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:

• 

  Nice - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By hhrsag - September 28 - 12:03 am

  A very good car. A little small on the inside, but once you get used to it it is a fun car to drive with good power and mileage. It gets lots of looks and complements

• 

  Nice and big - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By charles - September 27 - 10:26 am

  I purchased this vehicle because of the room offered. Gas mileage is a big disappointment (13.4 avg) even driving "normally". I had the battery drain issue when I first purchased, but this was fixed immediately with a software upgrade. Dash area looks a little cheap with the plastic overdose. Great on an 1800 mile trip. Tire rotation is cost prohibitive at the dealer. Cheaper to buy new tires as needed! Agree with the need for fold flat 3rd row seats. These are bulky to remove. Resale price (nowadays) is a nightmare. Would recommend.

• 

  Trailblazer is a great pick - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By CBTrailblazer - September 27 - 10:00 am

  this suv was purchased just days before a 26" snowstorm. 4 wheel drive works great! we traded in a 00 venture and dont regret it for one second. interior materials are a little on the cheap side, but exterior styling is great. love the tan interior and exterior! came with factory brush guards for under $31,000. this is our only car now since our 96 metro just died. reliability is questionable, however, metro never broke down, just many problems. the catylitic converter is what did it in. we compared the trailblazer to the toyota sequoia and found the trailblazer to be a better value.

• 

  After a months ownership - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By JP - September 27 - 9:27 am

  We bought the Equinox because we needed a car that could be towed 4-wheels-down behind our RV and, happily, the Equinox fits the bill nicely. We bought the 2.4L 2WD because we were interested in fuel economy, but the mileage that were getting doesnt really support our decision - its much poorer than we figured it would be considering the relatively low vehicle weight (about 3700 lb). The acceleration likewise was surprisingly bad. That said, were happy with the vehicle - the interior is nicely appointed with lots of conveniences, although we had to buy the LT version to get hands-free bluetooth and back-up camera. We wanted GPS as well but would have had to spend more to get the LTZ version. One surprise is that Chevy doesnt want you to maintain your own transmission fluid level, so theres no dipstick for the transmission.

• 

  Wow, this is a Chevy? - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Halofan - September 27 - 5:13 am

  This is my 3rd Chevy truck and I cant believe the upgrades. My last was an 04 Crew Z71 4x4. A nice truck, but it is no comparison to this truck. Fit and finish is superb, ergonomics are awesome. Ride is phenomenal. Enough adjectives. Early on, its a really nice upgrade to the previous generation "workmanlike" truck. Ill have to wait and see on reliability, my 04 had it share of issues in the early going, but Im loyal to Chevy.

• 

  Cheap build quality - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Nancy - September 27 - 3:43 am

  I have always loved the Silverado but I have come to believe that they are getting more and more cheaply built. My last two Silverados have had the same airconditioner problem by the second year. My 2004 with 53000 miles just had the rear differential cover replaced because it rusted right through the middle. (And, this truck is kept garaged and underbody washed in the winter. It isnt even my primary vehicle.) The metal used for the differential cover might as well have been aluminum foil. Not even a coat of protective paint. As I look at my 2004 compared to my 2002, I see a lot of cheaply done work and parts in the newer model. Thats why my next truck will be a Toyota

• 

  Just what I wanted - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By hoppyalong - September 25 - 2:10 pm

  Excellent SUV. Drives like a dream. Strong engine and fun to drive. Good looks also. So far at 7,000 miles no bad smells. But poor gas mileage in town (13 - 15 mpg). On the road as high as 22 mpg. But not 25 as advertised. I average no more than 18 mpg. It took over 5,000 miles to stop rattling and squeaking. Very quiet now. Feels like you sit down instead of sitting straight across or up on to the front seat (Im 6 1) when getting in. Electric steering saved me from getting hit by a truck on the drivers side. Very quick response. Back seat works great for tall people or to add more space for stuff. It would have cost $15K+ to get the extras I have. I love the sub-woofer and XM radio.

• 

  I like it! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By TJK - September 24 - 9:33 pm

  I too had a problem with the Shifter Indent Switch/Key from Ignition problem prior to my warranty running out. I consistantly get 33+ MPG driving both two-lane and freeways. The worst tank was 26 MPG while using the remote start in sub-zero weather. With nearly 40,000 miles in a year, I guess Ill have to drive it into the ground. I would guess my trade-in value is shot!

• 

  Great Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By GM BELIEVER - September 24 - 1:43 am

  Why arent there more on the road? This car offers you everything for a reasonable price. I have the top of the line LT and can not think of an option that I still would want; heated seats, tilt & telescoping steering wheel, remote start (which I can never live without again!) power moonroof, etc. It has plenty of pep and handles and rides great. It has enough cargo room to move a student to college. The only gripes are the intrusive "A" pillars and lousy OEM tires and brake rotors. Other than that, people are missing out on the Maxx revolution!

• 

  Oil consuption - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By jim - September 23 - 3:35 pm

  I was just on the web checking to see if any others had a oil problem. Was surprised to find many of the same problems Ive had. The car goes through 1 to 2 quarts of oil between changes. Braking is not as good as it should be. The dealership has replaced the tire monitor for the right front tire, and the entire computer at least 5 times now. That became so frustrating that the first thing I do when I get in now is hit the button to get rid of the message. Other small misc problem too small to list. Really a shame because I love to drive this car