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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  Third SUV - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By 2bearsmom - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Dealer was great, better then the local Ford dealer when we looked at the explorer. So far so good

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  2006 Colorado 4 Cylinder - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By John - November 8 - 3:21 pm

  I was originally going to by an S10, but I took the Colorado for a test drive and I was sold. Since then, Ive been very happy with it. Ive got the 4cyl, but I had no problem hauling a full bed and a full 5x10 trailer all the way up the east coast. The fuel economy is also very good I average between 25 and 26 mpg, and thats with about a 50/50 mix of city/highway driving. Ive put this little truck through a lot of heavy duty work, and its held up very well. I have the base model so the interior quality isnt that great, but the seats are reasonably comfortable and the driving position is fine. The shifting is pretty smooth for a manual truck transmission.

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  Love the Drive, Hate the mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pat Host - November 8 - 9:10 am

  I love my new 2005 Equinox as far as handling, driving, sporty. But we traded in a large van for something with better mileage, and this is NOT getting it. Our mileage on this vehicle is at least 5 mpg lower than it is rated. I have read that this vehicle is overrated as far as good mileage, in Newsweek, I believe. The Equinox has the exact same engine as my larger Silhouette, but the Silhouette gets much better mileage. That doesnt make much sense. We have taken the Equinox back to the dealership to be checked, but they say there is nothing wrong. This is very frustrating.

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  One Great Vehicle - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mike C - November 7 - 6:09 pm

  This Impala is a terrific family and fun vehicle. 90% of the use is back and forth to work. Between city and highway, there is a 22.4MPG overall. More than happy for a car this size. Took a road trip with 4 people, 5 suitcases and numerous other items in the trunk and averaged 29.7MPG between Chicago and Columbus. Cabin space is more than adequate. Easy handling, very responsive both steering and accelerating. My only concern is front end handling in the rain. The vehicle feels "light" and slides out easily during turns. Overall, I highly reccommend looking this vehicle over when considering making a purchase.

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  Value Consumers Dream - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Harrell - November 7 - 4:21 pm

  It amazes me when I see these below $3,000 and below 80,000 miles. I have had my Lumina for 7 years, used it all through college and after graduation. I put in oil every 3000 and gas when it goes down, and have not spent a dollar above that. Its in great shape, nothing overly-appealing about the car, but its reliable. Would highly reccomend these models, though I have heard anything above a 2000 has had some issues with quality. Perfect for a parent to buy for student.

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  Amazing machine - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Steven - November 7 - 6:25 am

  I recently purchased a silver 2004 Z06 with 25,900 miles. The car is stock. I am amazed by the performance value of this car. The engine is incredibly flexible. The sound of the motor at 6,000 RPMs is amazing, and the car pulls like a locomotive. I am also amazed at the relative comfort of the car - the seats are very comfortable (I am over 6 feet tall) and the ride quality, though firm, is wonderful. I am surprised at how docile the car is in adult driving mode - driven maturely around town, the car is eminently livable. For an enthisiast, this is a comfortable daily driver. I am amazed at the performance value with the Z06 as compared with other high-performance cars.

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  It serves its purpose - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By silver equinox - November 6 - 10:05 pm

  I first got this car because I liked the way it looked, and it was the only SUV out there at the time that was roomy but didnt feel like you were driving an 18 wheeler. The price was great too compared to the other SUVs of similar size that were available. I have not had a problem with it and I especially loved the free for 1 year OnStar service it came with. Although they skimped out on the turn-by-turn direction service. You can only ask for directions 1 time. After that you have to pay for it...go figure. I also like that you could adjust the rear seat to move further back for more leg room.

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  My review - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Chris - November 6 - 2:43 pm

  I bought this SUV in July of 05. Its a GREAT SUV! Runs great, looks great. Gas mileage isnt the best - I live in the Minneapolis area and do a lot of city driving. On average, Ive been getting around 17, 18 MPG. On the highway, best Ive gotten is 22-23.

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  Very pleased with my Aveo - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Tom - November 6 - 5:02 am

  I have been very pleased with my Aveo, on average I get about 29-30 miles per gallon in town and when Im on the open road Ive averaged as high as 36- 37 miles per gallon. recently a dealer offered me well over the bluebook value for my aveo because they were looking to boost their inventory of smaller cars, but why should I get something new when I get the mileage that I do. Really have not had to put a great deal of money into it, just the basic and recommended things. Overall I can only say good things about my Aveo and that I wont be getting anything new soon, because the newer cars dont even get the miles per gallon my car does now.

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  Trailblazer review - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By trailblazer ext - November 5 - 5:43 pm

  I love everything about the car, except I was misled by the dealer about the gas mileage. I do not understand why I get the same gas mileage on this car as I did on the Suburban which I traded in . (about 15.5 and that is almost 100% highway driving) This car is so much lighter. If GM could get the gas mileage right, maybe 25+ mpg, they wouldnt have to practically be giving the cars away.