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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  I love my Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim Moore - May 21 - 11:33 pm

  It is very attractive and fun to drive. You sit up high so that you have a good field of view and it still allows you to get in and out easily. I am only 5 3." The seats adjust to my stature very well. I can slide my groceries and golf bag in and out of the back with ease. It has lots of pep yet excellent gas mileage. I love this vehicle!

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  I love it! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By NNCCMM - May 21 - 11:13 pm

  I love it! It is a car that fullfills all of my needs. I can take my two lab pups, the kids and their friends and still go to dinner in style and comfort with my husband!

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  Drove 275 miles to get one! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rowdyrob - May 21 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I had ooked for one since March and finally got our today. It was the LT1SE package. Black with Tan interior leather and it is great looking. It looks like the new BMW SUV. We turned heads the whole ride home. The car handles great. Nice turn radius and low road noise. The inside is very spacious and very driver friendly to operate. We got a shade over 24 MPG on the first interstate drive. It will go up after it is broken in a bit. I am extremely pleased with this vehicle and with the money I spent. Great bang for the buck.

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  Bring you Wallet - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By MN-Suburban - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new Back in the shop within one week In the shop every 6 months. On my 3rd tranny and I dont tow anything! So far, $14,000 in repair bills. To the point now that fixing it is still cheaper than a new truck payment. Ill try and hang on for 10 years.

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  Chevy S10 - 2004 Chevrolet S-10
  By Michael Nardelli - May 21 - 2:00 am

  The S10 is an affordable crew cab 4x4. It has all the features found on larger, more expensive trucks to keep it competitieve. I enjoy driving it daily.

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  I really love my venture - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By cjbhhanlin - May 21 - 2:00 am

  best vehicle i have ever owned

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  Mmmmm, ball joints!! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Robin Masters - May 21 - 2:00 am

  If you would like to own a Chevrolet Blazer, prepare to set up a special savings account for the purchase of replacement ball joints. These things love em! And no I do not go off road and/or drive this vehicle hard at all. I had a 91 previously, and it was the same way. Every 5 to 10 thousand miles it needed ball joints, and a tailpipe.

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  2015 Camaro SS 2SS - 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ron M - May 20 - 4:39 am

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  1999 K2500 Diesel Suburban Testimony - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rbellew - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Here are the facts from the last 24 months/39K miles. Mostly highway time with no towing. - 99 diesel Suburban 4x4 with 83K - Injection pump resistor pack failed - Rear pinion bearing recently failed - Both motor mounts failed - Four door lock actuators failed - A/C compressor badly leaking oil - A/C condensation leaks on carpet - Rusting at the bottom of 4 doors - Rear barn doors leak severely - More repairs in prior GM records - Market value drops faster than loan This vehicle doesnt come close to the quality and reliability of my 94 Ford Ranger 4x4.

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  Not a bad little car - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Not a bad car - May 20 - 2:00 am

  Well I bought the car in 1999 and it had around 50,000 miles on it. Around a month or two later the A/C compressor started grinding and was covered by warranty. Next after it was payed for the head gasket blew which was around $700.00 to fix which was a bargain considering the work. I still own the car that is the extent of the work that has been done on the car besides regular maintenance. Well last month i had my A/c recharged at that time the whole system was checked for any leaks and it was approved. Over all im satisfied with this car now it has just peaked at 100,000 miles and still running strong.