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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  Surprising value - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By senseless - April 15 - 10:00 am

  The Equinox, though not perfect, is a remarkable buy. I was concerned about early reported defects, but mine arrived with no problems. Do yourself a favor and get the leather option. In LT trim, its only $550 and makes a huge difference in interior quality. The stock sound system has excellent clarity and the styling is a knockout.

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  Should have bougt a Ford - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Back to Ford - April 15 - 10:00 am

  Owned it for a year and a half know and it has been in the shop 7 times. Latest left me stranded on the Interstate when the fuel pump went out. To date a/c has gone out twice (computer), rear brakes broke in the locked position(dealer said they were installed from the factory incorrectly), transmission has been reprogrammed twice for clunking (build quality), steering shaft has been replaced for knocking (build quality), and the latest fuel pump fiasco. (who knows why the fuel pump quit at 25K.

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  Owner - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By scheller - April 15 - 2:00 am

  Great (small) turning radius. Good power. We leased the car for 4 years which is coming to expiration next month. Now we wished we had purchased it in the first place. This is only the second vehicle which Ive owned in the past 35 years which I truly enjoy. We never plan on selling it. The other vehicle was a 1974 Camaro. Terrific hauling capacity.

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  Owner - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By scheller - April 15 - 2:00 am

  Great (small) turning radius. Good power. We leased the car for 4 years which is coming to expiration next month. Now we wished we had purchased it in the first place. This is only the second vehicle which Ive owned in the past 35 years which I truly enjoy. We never plan on selling it. The other vehicle was a 1974 Camaro. Terrific hauling capacity.

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  2007 Corvette Z06 Road and Track car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Rick Herndon - April 14 - 12:21 pm

  Bought the car new off showroom for sticker. Read the reviews in various magazines and not disappointed. Improved the car for open road racing. Ive have speed tested (9 y/o car) to 191mph and still had more left, but running at 5600ft altitude. The LS7 engine isnt hard to get extra horsepower with a modest investment. Car has been solid and really not may repairs, and thats with 57,000 miles and still manages to get 25mpg on the road. There is nothing in that price range for the performance you get. This is my 3rd Vette. Just recently ran my 5th open road race (Silver State) much of it over 160mph without any problems. Thats performance engineering. Recently had to replace fuel sensor. Apparently happens frequently at 62000miles. Some squeaks and rattles developed by not to bad. Just campaigned the car in the Silver State Classic in the 155mph class without any problems. The air conditioning compressor will need replacement so took off belt. Drove the car back home some 2200 miles with a combined mpg of 30+, now thats economy!

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  2011 chevy silverado LT 4x4 5.3L - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By walker9736 - April 14 - 5:37 am

  I have had this truck for a month now and have about 1100 miles on it. No problems so far. Getting 15.9mpg average and most is city driving. Great power, great looking, and great fit and finish sold me. I keep my vehicles about 10yrs and after the last silverado I owned(2002) turned 132000 miles(trouble free) I decided to trade up to the crew cab with all-star package. This truck is a huge step up in performance and features. Especially like the bluetooth feature and the updated interior quality. You really cant go wrong as these trucks hold their value and are very capable vehicles.

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  sweet car - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By shane G - April 14 - 2:00 am

  the best car eer built

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  why i dislike my Cavalier - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By 311 - April 14 - 2:00 am

  My 1996 Cavalier has been a very reliable car, besides that it is a poorly made car. This car is a basic ecnomy car, it will never be anything but an ecnomy car not even the z24 will be more. The horsepower to weight ratio is pretty bad(130HP to 2617lbs) , the Torque (120 ft-lbs) is also pretty bad. The interior of the car is very cheaply made, from the seats to the steering wheel down to the side door panels which always seemed to be crack on every Cavalier. If anyone is thinking of upgrading a Cavalier i would highly disapprove, go out and get a sports car and dont make the same mistake that i did.

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  Sub-par-bun - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Sub-par-bun - April 14 - 2:00 am

  6 "extended shop visits" in six years. Major transmission work - twice. Head gasket. FUEL PUMP - WIRES SHORTED OUT AND MELTED (fuel pump is IN the gas tank), lucky to be alive. Water pump replaced. Rear end diff work. Glad I didnt buy a 4x4 (twice the repairs?) and glad I did buy the extended warranty (wish it was still in force). Still interested? Good, mine is for sale.

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  Sporty and Fast - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mytifyn45 - April 14 - 2:00 am

  I liked this car from the moment I saw it. I cant complain about the horsepower its quick. Great gas mileage at a time when gas prices are outrageous. Have had no recalls or repairs in 1 1/2 years. Sound system is great.