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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  Only OK - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jordantray - January 26 - 9:06 pm

  The truck is just OK. Nothing really sporty about it. It kinda says soccer mom when you are driving it. Cant understand why the "stability trak" indicator keeps coming on but I had to spend over $600.00 to get it fixed and guess what....Eight months later it is back on again. Not really rushing to take it back to the shop. Most likely will trade it in within the next year. Not sure if the 2010 Equinox is improved but I would probably not purchase one again. Overall it is OK.

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  Runs like a Champ - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mr. Mark - January 26 - 7:56 pm

  Purchased as a towable behind the RV with 60,000 miles on the clock. Now I have 129,000 and use it as a daily driver. Cant beat the ride, utility, reliability and safety. Have two kids at home and it stores everything.Got rid of my daily driver (Had $30K invested ad didnt need the truck anymoe) and love that I dont have a truck payment. Everyone says it will go 25o,000 miles, other than routine maintenance...I think they are right. Mileage is fine, if you are not abusive with the gas pedal, it gets 12 to 15 MPG, with no monthly payment, its ok. Go for one, any year because they keep getting better. MB

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  Good car, depending on your expectations - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Thymeclock - January 26 - 2:27 pm

  The Aveo seemed far more comfortable and easier to drive than competitors. My wife LOVES the car! Its cute and its fun to drive. There appears to be more negative bias toward this car than deserved. Test drive one and compare it to the Yaris, Fit, Rio, etc. for yourself. You may not need or want certain features others may offer. This was the right car for us, considering what we expect from it.

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  I like it except the headrest - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By blendeng - January 26 - 2:14 pm

  Had this CUV for a week and like it. Its bigger than I thought but drives like a car. Acceleration is not bad. Traded in my minivan. Minivan had more trunk room but this CUV back is o.k. Overall, I would give this CUV a 7.8 out of 10. The biggest drawback is the front headrest. It pushes your head forward and can feel uncomfortable after awhile.

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  Wipers - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By NJ Driver - January 26 - 9:41 am

  Vehicle now has 42,000 miles and having problems with the wipers turning off. Car can be completely off, locked and the wipers keep going. Checking to see if anyone else is experiencing this issue.

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  Super Sweet Ride - 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By superspeed - January 24 - 3:26 pm

  Bought this truck a month and a half ago after test driving everything from Audi A5s to Infiniti FX35/45s to 2010 Camaro SS. My Trailblazer SS with 3SS package blows them all away. With the exception of how much time I spend at the gas station is not important because similar to other reviews, you do not buy this truck for the gas mileage. Amazing ride. Will take a Grand Chverokee SRT8 off the line and see them in the rearview in a couple of seconds. Most Mustangs GTs dont have a chance. Touch screen Nav with Bose stereo and dual climate are a nice touch. No complaints whatsoever. If you are looking for a conventional suv but arent ready to make the move this is definitely the way to go

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  Good for everything - 1999 Chevrolet Express
  By Great for everything - January 24 - 3:36 am

  I have used this van for heavy hauling, passengers, and road trips. Is better than an SUV in almost every way. More space, more seating, more comfort, and just great for everything!

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  Somewhat ordinary, but very reliable car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By KLHoffman - January 23 - 8:44 pm

  We bought our 1999 Cavalier in 2000 when it was just over a year old. Its been a very reliable car. We now have 146,000 miles on it and it still gets us where we want to go without any problems. We just replaced the transmission this year at 141k miles, but other than that no major problems in ten years! I find the car somewhat boring to look at and drive, but with reliability like this who can complain!

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  Good for what it was bought for. - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By John - January 23 - 7:44 pm

  I bought this car yesterday with 57,735 miles. I needed a car to get me back and forth to work. I was very surprised by the acceleration, the decent ride. I know this is not a high end car, but It does what it does for a really good price. I paid $7500 and it has a 100k powertrain warranty. My toy is a 2002 Z-28 that has 400HP, and Im spoiled by the balls to the wall acceleration it has. For what I paid this thing works just fine.

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  One of Two Best Cars Ive Ever Owned - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ann - January 22 - 1:41 pm

  Ive owned five cars. One of them a Honda Accord (bought new. It was a miserable lemon.) This is one of the two best cars Ive ever owned (other was an Olds Cutlass Supreme). Reliable, runs great, no big maintenance or performance issues. Not as stylish as Id like, but I got features I never dreamed Id have on a car. Including: remote engine ignition (Ive never scrapped ice off the windshield / I can get in a warm car on a 12-degree morning), OnStar (excellent response time and personnel for flat tire / dead battery), great gas mileage, comfortable seats, great brakes, satellite radio, exact temperature control. Would buy another Malibu if I needed a new car.