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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  First new car... - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jerzeezfinest - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I am SO excited about this car... I was driving a 91 jetta that I put $4,000 into in under 18 months-- I was NOT going to deal with anyh more used car problems... The aveo was the cheapest new car i could possibly by, I went to 12 dealerships and was in LOVE with this car. It is an AWESOME value and I dont think I could have possibly done any better for what I had to go on. Im 18, with a cosigner and a little help for the down payment, Im paying $175 a month... totally do-able.

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  Fabulous! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jrsfan8 - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I researched this car for what seemed like years and my homework paid off. We love our Malibu, Stella. She is fun to drive, she turns heads, she is fast and easy to steer. I would recommend doing your shopping online and getting financing somewhere else. It saves so much hassle, even though you have to say no a million times to the sales guy and the closer. You can get a much better deal this way though and its fun to watch them squirm.

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  Awesome SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Alex E. V. - October 1 - 10:00 am

  This car not only performs great but it looks great. I think it looks so much better than the more expensive MDX. On long trips this roomy interior is the best. The engine is quiet. This is by far Chevys best SUV yet.

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  GOOD SUV AND GOOD PRICE RANGE - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By KEJIE LIU - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this nice SUV a few days ago, havey known about the reliability yet. It has a smooth powertrain and lively take off. Quite in town driving and comfortable freeway ride. Noticeble wind noice from the windshield. I like the FWD better than the AWD which provide more take off power and smooth driving performance on the good surface road. Good MPG compare in the same class.

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  Go Buy One! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By The "Bruggy Man" - October 1 - 10:00 am

  I upgraded to this vehicle from a 99 Ext. Cab GMC Sierra. I love having four "real" doors, especially when you have a two year old daughter to buckle in a car seat. The additional cabin space in the back seat is well worth the sacrifice of eight inches of bed space. The 5.3 litre V8 is smooth as glass. There is also great visibility when looking out the side windows and back window. The current rebates and discounts are incredible! I bought this vehicle for $1,200 less than I paid for my 99 model brand new.

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  LS extended 4 door Silverado 2wd - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Baker, A - October 1 - 10:00 am

  V 6 Ext cab 4dr truck. I bought it with 12 miles on it. Forget an SUV, the cab can sit 6 people, 5 comfortable. Road Trips Hwy fuel = 24 mpg and city = 19 mpg. Steering is tight not lose. Hwy driving is smooth. Body is tight, no excessive noise when driving. Only needed oil changes, no repairs in 15 months owned truck. AM/FM/CD radio sounds great. Can converse with others at normal tones. Has 2 outlets for plugging in phones,etc. Roomy glove box and center arm rest/console has lots of space. We do volunteer work for haunted house in Neosho Rapids,KS and this truck has hauled us down a muddy lane back and forth with no trouble at all.

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  Awesome truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By cph 360 - September 30 - 6:26 pm

  I have owned many trucks and all I can say is my 1988 2500 2wd 5.7 regular cab has 248,000 miles and still performs like new. I purchased 2004 2500 4wd crew cab 6.0 v8 last month and all I can say is this truck is truly superior too all other trucks. Ride looks handling and most of all performance. The power is unbelievable and gas mileage is 14 mpg around town and 17.8 on the highway, what more can I say great job gm. Ford, Dodge, Toyota step aside, I"m a GM man for ever.

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  My awsome chevy NOX - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa Richards - September 30 - 11:23 am

  The 2006 Chevy Equinox is a great SUV to have. It has the most appealing exterior and interior design than any of its other competitor. It is a real Chevy truck. With on demand AWD, its perfect. As a mom, Ive seen the difference we had since we traded our 2002 Toyota Rav4. The kids dont complain about the rear seat legroom. There is enough cargo space. The LT model is great. The Equinox is a strong, confident, SUV. It is the best SUV in its class. Looks almost like the Acura MDX but is a lot cheaper. Equinox looks expensive. Its a great buy!

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  Very Pleased - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Gwen - September 29 - 11:10 pm

  I bought this car in 11-00, brand new. I have been so pleased with it that I am now trading it for a new 2006 model. I need the new warranty features, if something were to go wrong. I have never had any serious trouble with it at all.

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  Huge upgrade for small GM trucks - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Colorado5cyl5M - September 29 - 6:16 pm

  I recently purchased a new 2005 Colorado ZQ8 Regular cab with the 5 cylinder and manual transmission. The truck performs well and accellerates better than I expected. The handlng is sharp, but with a slight penalty in ride quality. The interior is smartly executed, with everything in good reach, and the seats are way more supportive than the ones in my previous S-10. The Interior space is immensely more too. The styling is killer, and in black it looks mean going down the road.