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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  Overall a good truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bobtag - November 15 - 6:16 pm

  I bought this truck in May. To date I have logged nearly 13,000 miles. The truck is quiet, dependable, and has reasonable fuel mileage. All the controls are thoughtfully laid out and the truck handles very well in city and highway traffic. The Onstar is highly overated. I got lost in the Canadian north and they were unable to help me find my way out. The phone option also fails when you get into isolated areas. Its a little meager on power but it is only a 4.8. Shifts down a lot in the wind. Makes up for it in decent mileage.

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  It is so-so - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chevgirl - November 15 - 4:53 am

  We bought the Equinox when they were hard to find. At first we loved it but then it started having problems. Within the first 2 months my front struts were replaced and now it is in the shop waiting for a part, which cannot be found right now. Also go for the leather the cloth is cheap. I do like the sunroof and we had a dvd put in and like that. My suggestion is wait for next years model so all the kinks can be worked out.

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  Chevy SOLD me On FOREIGN TRUCKS; Good Job!!! - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hworth06 - November 14 - 11:58 am

  I just purchase this truck with 56,950 miles on it, had it two weeks and the truck is so disappointing (I cant curse on here so I dont care to go into details...but if there is a such thing as a class action suit for this truck Im jumping on it). All the negative reviews well deserved. I wanted my first pick up truck to be American made but after this experience and diving my company ford work truck, i know my next truck will a Toyota Tundra. So sad America got swept it the auto industy. Now I cringe watching these chevy comercials every 10 minutes pushing these wack trucks. Oh well you learn. #regrets

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  Navigation interface problems on older phones - 2018 Chevrolet Equinox
  By allan - November 13 - 10:10 am

  Be prepared to buy a better phone if you want the Map Navigation to display and have good sound on the directions. iPhone 5 has a volume control problem and my directions are drowned out by the radio or music. iPhone7 no problem at all--works perfectly.

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  Standard box does not align with cab - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By roscoe - November 12 - 11:20 pm

  I love the handling and performance. It is a sharp truck; sits up high unlike any of the past GM trucks that I have owned. The V6 has plenty of power and the interior is stylish and comfortable. The only thing that I can find troubling is the way the box does not line up to the cab the same on each side. It seems the box is build slightly crooked. I have checked several other new trucks and they are all the same. I would love to hear if anyone else has noticed this imperfection. Other than this I think Chevy has hit a home-run.

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  Great ride and value - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rawn123 - November 12 - 9:54 am

  Bought new LT1, 4 cyl model two weeks ago. Much smoother and quieter than all other small SUVs I tested (Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Toyota). I was looking for a nice, small AWD with modern features. The 2011 Equinox provided this and much more. quiet ride, features and value.

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  2007 Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By bob lucky - November 11 - 2:40 am

  This is a great driving vehicle. The performance is excellent and all of the controls are well laid out

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  American muscle. - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By ben2489 - November 10 - 10:00 am

  Its like a childhood dream. It also reminds me of the time during the early 70s when we used to race the old cars at the track legally.

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  great car - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Crazyserg9 - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I would like the car to be a little more faster. But other than that i think it is a great car.

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  Very very good! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Flawsey - November 10 - 10:00 am

  This truck is great if you cant afford one of the other big SUVs like a Tahoe or Etc... . I got mine for a great deal so I was please with the price. I only had the truck for 4 months but so far no problems !