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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  My Cobalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Deb - February 6 - 7:03 am

  This car handles like a dream. It has alot of cool features that I love for an inexpensive car. It configures your gas mileage without you having to do a thing. And the CD player is standard in all models which is always nice :). The 4 door sedan is roomy and comfy and the trunk is huge. I highly recommend the 2005 Chevy Cobalt.

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  Went for a Brake Job! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Dog Transporter - February 5 - 12:50 pm

  I had no intention of buying a new car - was just killing time waiting for an estimate on a brake job on an Alero when I wandered into the lot. Did not need a new car - could not afford a new car but I bought the perfect car! I do animal rescue and transport - the Malibu Maxx is perfect! Great fuel ecomony and I have had up to 17 crated dogs in the vechile and still had room to spare. I could not be happier!

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  My new Cobalt - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sanmech - February 5 - 11:36 am

  Purchased car 3 weeks ago. Only 900 miles on it. I get 32 miles per gallon city/highway combined, mostly highway The handing is average, the engine is quiet, the interior I find uncomfortable. Transmission shifts nicely and low interior noise. I have leather interior but being the car was on the lot already. I dont have the leather steering wheel which should be standard with this interior.

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  If you can afford it BUY IT!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By hoss67 - February 4 - 10:00 am

  This is the second truck I have owned new and it is more than any other truck on the market. They are not kidding when they say it isnt an SUV but a UUV. It has the ability to do what ever I need it to from hauling my camper or 4 wheeler to hauling an entertainment in a monsoon and keep it dry all the way to the door. As far as summer fun it is great drop out the back window roll down the windows and run the dunes and hills. BEST TRUCK EVER.

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  The Best Bang for the Buck! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DjHectorB - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I have a Tahoe and will never spend any more money on an Escalade that is priced at $15,000 more than the Tahoe. Its insane. Dont get me wrong the Caddy is nice but I couldnt get myself to spend $15,000 more for the caddy. My Tahoe is great. If Chevy keeps building nice Tahoes I will be a lifetime buyer.

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  The "NEW" Camaro - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J Leibenguth - February 4 - 10:00 am

  Its about time they designed a truck with an attitude. Silverados have always been known for their durability but were never much on street performance. This "truck" has the heart of the camaro and the balls of a silverado.

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  Very Smart Car Purchase - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Laura - February 3 - 3:00 am

  I did alot of research on SUVs for this size and price range. The 2010 Equinox, in my estimate stood at the head of the class. I have owned it for one and half months now, and I really, really like it. I finally got it out on the open road this past weekend and was amazed at the gas mileage I got, and the beautiful, and fun ride. I would recommend that anyone looking at this size or even the next size up to consider this vehicle if you are truly looking for the very best bang for you buck. I highly recommend the back up camera for safety reasons to all who purchase this vehicle which I did get. I also got the 8 way driver power seat and the communication package.

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  Best bang for the buck on the market; - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rob - February 2 - 10:00 am

  I am a bit of a car snob. Mostly had Acuras and Lexus. We were in need of a new crossover and I looked at them all. The Equinox was overwhelmingly the winner for interior quality, ride, power, gas mileage, comfort for the price. Just go drive it. You will be blown away.

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  Noise - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carla Jenkins - February 2 - 3:00 am

  This car is a great car for me. My only problem is that on a short drive, less than 1/2 mile, there is a noise in the rear end after turning the car off. It sounds like when you hit a street sign with your hand. Apparently this is an intermittent problem.

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  Fun car - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Angel Aviles - February 1 - 7:00 pm

  Great and fun car to drive, has a lot of power. On Star adds safety and navigation to your trip, vehicle tracking and communication. Radio is lacking Bluetooth technology, but it got installed in newer models. The vehicle is very reliable, I used it as my daily driver and no complaints whatsoever. I would definitely recommend this vehicle to anyone.