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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  Very Crude - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 351M - November 4 - 11:24 pm

  I bought this car about a month ago and have put 2000Km on it in that time, it had 64,000Km on it when I bought it. In that time, it sounds like a wheel is loose when I use the brakes, the trans seems way too low geared as well. Road and intake noise is really bad, the muffler broke apart inside, and the stock sound system is junk. The power isnt bad (2200 OHC 5 speed) I personally think my Lada Nivas are better built and more reliable vehicles, fun to drive factor is better as well. The Cobalt is definitely a better car but also with them the handling gose out the window at highway speeds.

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  I love my truck! - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Leah - November 4 - 7:24 pm

  Before deciding to make the jump from fun car (my Mustang) to a small truck I did a lot of research on what was out there. The Colorado kept coming out on top, so when I went "shopping" I saved the Chevy lot until last. I found the Colorado to be the best built and best looking of all the trucks I looked at and drove. 3 months down the road I am as pleased today with the truck as the day I bought it, and with the dealership that sold it to me. I highly recommend the Colorado, and to those of you near Troy, Ohio Joe Johnson Chevrolet. (I have the 4WD Z71 Extended Cab LS package in Superior Blue, its a beauty!)

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  Big Chevy works - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Mt,Engineer - November 4 - 10:33 am

  In 2 wheel drive I get up to 18MPG Highway. Overall MPG is about 15. Have the 5.3 V8,4WD Extended Cab with Long Bed and at 65000 miles is now due for a steering gear ($224 for the part,I will install) but I guess that is acceptable because my wife totaled the front end (twice) the dealer repaired the truck with Genuine GM parts and you cant tell it was ever wrecked. The full size Toyota truck she hit got the worst of the deal. Replaced pads and rotors at 55,000 miles about average for OEM Brakes Usede wager aftermarket pads and rotors and will probably get 65000 miles out of these based on prior experience. No rust, but I installed a Rhino spray in bed liner when new. We work this truck hard.

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  Good Truck for the money - 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sirhawkeye - November 4 - 9:44 am

  Overall, the 2013 Silverado 1500 is a good truck. Its not necessarily the fastest or most powerful truck out there. I tend to look more for reliability and easy to use (especially when it comes to internal electronics--radio, cruise control, etc). Yes Fords have the newer tech in some areas, and their trucks are faster and but I like the tried-and-true engine that GM tends to keep using (ie. the 4.3 Vortec which has been around for the past 2 decades or more). The 6-speed automatic w/ manual control and the 5.3L V8 is a very nice combo to get for moderate towing and fuel economy. Crew cab provides enough room for adults in rear seat.

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  We Love Our Equinox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike Dickson - November 3 - 8:20 pm

  We have thoroughly enjoyed our Equinox. Its fun to drive and gets plenty of looks from people (we did add some extras to ours). The stereo system is kickn and has plenty of power to get us where we need to go, when we need to get there. I would recommend the Equinox to anyone looking for a smaller SUV that still gives you the feeling of driving a truck. The only thing I would say that GM needs to work on is the layout of their controls including the buttons on the steering column as well as the power window buttons in the center console (They are not lit at night and awkward to use). Thanks and have fun driving!

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  Transmision - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By bonnie schmidt - November 3 - 7:21 pm

  The automaitc transmission shifts really, slow when cold. Other than that I love it. Good running, great gas mileage. I would buy another one.

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  Sharp Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Steve - November 3 - 5:23 pm

  5 cylinder has plenty of power, along with great fuel economy. The styling of this truck is awesome, people love it. Recieve plenty of compliments and looks. Has potential for upgrades. Handles great. Very comfortable to drive, but still is defintly a truck. The 5 cylinder engine runs smooth. Engine does not feel like it is less than a V6, actually feels better. Transmission shifts good. Very pleased with this truck, much better than the S-10. Nice JOB GM!!

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  Awesome Family Sedan - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By bill h - November 3 - 3:12 pm

  Now that I have wife and kids I had to give up the z28 for a family sedan. Very solid car that is very comfortable to drive. Better gas mileage than my wifes Subaru. Ive been getting 24 mpg city and 31 on the high way. We got the 3.8 liter engine based on the durability that we and other family members have had with it in older GM cars. We also got the sport touring suspension that comes standard with the LS, however, the ride still feels fairly soft and vague - it should not be confused with the sport touring designation that you hear about with Saabs, BMWs, etc. However it is the only car I have driven that my back feels better after 200 miles of highway driving than before!

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  A machine - 1995 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jones - November 3 - 2:57 pm

  A very good vehicle- power, handling, reliability- this vehicle is an eye- cather. It has not given me a problem yet. A very cool ride!

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  The Best Buy Yet - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By piglet - November 3 - 1:05 pm

  Me and my husband just brought our 2005 Uplander in October of this year and we have allready been on two road trips an we have only had it a month. We feel so safe when we ride our two year old son up and down the road. We have even put seven adults in the truck and they all said that they had enough room and that they were not pushed together.