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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  Colorado ZQ8 LS I5 Auto - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By wylde - February 1 - 10:00 am

  My truck actually has the inline 5 with Auto (loaded) but that selection was not available. I test drove it out of curiousity since I own a S10 and bought it out of impulse... no regrets. After owning 2 S10 trucks, one a 2002 Xtreme (loaded) and a 98 S10 LS (which I still own) the Colorado really impressed me in the ride and power (I even got a speeding ticket test driving...oops). I had actually test drove a crew cab ZQ8 but opted for a regular cab instead simply for personal preferance in looks. The sound system is a huge improvement from my 2002 S10. It can be left stock as mine will. I wish they would have had MP3 availability though (2005 supposedly will).

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  Disappointed - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By azdolls - February 1 - 10:00 am

  Find the 185 hp engine much too weak. Poor start from stop, noisy. Much todo about front seat folding flat but the rear seats do not thus an uneven floor. Nice ride, does well once under way. Very good on the freeway. Presently only 2700 mile on car but gas mileage is awful-15/22, a long way from touted 19/25. Clever rear storage arrangement but space over wheel wells is way underutilized.

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  Not the sportiest car on the block... - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By crowing - February 1 - 5:25 am

  ...but its definitely not a bad bargain. I was looking for a used car that would be reliable but still within my budget and I found this at an auction for cheap. With the Prizm line now discontinued, Ill bet auto dealers are eager to get rid of them. If you get the LSi type youll get cruise, power windows, and CD with a better than expected set of speakers, and its still about $3000 less than a comparable Corolla. It wont have the same resale value, but thats the trade off. Im about 511 and have no problems with the front seating, but leg-room in back is non-existant. Really wish it had more power. Perfect for those who want a small sedan but can live without something flashy.

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  Next time, not GM - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Mark Oveson - February 1 - 2:35 am

  This is an OK car, but it really is not great. On the plus side, it has never broken down in the middle of Wyoming. But reliability is a real problem. In 65K miles we have replaced the air conditioning condenser ($1300) and a couple of brake rotors. The brakes seem to warp very easily. The car goes out of alignment easily. We have spent $2000+ in unscheduled out-of-warranty maintenance, which is too high for only 30,000 miles over warranty. Trim has a typically cheap GM feel. Styling is ho-hum and unchanged (again) for 2005. I figured I would sell it before it lost all its value. Whoops! Too late! I will buy a Toyota or Honda next time.

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  Great Ride - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rebekah - February 1 - 12:53 am

  Just got my Equinox and I love it! It has the roomiest back seat ... lots of leg room. The cargo area is very handy ... perfect level for loading things and no reaching or bending. Drives really well ... easy to park in tight spaces ... easy backing. Has a plain dash ... not complicated ... very sleek and clean looking. Very satisfied with this car ... had an Aztek prior and I like this much better.

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  One thing after Another - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Emily - January 31 - 11:36 pm

  I purchased my 2013 Cruze (automatic) brand new from the dealership. First service on the car, my transmission was black, and i was almost out of coolant. the car constantly sucks down coolant, and the recall on transmission makes it worse. continously have problems with electrical wiring. bulbs in headlights constanly explode because of overheating because of bad wiring. had to pay $200 to replace the whole wiring harness on one side because the wiring caught on fire. Interior of car is worthless. first cleaning i used name brand (and expensive) car interior cleaner that scratched away the cheap paint by the volume controls. the steering wheel material is wearing off after only 3 years of owning the car. the carpeting on the walls of thr car and dashboard are difficult to keep clean. cup holders are in an odd place, you can ONLY open the trunk with you key fob. and your car has to be off to open the trunk. acceleration is jerky, car locked itself one time on its own (typical pass lock system of Chevy). oh not to mention the outer plate of my gas flap fell off (it was poorly glued on?) the little adjuster knobs on the ir vents broke and fell off. overall, the car was cheaply made, and a fast dollar for the company.dont get one youll thank me.

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  A great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Casper - January 31 - 8:36 pm

  I really love this Tahoe. I guess the ride quality is what suprised me the most. It is very smooth and just eats up the bumps and potholes. It rides much better than my Explorer. The only criticism I would have is a little bit of wind noise at highway speed that comes from the large mirrors, but that is not bad. The front seats are very comfortable and can be manipulated to fit just about anyone.

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  Love my TrailBlazer - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By My first Chevy - January 31 - 8:19 pm

  I looked at all the midsize SUVs (Explorer, Grand Cherokee, and Durango) and picked the TrailBlazer for two reasons: It had the most powerful engine (270 hp), and I loved the body style. I have had no regrets about buying it. Its met or exceeded the expectations I had for it. Whether its taking the family on vacation, going hunting or fishing, or loading up at the Home Depot, my TrailBlazer has done the job. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for a mid- size SUV

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  I love my car! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By liz - January 31 - 6:16 pm

  I fell in love with the car the moment I saw it. After looking at the ticket price is was even more happy! After the test drive I knew this is my car! I got my car fully equiped for around $14,500 and i could not have picked a better car for myself! Roomy, comfortable, safe, easy to control and nice sound system! I do like the "chirp" on the anti theft system. It is a great first car!

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  Chevy Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tbsport00 - January 31 - 5:48 pm

  At 67" tall, vehicles with sufficient legroom are impossible to find. Thanks to Edmunds spec. page I was able to compare before heading out to dealerships. Trailblazer has more front seat legroom than my wifes Tahoe. Reliabilty Ive experienced with my late model Chevys is on a par with previously owned Toyotas and Mazdas.