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:

• 

  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dr. J - April 25 - 5:36 pm

  I searched the market for an affordable SUV and feel as though I have found the best one out there. I have owned several Jeep products and have been a foreign sports sedan snob as well. My Equinox is just the right car for me now. The family and I have taken two trips to Vermont from Connecticut, one in very heavy snow and the Equinox has perfomed admirably. I stop at the gas pumps more often than I am used to...the combination of a smaller tank and lower gas mileage than I am accustomed to but I love it.

• 

  WOW-- What a great SUV!! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mark - April 25 - 1:43 pm

  The Chevy Equinox is designed to look like a $45,000 vehicle but has the $25,000 price tag. The leather interior and chrome accents on the outside of the SUV make it much more appealing then the import models like the Rav4 or CRV.

• 

  Great car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Colon Proctor - April 25 - 12:36 pm

  The car is a pleasure to drive. Mileage is over 31MPH highway and over 21MPH in the city. The hatchback is excellent for baggage, etc. I have driven more expensive sedans and vans in the past but this car more than meets all of my expectations.

• 

  Lumina rocks - 2000 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Robert Reed - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Plenty of power - Comfortable - Lot of trunk and internal cab space

• 

  2000 Impala - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By Cstaples - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I love my car. It is fun to drive and I feel very safe behind the wheel. It handles well in all types of weather. The gas mileage is decent in the city. The trunk room is incredible.

• 

  Electrical system nightmare - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By tstorm5 - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Were on our 5th Alternator. We also went through 3 batteries before those problems were resolved. Alternator left me stranded in the California deseret once and left my wife stranded three times locally. The current one on the vehicle is dying as we speak. Fenderwell and area had to be sandblasted and repainted shortly after purchase to repair acid damage. Other than that we have had a pretty good experience. We travel to Colorado from South Texas every year and other than one breakdown we have had good luck. A/C seems to only blow on passenger side vents. Good large vehicle except for reliability problems

• 

  Good Looks Bad Personality - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By brianku1 - April 25 - 2:00 am

  The Blazer looks really nice but buyer beware of good looks. I have had to replace the EGR valve twice. I had to have brake work done for 1,500. The transmission needed an overhaul for 2,000. Then the spider on the fuel pump went out. I am not waiting around to find out what will break next. I feel like I should send it off a cliff so no one has to go through all this again.

• 

  practical and fun to drive - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By TNRalph - April 25 - 2:00 am

  This "baby SUV" has met my needs. I wanted a car that gets good gas mileage, looks good and has easy-to-access storage and transportation. I have put a dog cage in the back (with a dog), plenty of groceries, and luggage with no trouble. The interior comfort leaves something to be desired but the design is very good and the car is fun to drive and reliable. For the price and category of vehicle, the Tracker has been a good bet for our small family.

• 

  My 4th Chevy truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dakneedrizl - April 25 - 12:26 am

  I have had my ride for 4 months now overall it was a good purchase so far. I would say if you have money to burn look at the Tundra but you cannot get a v8 long bed real deal pick up like mine for under 20g in any other brand. I am weary of the Chevy track record as I have had a few it seems there is always some little crap going on with them engine idling right? Rear end humming? Interior plastic has sharp edges mine only has 5 grand so far. I guess I will find out how things pan out at 10-20-30 thousand miles. The definite plus side to this truck is the gas mileage for being so big I can cruise at 15-1700 rpm on the freeway. The basic options that come with it are also nice.

• 

  My New Malibu Review! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By swena - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I absolutly love my new Malibu! Its convenient yet sporty and attractive! The engine has good pick up and the stereo system is very sharp! The rear spoiler gives that sports car look with out the inconvenience of the small size. I will drive my Malibu until the doors fall off!