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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  my equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By min8828 - July 4 - 7:19 am

  i really happy with my equinox is 2005 and I bougth it in FL with 30.000 m , the only problem i m having is the i need to hit the gas pedal to start the engine , i have 129.000 miles now . its good suv .

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  Why the Volt makes sense for me - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By palmbeachcpa - July 3 - 8:51 am

  I traded my 2010 Mazda 3 in for a 2012 Chevy Volt and couldnt be happier. I drive 14 miles each way to work so I can go the entire week without using gas. Had it for a month and averaging 105 mpg, and that includes two 150 mile trips to Miami. I was going to get a newer 2012 Mazda 3 but after doing some analysis, I figured that I would save $4K over five years by getting the Volt. How you may ask? Simple, I am eligible for a $7500 tax credit and I save $200/ mo on gas. So if you do the math, the Volt costs $8K more than the Mazda3 after the tax credit, but will save $12K in gas over 5 years. And that is taking into account increased electric, and an occational fill up in the Volt. Sweet!

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  Should have bought a G class! - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mrdubious - July 2 - 7:10 pm

  Rent one B4 you by one! Poor fit/finish of interior dash and front door panels. Primer showing thru paint. 6 cyl with 6 speedTrans upshifts/downshifts at an annoying rate! Tradn for a Benz!

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  Its an okay car. - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By dqirving - July 2 - 6:21 pm

  This car was my first car. It was a really beautiful gift! However, I got the car in early May and I live in Texas and my A/C never really worked (And my signal had issues). Roughly two weeks after getting the car the Power Steering went out on me. Then I get the car back and its been okay. The air still does not work and I havent had the car for two months yet. Im already trading it in because the dealers sold me a car that had problems that they werent willing to fix in the first place because it would cause the price to jack up and then it would be nearly impossible to sell. Overall, I loved driving that car and it got me to and from, but it was pretty small, being that it is a coupe.

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  You get what you pay for - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By dustyrose2 - July 1 - 12:48 pm

  I bought this car in 2006 with 60K miles. Its has needed alot of repairs, all my gauges stopped working in 2009, windshield wipers wont stop when you turn them off since 2010, air conditioner makes a constant ticking/clicking sound all the time since right after i bought it, I replaced the engine coils 2x, replaced ignition control module 6x, replaced water pump, fuel pump, clutch, many others cant remember everything, my timing belt started going out last week so I finally traded it in for a new car. Inside of the car is very cheap and basic, but hey the car was cheap and you get what you pay for. The gas mileage was excellent, I say its a good starter car for a teenager.

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  Just like me, love it or hate it - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By slick81 - July 1 - 7:40 am

  I love my TB, i bought it n 04. I now have over 230,000 miles on her. Over the last 3 yrs I have put 2 transissions in her , fuel pump, 2 alt., a starter, new battery, several sets of tires. I have put alot of money into her, however she now acts like she is going to cut off when i stop or take off. the rpms either rev up to 2000+ or they drop down to like 400-. I have had the throttle body cleaned and a tune up, but she is still acting up. however, even w/ all of the problems ive had, i still cant seem to trade her in yet. I always say, ill rock her till her wheels fall off, however, im pretty sure they fell off and i just put new ones back on

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  A disappointment - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By - June 30 - 10:59 am

  Looking for an economy car for work, I purchased a 1LT automatic on Memorial Day, but after 30 days I traded it. The main reason is that I couldnt get comfortable in the drivers seat. The seat bolsters are very tight, and the manual seat adjustment is awkward. The turbo engine and six-speed automatic often get out of synch, leaving the car "hunting" for the right gear. Sometimes it barely wants to accelerate, but when everything hooks up right, it moves well. The electronic steering is very light, little road feel. No inside trunk or gas cap release. This car is fine for a teenager to look good in, but not one for a serious enthusiast. Also, this car has no resale value.

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  Equinox 2010 flawed design - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jaymonsy - June 29 - 2:34 pm

  Purchased 2010 equinox with 28,000 miles. Been in the shop 5 times already. Display panel and entire dashboard blew out, muffler is rusting because of designed drain hole on the side, very poor acceleration, no cabin air filter, fumes enter car even when recirculated air is on, no rear vents, no insulation on sun roof slider, car is always hot inside, chrome on dash creates glare directed right at the driver, making for unsafe driving condition. Gas milage is not what is advertised.

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  2007 Impala LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By bdunmire - June 29 - 11:24 am

  I have owned my Impala LTZ for over a year now. Just before my full year was up I had to replace my stainless exhaust do to my mufflers rotting out on top. When I did that I noticed that my back tires where worn on the inside. I had tires replaced and was told my rear camber was out and could not be adjusted. I found out that GM fixed Impalas that had this problem only with the police package, under recall, so i order the part kit as there no difference between the those parts on my car and a police car. Now that I have those problems fixed I have no other issues. I do love this car itÂ’s fun to drive, comfortable, and looks good. However I will not buy another GM vehicle after this one.

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  Just Bought it Yester"night" - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By americanmade2 - June 29 - 9:03 am

  We got back from the dealership last night with our new Traverse... lets say its a heap of alot better than our old 06 Durango! the interior quality is fantastic. Only good things to say about this amazing ride :)