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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  A rear view review - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By James Cooper - March 25 - 8:17 pm

  Great car

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  chock full o trouble - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By djlotek - March 25 - 10:00 am

  in less than 15,000 miles we have had to rebuild the engine due to a seal blowing and the oil level warning lights never coming on. The transmission failed and had to be rebuilt. the Theftlock system on the ignition failed and cost us 400 bucks to replace and we jsut got nailed for 500 bucks to replace and ALTERNATOR. this car has been full of problems and very expensive to work on

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  Mixed Feelings on the 2002 Z24 - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By weethecherokee - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Went from a 98 Ford Contour Sport to a 02 Z24 Sedan. Right away the poor quality of the interior was appearant. It is really plain. Road noise is pretty bad. Have had the car in the shop 4 times in 6 months. 1st time was the second week of ownership. The car is peppy compared to the contour, but the ride and handling pale in comparison. Not sure how the car will hold up over the long haul. Got the ext warranty to 75,000 just in case. The car has a nice sporty look from the outside. Also, the gas milage stinks for a 4 cyl!!! About 16-20 city & 23-26 hwy. I think the brakes will need to be replaced soon, after only 10k, they are getting soft.

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  Coulda been better - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By talbin31 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Several problems damper this otherwise fine vehicle. Lots of wind noise is the most apparent at speeds above 50 MPH. Front passenger seat belt locks up continuously. Fuel range...listed as 400 miles per tank...yeah...maybe if you drive the highway at 55 mph...otherwise expect mid to low 300 miles from full tank. Back seat uncomfortable...especially around foot area....other than I like it.

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  Very Disappointed! - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Steve - March 25 - 6:12 am

  This was by far the worst vehicle Ive ever owned. I sold it with 68,000 miles on it. The battery leaked, and it had ECU sensor problems. After having the transmission removed and repaired once, it needed to be replaced. Then, that transmission failed. It wore out three sets of front brake pads and a set of ball joints, aAll in 68,000 miles. This vehicle was driven to and from work daily, not hard miles.

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  Love The Equinox! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rick - March 25 - 4:16 am

  The Equinox is fun to drive! It has ample power to get you where you want to go. I love the electronic steering due to its ease to manuever. With a broken wrist, it has been an exceptionaly easy car to drive. The Equinox has ample room for my whole family and room for luggage on vacation trips. For comfort, I highly recommend the leather interior. It makes getting in and out of the car much easier...and its much easier to keep the interior clean.

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  Cheap Thrills! - 2005 Chevrolet Blazer
  By RexTrader - March 25 - 3:41 am

  It gives pretty solid performance out of a small SUV! The suspension is firm, like a 4x4 should be, and the brakes are solid as well. Ride height is high enough to simulate a full size Chevy! Conservative interior styling is very cool.

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  Hands down, the best! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jon Mac - March 24 - 6:37 pm

  I considered a Suburban and Tahoe/Yukon, but I needed a truck with a bed. I got a luxury 4WD SUV that drives better than a luxury sedan. The lined bed is great, the hard cover makes it better, and the fact that it locks tight is awesome. Extremely comforatable on and off road, but especially cozy on the highway! Leather buckets cradle you like an expensive recliner. Locking side compartments are huge and very useful. Ive driven the Caddy, and this is the same truck with a little more plastic but a lot less pricey. This is not an SUV, this is a truck, but youd never know it by all the amenities. Ill buy another when the time comes to trade this in!

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  Surprising car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By TVS_SS - March 24 - 11:13 am

  I picked up a supercharged Cobalt for a daily driver and will say i was more impressed after I bought it than I was before. The mileage is better than they rate. I can get 31.5mpg if I drive it normal / mostly freeway miles. Plenty of power for a 2.0L engine and itll get even better when Eaton comes out with the TVS supercharger upgrade. I have a 2000 camaro SS that has more power, but I enjoy driving the Cobalt equally if not more! When you take care of the understeer, the car is amazingly agile.

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  Uplander drives well - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Judy - March 24 - 10:30 am

  The new Uplander is a great vehicle to drive. Steering is excellent and the vehicle holds the road just fine. The new design, which is a cross between a mini-van and an SUV, gives a much more secure feeling from a driving standpoint since you have something in front of you. The children love the DVD and the wireless headphones. There are only a few minor adjustments I would make in the features of the vehicle.