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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  Initial observations - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sparky - January 19 - 10:16 am

  I traded in a Mercedes convertible, opting for an inexpensive, practical SUV. I studied Edmunds articles for two months and investigated several vehicles. In the end, the Equinox seemed the best value. The low price, warranty, hi-tech features on the LT1 model with the PDD option, and design won us over. On every count, the Edmunds review was accurate. The steering does have a video game feel, and some of the interior materials are not of the highest quality. Still, our initial impression and experiences have been very favorable. It drives well, and it is very user-friendly. Our last two purchases were the Mercedes and a BMW. The personnel at the Chevy dealership were as professional...

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  Great Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Texas Owner - January 18 - 8:50 pm

  This is my first pickup and it is more comfortable to drive than many cars that Ive owned. I have the 1500 LS with the 5.3L V8 and its performance, reliability and gas mileage for a vehicle this size is outstanding. I now have over 105,000 miles and havent done much more than change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles! I do a lot of hunting and it has never let me down in out-of-the-way places. A great vehicle.

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  08 Silverado W/T Base - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By 2doorpost - January 18 - 3:03 am

  $18380 MSRP base no a/c truck,longbed. Absolutely no options. Great ride and performance over my 05 Silverado. Uses a little more gas but comfort level and ride worth the trade off.

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  No Regrets - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By B Saunders - January 17 - 10:00 am

  This Trailblazer XLT replaced my Ford Exposition. More power and better fuel mileage is a plus. Also has more cargo room behind third row seats. Have taken several long road trips (600 miles plus) and the ride was nice and more comfortable than my Exposition. I have also towed over 4,500 lb with no trouble and plenty of power to spare.

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  A HAPPY FAMILY! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hughes - January 17 - 10:00 am

  WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS VEHICLE! WE NEEDED LOTS OF ROOM FOR OUR FAMILY OF FIVE AND THIS HAS IT! WE CAN SEE OURSELVES BEING REPEAT TRAILBLAZER OWNERS. LOTS OF COMFORT AND FUN TO DRIVE!

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  Junk bed - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By straight working - January 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive owned my duramax 2500 since sept. 2008, I use it for work which it has a 110 gallon fuel tank and a weather guard saddle tool box. In one year of use the bed is pushing out and cracking along the sides at the end of the tool box. Ive own two Dodge 2500s and never had the problem, dealer states the problem as having to much weight. I think Chevy needs to build a better bed for the 2500s for guys who use their trucks for work. Also took the truck in three times to have interior tighten up do to rattles. Otherwise truck is not bad for pulling trailers and cruising around, dont put anything on bed rails!!!

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  First Time Chevy Owner - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By justamirage - January 15 - 2:45 am

  Came out of a Chrysler 300 with constant trans problems, Only owned the Impala LTZ for two months now but so far is a great car, I got it fully loaded for a fantastic price, I had always owned Mopars but bought a Camaro last year for Christmas so when the trans went on my 2014 Chrysler 300 this was a logical choice, Just wish they had brought back the name of ( Caprice) instead of continuing to call it an Impala, lots of bad vibes attributed to that name. Time will tell how it handles on the rain and snow, I have read there are some problems there with traction. Also had some problems with service dept. at my dealer, not very professional, but that is an easy fix just changed where I will get it serviced. All in all I am very satisfied with the power and luxury of this auto, will write more if that changes....

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  My dealer made this a pleasure to equip, buy, & dr - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By John Ekdahl - January 14 - 4:42 pm

  Dont overlook the LTZ !

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  Excellent - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By lilman01 - January 14 - 1:36 pm

  I love to drive this truck, I traded in an 02 for this one!

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  HHR Turns Heads, Makes Me Smile - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Happy Chevy Girl - January 13 - 5:43 am

  Amazingly comfortable and quiet ride. These are flying off the showroom floor in Houston, they are hard to get. The biggest challenge is finding a dealer who doesnt play games for hours about price and financing. I purchased the LT w/ the 2.4 liter engine and it has some kickin energy for a 4 cylinder. Supply and variety seem to be the biggest issues. Its hard to find a dealership with more than a couple in stock so there is not much choice in features.