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:

• 

  Equinox - could be better - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Walt - November 25 - 12:43 pm

  I like the vehicle overall, it is fun to drive, looks good and the quality of construction is very good. The vehicle is a good size and has plenty of power. It rides well for an SUV and the AWD works excellent in snow. Head and leg room are good and the engine and transmission provide a nice smooth acceleration and power band.

• 

  Should have been recalled - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kenh - November 25 - 11:06 am

  Had intermittent problems with surge, no codes ever showed up. Emergency brake flaw is a joke, should have been recalled. Since 100k ABS lights come on at odd times, learned of corrosion on wheel sensor. Clutch pedal does not adjust well.

• 

  Very impressed, good buy - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By howellad - November 25 - 10:46 am

  We purchased the car in late February after waiting 8 weeks for delivery. We were nervous about a GM purchase, but this vehicle is all we had hoped for after 2 months of ownership. We love the style and its drivability. Interior is of great feel and appearance. We love the center console and it is in easy reach of the driver. The navigation system is amazing, we find the seating very comfortable and roomy. We admit we hope the mileage will improve but we have done little freeway driving at this point. The Equinox handled our spring Colorado snows storms with no issues. The quality of the sound system is impressive and easy to use. Congratulations Chevy you got the Equinox right.

• 

  I LOVE MY AVEO - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By G.D.L. - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW AVEO IN 4/04. I LOVE IT, I TRAVEL ABOUT 70 MILES A DAY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND ITS GREAT ON GAS. ABOUT 43-45 MILES PER GALLON. I HAVE 6,245 MILES ON IT. I GOT A GREAT DEAL ALSO, MY OTHER CAR WAS AN 88 FESTIVA,SO I GOT NO TRADE IN ALL SAID AND DONE WITH 2000 DOWN I WALKED INTO ONE (WITH THE 5 YEAR 100,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER EXTENDED WARRANTY) FOR 9,124 DOLLARS. I THOUGHT IT WAS A STEAL, I AM NOW SEEING THEM FOR 9,000 WITH A 3,500 TRADE IN AND 3,000 DOWN. I BELEIVE THEY WERE A GOOD SELLER SO THE PRICE WENT UP. GREAT JOB CHEVY YOU HAVE A WINNER AND A LONG TIME NEW CUSTOMER!!!!!!!

• 

  Get One! - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By dano8710 - November 25 - 10:00 am

  The Impala SS is a really sharp looking car for starters. Sure, its a 4 door sedan but, its not grandmas Impala. Start the engine and you can tell that theres fun going to happen. Nice exhaust tone....and fairly subdued until you punch it and watch the S/C boost gauge; smooth power and torque when you want it. Im glad that Chevy brought it back.....and you can get one with no options (standard features are plenty for me) for right around 22K, after all the rebates !

• 

  Dont knock the nox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By missvansmom - November 25 - 10:00 am

  I bought the nox about 3wks ago and so far so good. It has a spacious interior but the trim is a little cheesy. The engine has good pick up for typical driving. The ride is smooth and fairly quiet. I opted for thenox because I wanted the height of an suv for getting baby in&out of her carseat. I also wanted AWD for our N.Eastern winters. The Trailblazer was larger than what I wanted so the nox is the perfect size. I would call it a replacement suv for the Blazer/Jimmy as opposed to the Tracker. GM has come a long way w/this suv. A real contender for the Escape, Liberty, RAV-4 etc. Equinox is destined to be a top seller.

• 

  Buy American - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By BILL - November 25 - 6:13 am

  This car is better than my 96 Cavalier with 186,000 miles and sister-in-law is still driving it. The Cobalt is fun to drive and we get a lot of compliments on its looks. Very solid ride and feel. You feel like youÂ’re in a much bigger car.

• 

  Good truck for what trucks are for - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By nccpastor - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this truck for the real- world...I dont haul massive amounts of steel, gravel, or tow competing makers up a hill. It is perfect for throwing boxes in the back, helping a neighbor move, getting a sofa to the church, or other real-life tasks. The 4WD has gotten me out of the Chicago snow several times. I love the 3rd door and extended cab area - you can fit a family of four in this truck. The gas mileage could be better (I get 16-18), but it is a truck. Solid. Reliable. Real-world.

• 

  C5 vette - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 911vettebenz - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I pursched this car as a runabout. I grew up with Porsche and have had numberous in the stable and currently have 2 911s. I enjoy the car. It is relatively reliable with no significant events to date except that the battery came apart from the past and leaked down in the engine bay. Upon opening the trunk in the rain, it all pours inside the storage bay. This suspension is alittle soft, so I have to adjust the ride to performance mode to stop from being thrown into the roof. The performance is adequate, the zo6 is probably the better option.

• 

  high maintenence vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By fleetman - November 25 - 2:00 am

  Great car till it hits 60K then get out your check book. So far the front brakes have been changed twice, fuel injectors serviced,front end makes awful klunking noise, steering wheel squeeks, catalytic converter changed, computer repaired, ignition repaired, spark plug wires changed and the list goes on and on and on!!!!!!!!