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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  Tahoe Review - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Brett - February 4 - 12:33 pm

  I like everything except the rattle in the headliner. Looks, smooth ride, and comfort are all a plus. Fuel is 17 mpg average.

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  Avid AV Owner - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By tims garage - February 4 - 10:00 am

  After leasing a 1999 Chevy Tahoe I was pleasntly surprised to find out I didnt have to give up any comfort or performance when I moved UP to a Avalanche. Now I can Hall some dirty stuff if I need to without ruining my interrior.

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  big toy - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By kenw - February 4 - 10:00 am

  drove to New Hampshire on first outing, and was amazed at the handling on the highway and back roads,

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  Impala - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ralph Gilnack - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I am extremly happy with this car . I think it is one of the best produced. Plenty of power ,quite a bit style on the interior as well as the exterior. The heated seats are a big plus and the large trunk is most welcome. The power seat on the passenger side is very helpfull for my wife. The auto dimming rear view mirror is much appreciated as well as the heated outside mirrors. One feature I neglected to get was On Star, the next car will definately have that system. The gas mileage has been in the 29 to 30 mpg on the highway and about 24 in town which is not the best but not too bad. Over all this is a real winner. Very good Dealership!

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  Tahoe is Tops for Quality and Value - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By aussiestx - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Delivers on the promise of great quality and value. Easy to drive for a large car (my wife loves it). Outstanding build quality. Very reliable. A good workhorse for our daily and weekend needs. Plenty of room for passengers and seats fold for extra room when touring or loading with materials. Intuitive controls for driver.

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  re:Trailblazer LT - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By janine - February 4 - 10:00 am

  My husband bought me A trailblazer LT 4WD, i thought it was too big for me, that i wont be able to handle it, but i was proven wrong, the LT is so light and though it was too big for me, it runs very smoothly and perfectly with me, I LOVE IT!

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  First one in town - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Erica - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Love it. Bought it a couple days after it arrived on the lot. Stylish and fun to drive. Plenty of room.

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  wow - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lomaz - February 4 - 10:00 am

  fun and great to drive

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  Refined car that does everything well - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By greg128 - February 3 - 7:08 pm

  Just leased a new 2016 Malibu Premier mostly for the wife but also for me (have a company truck). It does everything exceedingly well. It looks fantastic in and out. The 2.0 Turbo is a gem, and is very smooth and quiet even from outside of the car. Maximum torque is available from 2000-5000 RPM and combined with the 8 speed transmission it is rewardingly responsive at all speeds. That combined with the lighter weight and excellent steering it feels to me almost like a sports sedan, and I have had a few sports cars in the past. The ride is firm and composed, and the cabin attractive and quiet. This replaced my wifes 2008 Saturn Aura with the 3.6 V-6 which had plenty of power but which wasnt readily available from the 6 speed transmission unless it was punched. The Malibu power comes on early and strong with only partial throttle inputs as the 8 speed eagerly downshifts when asked. I had reservations about the Turbo 4 and not sure about its long term reliability but not too worried as this engine has been used by GM for a number of years and the car is leased so that is not an issue to me. It is also agile and light on its feet around corners and has a far more rigid structure compared to her Saturn, which I liked very much. The technology is amazing. The My Link interface is intuitive and fairly easy to use. The navigation has a second integrated window that shows what the road actually looks like, including the number of lanes on the road. Voice commands work failry well. Blind spot alerts in the mirrors and moving vehicle alerts when backing up also work well. The Bose sound system sounds good to me. There are some downsides...no spare tire (bought a bunch of tire plugs...also has roadside assistance for 5 years...although I might spring for an optional spare)....and my wife mentioned the noticeable downshifts from the transmission which I told her was normal and frankly dont bother me. Premium fuel is "recommended" which tells me performance and mileage will be less with regular. In mostly city driving we are seeing about 22 MPG. On the highway it is indicating around 35 MPG according to the trip computer. In summation, other than more power (probably not practical with FWD) I cant see how the driving experience could get much better.

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  Most powerful 15 psgr behemoth - 2015 Chevrolet Express
  By Samuelu Mauga-Faumuina - February 3 - 11:28 am

  The engine power of this van is on point. I have the rear camera - moniter on center mirror. I think a parking assist option is mandatory. There.s a trip computer that tells exactly how long your fuel will last. I was amazed. This van is great on gas, but it really depends on its driver. Enjoy!