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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  Z71 Great But..... - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By cnick54 - May 6 - 2:00 am

  I love the way this truck looks, rides, confort, Great in the snow. One Mojor complaint Lousy gas miliage only 11 mpg. For the money I would have gotten the Suburban version instead. The mpgs would be the same and Id have more room. Brakes are so-so leave plenty of distance

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  2011 Equinox Update - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By vwalburn - May 6 - 1:30 am

  Weve owned our Equinox for about 4 months now and have 4000 miles on it. The longer we own it, the more we like it. We test drove many other vehicles but just kept coming back to the style, room and comfort of the Chevy. Were big Honda fans so the CR-V was the leading candidate going in but did not compare well at all to the Chevy in style, room, interior features or design. The Honda seemed very cheaply built compared to the Equinox. Everyone should at least give the Equinox a good look while shopping for their next crossover. features and design many other vehicles and just kept coming back to the style, room and comfort of the Chevy

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  LOVE IT! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By dmz28 - May 5 - 10:13 pm

  Just bought this hybrid slightly used. The first tank of combined city/highway driving came in at 29.7 mpg! Very comfortable and quiet car. Lots of features standard equipment, cant wait to take it on a long vacation. Exterior styling is beautiful, my friends are very impressed!

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  Last in a long line of Chevys - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By arrjr - May 5 - 7:26 pm

  After owning five previous Silverado models and getting over 200,000 miles on each without problems, I am disappointed in the 2008. At about 50K miles, the door locks began to work intermittantly. Now three of them do not work at all. The passenger side mirror has been fixed under warranty when it stopped adjusting, now it is not working again. The transmission has always clunked into first when stopping or lags to downshift until you take off. Dealer said this was normal but it acts just like a sticking torque converter. Painted surfaces on interior is sub-standard and flaking off. Latest problem is the vent selenoid on the fuel system...only $160.00. This may be my last Chevy!

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  Twas a Sleeper - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Deke - May 5 - 2:00 am

  Considering the price (under 16G) when new, this one was a sleeper. Surprisingly tight, smooth ride, although that has deteriorated somewhat as tires have worn. There have been repairs, including transmission pan leak, and its worthwhile keeping current with various filter replacements. Engines a willing worker, but not very refined. Contrary to Consumers Reports review, the handling with Goodrich tires is sharp and precise for a car its size.

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  Im Hooked - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Roxie2288 - May 5 - 2:00 am

  I Bought my Corsica used, almost 7 years old. I have replaced the radiator and that is about it. Im no mechanic and have really beat on my car, yet it still runs beautifully. I get comments frequently about how smooth it rides. How it stops on a dime, etc. I think with all the luxury cars and such on the market, thats a heck of a compliment!

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  Best Car Ive ever owned - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By dan-o the ritalinkid - May 5 - 2:00 am

  The Lumina kept myself and my family safe from serious injury in a recent accident. When a minivan made a turn directly in my path not more than aprox. 50ft away while I was traveling at approx 40mph the impact was unavoidable. The mini van had 12 passengers, 4 more than its limit. The Luminas front impacted the passenger side of the van just between front and rear doors. Not only did myself and my family escape serious injury but the Lumina was still running and the radiator still held its coolant. Sorry to say 10 of the 12 van pasengers were injured. The Lumina had an excellent history of reliability since I owned it.

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  My Last Blazer - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By bboydwil - May 5 - 2:00 am

  Since I have owned: Rebuilt Transmission, Power steering repair, starter repair, etc. Handles on both fronts seats broke off from poor design. Can not see over headrest to see to turn, etc. No overhead back seat light, very dark. Shocks for back hatch window came off. I have a friend who has a 1998 blazer and they dislike it as much as I do. If only I had read this review before I bought my Blazer.

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  The ultimate road car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Vince - May 4 - 3:39 pm

  The greatest deal in sports car history! highly fuel efficient combined with superior perfromance. 26 to 28 mpg on highway at 80 mph plus speeds...mid 11 quarters at over 124 mph, amazing!

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  2010 Chevy Equinox - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ed Tulinski - May 4 - 3:20 am

  First time that I ever purchased a car that had absolutely nothing wrong with it. It has not been back to the dealer since I picked it up. First scheduled trip to the dealer will be for an oil change and tire rotation in two weeks. Very satisfied with this vehicle and the quality of the product.