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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  great - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By MARKlee - May 13 - 2:00 am

  i love it it drive great and its strong

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  Love it so far - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Cowboybill - May 13 - 2:00 am

  Weve had the van for about a year and weve loved it so far. Its smooth, roomy and powerful. We had a 4wd Mazda MPV previously. We bought a service warranty with it because we knew it had a repuation of failing intake manifold gasket at around 60k- 80k. About 8-9mos after we had it the auto-sliding door wouldnt close properly. We finally took it to the dealership to fix it. While there I had them check the intake manifold gasket. They said it was leaking so I had them replace it under the warranty. The plastics parts in the inerior are not the strongest.

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  Never Another Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By julie - May 13 - 2:00 am

  This is the 2nd Blazer, also had one Tahoe, and all consistent. One bad transmission after another. So bad,cant depend on it for long distance driving. Completely fed up. Having to rebuild transmission multiple times before 3 yrs is, well, there just arent words. Was also backed into by a little Rav4, Blazer had extensize damage, $4000+. Going shopping for a Toyota.

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  Yes, Buy American - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Ben - May 12 - 6:10 pm

  Love the rear seat leg room and the adjustable/reclining seats. I drive 39 miles one way to work and average 30.9 mpg. The car has alot of top end power. The manual shift option on the trans is great for those steep downhill drives you dont need to ride your brakes. The best feature is the remote starter, nice for those cold mornings.

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  Fantastic - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jk972 - May 12 - 3:44 pm

  Since purchasing this car a month ago, I havent stopped smiling. I ordered the vehicle in November and although I was discouraged by the 3 month+ wait time for the build, it was so worth it. The styling of this car is amazing, the quality in comparison to the gen5 cars is on an entirely different level. The 2SS is everything I could ask for, the 6.2L is incredible and doesnt stop pulling, cant wait for break-in period to be over....

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  My First Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By blippo - May 12 - 12:33 pm

  This is my first experience with owning a pick-up truck of any kind. Ive owned my Silverado for a few months now. The first thing I noticed with the Silverado when I drove it the first time is it drove like a car. I was surprised how well it rode. It has all the room I need with the extended cab. I took it off-road briefly and it drove well. So far, I am very satisfied with it.

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  I love my mini SUV! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Smobley729 - May 12 - 12:03 pm

  I love my new car! Im not the greatest driver in the world and after the arrival of my second child I decided I needed a bigger car. Coming from a Honda Accord I knew I wouldnt be able to drive anything too BIG. I test drove the Equinox and I loved it! It is easy to drive, easy to park, and GREAT on gas mileage. It fits me my husband and our two children perfectly. It also has a lot of cool features like shelves in the very back and an adjustable back seat!

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  Awesome! I love it! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mheitz - May 12 - 9:06 am

  I traded my Camaro for my new Equinox! It is absolutely fantastic. I love the handling ability and all the storage. My friends and very tall Father love the extra leg room in the back seat and also love the adjustable back seat feature! I feel very safe and secure in my Equinox and would recomend anyone trying it out. I love it so much, I talked two of my best friends into purchasing one and also my Grandma!! She loves it better than her van and shes 68! Thanks Chevy!

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  Love my Cavy - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By PDizzle - May 12 - 2:00 am

  This car has been cheap and reliable for me since I bought it with 12,000 miles. I had to put wider tires on it and tweak the engine for more power, but other than that it has been quick, comfortable and fun to drive.

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  Avalanche - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Elansford - May 12 - 2:00 am

  My wife took my Avalanche away from me and gave me her Expedition.