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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  So Far - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By bone - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Its a dream so far!

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  Awsome truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chevy552 - September 5 - 2:00 am

  Its the best chevrolet truck i haved ever owned, and it has pretty good power with the 5.3, and rides better then my 1999 ford xlt 150 4x4

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  Really Nice Smaller SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jeff57 - September 4 - 7:33 pm

  I decided on a smaller SUV after driving a Trailblazer and Explorer since 1998. The Equinox exterior style is most impressive, and many of its features, especially AWD, is great. Excellent traction when accelerating on wet pavement, and comfortable to drive. Good bang for the buck.

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  Excellent Truck For Towing - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Alex - September 3 - 3:20 pm

  I have owned my Silverado for about 6 months now, and I have had not one problem with the design quality. The engine performance is superb and towing isnt a problem. My 4wd reg cab SB can tow a impressivly 8,100lbs with the v8 5300. I normally tow about 4500lbs with the factory hitch at 80mph effortlessly. Towing like this, there are no major shakes or rattles, bumps are smooth and the truck handles great. I have driven a non Z71 and it was a bit smoother on pavement compared to the stardard base. But offroad performance is much better.

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  love the maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By VICKY HICKS - September 3 - 3:00 pm

  I love my Malibu maxx, I have one problem, cloth seats are dirty just from rain drops in car. Dont know how to clean this-help, rear windsheild wiper just started flippin out. Going to have fixed this weekend.

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  Great car - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rita - September 3 - 10:46 am

  I love this car. You can hardly tell you hit a bump, and the gas mileage has been great. I drive 100 miles or more a day, and it has not been as bad as I thought it would be. Everything is designed with my family in mind. Well designed!

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  2000 Chevrolet Malibu LS Sedan - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kb2uoe - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Rides nice, basic transportation and reliable. No great shakes on the fancy stuff, even though its an LS.

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  Impala! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Crunch61 - September 3 - 10:00 am

  I guess I would have to say that I love this car. The Impala rides like a dream (although the suspension is a bit on the soft side - more luxury than sport which is ok by me), and its QUIET! (inside AND out). Its nice to be able to roll up the windows and not hear the traffic! I have the seat-package upgrade which includes the interior trim mod and the grip handles... Much more comfortable than the standard seats. I had five adults in the car and all were comfortable. Performance is good with the standard 3.4L engine though I wish I had opted for the 3.8L. Still, I dont have any trouble getting in and out of traffic. My overall rating is VERY GOOD!

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  Best Buy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Peter Yevich - September 3 - 1:26 am

  Fun to drive. Tracks great. Decent gas mileage. Very comfortable. Satellite phone expensive. Satellite radio great. Good in the snow. A great radio system, with 6 CD changer, AM/FM who cares? I use satellite radio all the time. Could have a little more power. Side view is nicer than the Lexus. A lot of people think Im driving a Lexus. Front and back views----no good. Warrenty not good enough. 3/36. The power seat is a joke. You have power in the bottom and still have to manually tilt the back rest. If you have the sun/ moon roof open and all the windows are closed, it sounds like there is a helocopter above you from the wind at 26 to 34 mph.

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  Fun to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By DJL100 - September 2 - 3:40 am

  I have owned this Monte Carlo 3LT with the 3.9L engine for 3 months. It is a fun car to drive and looks fantastic!