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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  check it out and you will buy it - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By frank kaczynski - January 15 - 2:46 pm

  Im presently enjoying 34-38mpg in a combo of highway and city and I have to say its hard to believe the mileage is better that in the subcompact car I previously owned. This car is just a little smaller than the impala and is a very comfortable ride on long trips. Its hard to believe its only a four cylinder because when you nail it the electric motor also kicks in and its got plenty of pep. I fell in love with the styling both interior and exterior- its really sharp! When I showed it to co-workers two of them actually purchased a straight malibu shortly after viewing and riding in mine. Chevy really detailed this car with some very classy styling and the 2- tone interior is sharp!

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Joann - January 15 - 2:43 pm

  I truly enjoy driving this vehicle. Everything about the SUV, from style to performance, is great. Would buy another one.

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  owner - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mary - January 15 - 1:30 pm

  Compared to a 1996 Tahoe and 1999 suburban that I previously owned, this one is the most fun! Handling is great in parking lots and has a lot of power to get by the trucks on highway. The interior is driver friendly, with controls at your finger tips!

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  Fun Car, but needs improvement - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By carnut17 - January 14 - 3:58 pm

  I had this car for about a year, and what a blast. This car was scary fast. However, when it came to twisty roads, my old 89 Mustang handled better than this beast. The car is too heavy and has too much body roll to handle well. As a daily driver, I cant recommend this car. The t-tops started leaking at 10,000 miles, and leaked even after the dealer replaced them. The interior rattles started right away, and got progressively louder and more numerous. Everything in the interior like it will snap off. I sold it before the whole thing fell apart when the warranty ran out. Seems like GM still believes in "planned obsolescence."

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  Great for Price - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cml - January 14 - 1:25 pm

  Ive had very few issues with this car. It looks nice, holds its value and runs well. I have the 5 speed manual and it has a lot of pep for a 4- cylinder engine.

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  This truck is really bad - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Joe Brown - January 14 - 1:23 am

  This truck, has had more problems than I can count. It uses oil,It rattles like a kids toy, The transmission has a shutter on take-off when pulling a load. This all has been topped off with GMS pitiful excuse of service. Next time you talk to a salesman ask him what G.M,s policy is on oil usage .After you pick yourself up ask him did he really say 1 qt. for every 1000 miles ! Thats no typo it;s 1 qt. for every 1000 miles.

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  This is a dream vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dean - January 13 - 11:07 pm

  My Trailblazer LT is probably the best quality vehicle I have owned. It is blessed with a V8 which provides smooth acceleration and response. It has a quiet, luxury ride. I love the way it handles. A medium size SUV with 7 passenger capacity....and room for luggage to boot. I havent found anything to complain about to date. Accessories abound with XM radio, DVD player, and On-star. I especially like the fold-down seats in the second row that allows EASY entrance to the third row of seats.

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  02 LS...Love it Love it Love it - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Randy - January 13 - 10:01 pm

  Bought this car used in October of 2004. At time of purchase the odometer was at 26,827. I have since then put about 5000 miles on the car and have not had one problem yet. This car is truly fun to drive, and the performance is terrific for a car so large. Saving now for a new 2005 Impala SS.

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  The best vehicle in 2018 - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Willie - January 13 - 8:13 pm

  I have driven several SUVs this year (2017) but nothing across the industry handles better than the AWD 1.5L Turbo 2018 Chevrolet Equinox. They also offer a 2.0L Turbo which gets 28 miles per gallon on the AWD system compared to the 30 + MPG I got while test driving the vehicle. For the 1st time I was able to switch my AWD system on of off which is not an option on the outback i currently drive. The Equinox has active noise cancelling triple seals on the doors and insulation in the wheel wells to make it the quietest vehicle on the road i have ever been in. Its a shame i cant implement all that into my house and have to listen to my kids screaming and crying all day. Back to the vehicle... I was able to enable the remote window operation and by holding down the unlock button the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox rolled down all the windows within seconds a feature i have never seen on any other vehicle in the market.

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  Cheap Fun - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Bryan Wilson - January 13 - 3:53 pm

  I bought my 2001 Tracker 4x4 convertible used with 18,000 miles on it. It has all the power features I didnt care about too. I had a 1993 Tracker prior, so I sought out the 2.0L 4cyl w/5spd manual combo. I cannot speak for the stock performance because within a matter of hours of owning it...I had the Calmini suspension lift and Interco 29" Thornbirds installed. However, the vehicle handles incredibly well off road in 4x4. Traction in 4x2 mode is poor at times due to the lack of weight in the rear. Fun to drive, inexpensive to buy, good on gas, and never been stuck = a winner.