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 Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By kenshuck - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I really like this truck. We purchased it to pull our Airstream trailer which it has done flawlessly. Ours is Arrival Blue which is nice but I sure like the yellow. I dont expect to use the back seat access feature to the bed but really like the fold down backseat for our dog.

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  Detroit Got It Right - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By volkshater - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car as a replacement for my everyday car. I was surprised by its ride and features. It has a great trunk and spacious seating. I feel comfortable and secure at highway speeds. I think it speaks well for Detroit that they can get some things right for a change.

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  Love it,love it not(longtermreliabilty?) - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By stevenrobinzz - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Purchased Tahoe little over year ago. Have begun to question longterm reliabilty of vehicle. Have had problems with brakes squealing from day we left the lot. Terrible noise in front of vehicle when turning and accelerating. After repaired, steering more stiff and making grinding noises. While washing the vehicle (with sprayer) paint chipped off. Problems with lights and seats when operating. Doors sound horrible when opening and shutting. Dealership has been good about fixing things but should not be having these problems with a new vehicle. How well will it hold up? I love the ride, comfort, etc. Purchase another? Doubtful.

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  Great truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By Kristin Oikar - December 2 - 11:50 pm

  We have three of these trucks that see severe duty on a large farm. Everyone has nothing but good things to say about them.

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  Chevy got it right - 2016 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bob Edelstein - December 2 - 5:37 pm

  I bought a 2LT conv with 3.6 V6. I cant review the 4 cylinder or the V8. Took car to Phoenix Az with 80 miles on clock. 4900 mile round trip. averaged 27.3 mpg at average speed of 69 mph. that includes about 300 miles of city driving, stop and go and cruising at from 75 mph to 90 mph. Averaged over 30 mpg in mountains of Az and N Mexico. Very comfortable for 12 hour driving days. Preferred it to my Mercedes CLS63 or Audi A5 for the trip.

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  First day 700 miles - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By occking - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Love this car. After having 2003 Buick RVD for months (which I hated mainly cause it was so underpowered & never got great gas mileage) amd Acura MDX for 2 years and Lexus RX300 for 2 years, never thought I would spend as little as $24,000 (plus 0 percent financing) for a car with all of the features I need. Drove 700 miles in first day, averaged 28.5 per gallon which is pretty good for a brand new vehicle

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  Nice Car for Teens - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tomyb - December 2 - 10:00 am

  This car has tons of power for how small it is and you can lay down the rubber if you felt the erge. Its big compared to its competitors and is fun to drive sometimes

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  Excellent Truck All Around - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Brian Schumacher - December 2 - 10:00 am

  No defects, flawless performance, awesome reliablity.

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  What a Blast! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By SAMANTHA - December 2 - 10:00 am

  Got my Equinox a couple of weeks ago. Test drove 7 other SUVs and the dealership had only 1 of these in stock, fully loaded with leather seats, satellite radio onstar, ect. Had to have it!!!! Looks similar to a lexus, and the drive is smooth, more like a car then SUV. Really clean understated interior. Two Thumbs up!!!

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  GM Produces fine Lemons - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jerry - December 2 - 7:56 am

  This vehicle is a lemon. It has been in the shop four times for the gas gauge. It does not mark right and has left me stranded a few times, and the air light has come on and was in the shop for two weeks. And the check engine light has come on twice. The car is full of rattles. I should have looked around a little more and bought a Japanese car. GM should not be allowed to build cars anymore. All it does is make US look bad with the junk that they make.