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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  Exactly what I wanted - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By camper77 - November 27 - 2:00 am

  I have a 03 Suburban LS which we will use primarily to tow a Coleman camper. I love the Bose sound system, the smooth drive train, and the overall design. I very carefully looked at a wide range of vehicles and I think this one has everything I want at a very competitive price. I think the Sequoia is a higher quality vehicle, but when you factor in the price and the extra space, I think the Suburban wins.

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  Would rather walk than switch - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By 4x4lover - November 27 - 2:00 am

  Weve had 3 other Tahoes and this one is the most impressive. Tahoes ride and handle very well. Plenty of room for hauling cargo &/or grandkids.

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  Great car..... - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Zecho - November 26 - 9:40 pm

  ... however there is a petition to have the LS1 engine recalled due to the fact that the #1 and sometimes the #2 cylinder is over-bored causing the engine to knock. Almost every LS1 engine that GM put into the Camaro, Corvette, or Truck has this problem. GM has chosen to ignore this much the same as they have other problems in the past, some of which have cost people their lives. I still love the car but, I will not buy another car with the LS1 engine until this problem has been resolved.

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  I love my Equinox! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lisa - November 26 - 11:33 am

  All of the amenities of the more expensive SUVs for less money, and you dont feel like you are in a cheap car. My husband drives a Chevy Tahoe 2004 and my car rides better!

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  Runs Strong - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By MikeNJ - November 25 - 9:46 am

  I bought this car in June of 2000. I admit I was skeptical given all the American car bashing that came out of the 80s and early 90s, but Ive always preferred to buy American. This Monte Carlo is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned! I am in sales, I drive a lot, averaging 30K-40K miles per year. My Monte now has 177K miles on it and is only now beginning to show some well-deserved repair needs (loss of power, mechanical issue). With that said, I can have it fixed and shell keep on going. And my gut says shell go another 100K easy! I cared for the car meticulously, synthetic oil every 3000 miles, plugs/wires every 50K, Trans fluid every 30K, etc, etc. No transmission problems, nothing. Best!

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  SUV Works For Me - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By AZGAL - November 25 - 3:30 am

  This is a really nice SUV for the money. You get style and comfort as a package. I have owned several competing SUVs for the last 10 years and find this Trailblazer has the smoothest ride with all the comfort. If you have had other SUVs you know what I am talking about.

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  On par with imports, better price! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By diamond dave - November 25 - 1:53 am

  Its unfortunate that GM gave themselves a bad rep in the 80s and 90s, because this little gem seems to have gone unnoticed. Ours has some upgrades, but the best thing about it over the LS is the wheels. The alloy rims are wider than the LS and is makes a huge difference on the road. It feels so much more solid that the standard rims! The car is quiet at all speeds. The interior trim doesnt have issues yet, but judging from the reviews, I think well look in to after market upgrades. All in all, I think this vehicle is on par with the Accord or Camry, althouh the interior is not as refined. The one thing I would stress is get the premium wheels, it makes all the difference in the world!

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  MY 2006 NOX! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mark - November 22 - 1:06 am

  This is great, it has great everything...barely no engine noise, runs excellent. Its great on gas, better then the 2003 Pathfinder I had. A great car if you have teenaged kids, enough rear legroom for growing kids.

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  Great SUV for all ages - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By brut - November 21 - 1:06 pm

  I received a Trailblazer for my graduation present and I have had it for almost a year now. I have no complaints whatsoever except the interior. Chevy does need to step up their interiors and make the inside just as nice as the outside appears.

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  my Trailblazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By aimbsl - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Very nice for traveling, especially with the rear entertainment center. It handled well in bad weather. Visability was good with the exception of a slight blind spot on the passenger side. The seats were not as comfortable for driving long distances as they were in my previous vehicle, Mercury Grand Marquis. All in all, I am really enjoying this vehicle. I have also owned minivans in the past, and my family (children, parents, siblings, etc) all tell me that the rear seats are a lot more comfortable and they especially like the stadium- type seating. Smooth ride anywhere you sit in the vehicle.