about 19.5 on the road and 17 off. I like the convenience of having a pickup body available. I carried some 12 vinyl siding pcs. inside with the tailgate closed! Thanks Chevy

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  The best in its class - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Chris McGovern - January 28 - 12:48 pm

  An awesome vehicle so far. The features alone on this model of Suburban are enough to be excited about. Heated seats aside, OnStar protects and XM entertains, while this cargo and people spacious SUV takes us to wherever we want, in style and comfort. This is in another class as far as Large SUVs are concerned. I have driven many and I always come back to the standard bearer. No one combines this much, luxurious combination, of driving features not costing 60k. More power could be had, but that withstanding,the best in its class.

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  Perfect Fit - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dean - January 28 - 6:50 am

  I searched for some time for a vehicle. I wanted something that had some SUV capabilities, but did not need a full size SUV. The Equinox was a perfiect fit for me because it has plenty of room, provides a cofortable ride, and has the SUV aspects I wanted without the outrageous gas expense. So far, I have no complaints, I love it!

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  BMW To C6 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By L Schaffer - January 28 - 2:05 am

  Loved my BMW 330i, until I test drove the C6. I did 15 months of research, sold the BMW, and bought a 2LT Z51 6spd coupe. Have now had it 5 weeks and love everything about it. Went with the 2LT as wanted side air bags, but none of the gadgets (HUD, nav, heated seats, etc). Extreme torque down low and wicked handling - Far superior to my BMW and the M3s I have test driven. Fit and finish is also comparable to BMW and have thus far had no problems. Cargo capacity is HUGE - We do grocery shopping for 5 when kids are home from college. Insurance is very reasonable and comparable to BMW. Best bang for the buck sports car with capability to function as a daily driver. I love this car.

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  Love it! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Amanda - January 28 - 12:57 am

  I love this car, yeah it may be a Cavalier but I think its a great car. The car is fun to drive, drives well, and is great on gas. Its easy to get in and out of, the seats move easily and its more spacious then i thought it might have been. I honeslty enjoy this car more then the others I have had, so overall I believe its a great car for a 21 year college girl!

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  You love it or hate it - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By christopher - January 28 - 12:10 am

  Fun to drive. Everyone asks what it is and I love telling them. I wanted a car with fenders and this had it. I like the PT Cruiser but it was way too small. This is everything I wanted and needed!

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  Found my vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By John - January 27 - 11:53 pm

  Traveling down the road in an all- wheel drive Honda Pilot, I was amazed at how poorly it handled in 6 inches of snow. After I got stuck on a hill, I put the Pilot in low gear, pushed a button to lock the rear differential, and again I amazed. But this time it was how easily the Pilot freed itself and was able to move down the road. Living in the mountains of Colorado, this little test proved that I needed something better than all-wheel drive. One of the things that sold me on the 2006 Chevy Trailblazer was its automatic locking rear differential.