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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  Love my equinox!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By matttorby - November 13 - 10:00 am

  This car is a great value, my only complaint is that a larger motor with more horsepower would be nice. However, the 3.4 has enough power. Bottom line, a great and fun car to drive!!!

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  Enjoy my New Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By LifeInAroostook - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I traded a 2001 Suburban (a massive vehicle) for my 2005 Equinox, and I am mostly happy with it. Trading from such a large vehicle, I find the interior size of the Equinox to be quite adequate, and Im surprised at how easily Ive made the transition. I have 2600 miles on it now. I like the power and the solid feel of the road that it provides. There is lots of room for my two Greyhounds and one Husky with the back seat down and I like the styling, both inside and out.

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  Hurricane Durable - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By TMB - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Before my equinox I drove a Ford Mustang, so handeling, pick-up, etc were all big issues. But the equinox drives like a dream. Very comfortable, tons of space, pretty good on gas. And she made it through hurricanes charley and frances. The vehicle barely quivered while driving through 40+ mph winds. Also, she is rather dent resistant. Ive seen a few obviously psycho people open their car doors (with force) and hit my car. But she shows no dents. Overall, it is an excellent vehicle and I am exceptionally pleased.

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  Equinox is a hit with me - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By William Sparks - November 12 - 8:50 pm

  I am very happy with my Equinox LS. It is my first SUV. I previously had been driving a Chevy Malabu, which I liked. I am very pleased with looks and performance, and the seats are comfortable. I dont put on a lot of miles so the gas mileage at this time has not yet reached posted mileage, but is slowly creeping up and I am confident that it will come up. The only problem I had is the wheel covers were noisy, but they replaced them and they are fine now.

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  some improvements over prior models - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By obrienw - November 12 - 6:23 pm

  The interior has some improvements over prior models but Ford is still much nicer. The powertrain is why I bought this truck and it does not disappoint - with the exception of the need to replace fuel filters too frequently. Engine and allison trans are great for pulling my gooseneck trailer. Has bigger tag receiver , with insert. They dropped the trans temp gauge from prior models but the info is available from the Driver Information Center. Had emergency brake sticking and a driveline vibration issue but otherwise good solid truck.

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  Best Chevrolet ever! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pete - November 12 - 2:23 pm

  Picked up the car on 3/17. Have over 600 miles on it. Getting over 28mpg. Great looks interior and exterior. XM and Onstar are great features. Second row seats move for more storage. For a SUV with 4 cylinders, this car has great get up and go! Very quiet and smooth ride. Front bucket seats are very comfortable.

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  So far - so good - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jim mccormack - November 12 - 10:26 am

  Other than the lack of power with the 4 cyl., I am very happy with this Chevy. Exceedingly comfortable to drive and handles very well and smooth on the open road. Smooth ride, steering is a dream, minor problems with door hinges, as stated so far - so good.

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  Love our new Equinox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nino5 - November 12 - 4:26 am

  We test drove other SUVs in the same "class" as the Equinox and it should be in a class all its own! Nothing compares to this vehicle. The backseat fits our three kids perfectly and the cargo space is a bonus. We love our new Equinox! Looking forward to the snowy weather to try out the AWD! The side mirrors provide great visibility as well as the large front window. Our dealership was wonderful, never pressured us to buy anything and made Chevy a household name for us. The Onstar is so great, it walked us right through the set up, our insurance company HIGHLY recommended the Onstar system. We cant say enough about this great vehicle.

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  Better Than - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ed Spencer - November 10 - 7:10 am

  Definitely way better than dodge ford and nissan.

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  Simply Outstanding - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ted@hotmail.com - November 9 - 2:00 am

  I am most impressed with the Z06. The engine AND exhaust sound are both excellent, and the torque makes the car amazing to drive. Nothing like being able to accelerate from the light in 4TH gear if you want to! On the highway, the car is very composed, and fairly quiet. The suspension is stiff, but comfortable. Acceleration is simply awesome, and the handling is very light and precise. Braking is very strong, and easy to modulate. Have been averaging about 23 MPG in mixed driving. The car has been flawless, with ZERO build defects. I am loving every moment of it as my daily driver!