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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  Fun but already falling apart - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Kimberly - July 14 - 1:33 am

  I havent had my Equinox very long and I do love it but am already dealing with some issues. The leather seats are already tearing apart on sides. The paint around the radio buttons and window buttons are chipping off. Every time I open my sun roof gresse gets on the fabric. When you roll window doiwn just a tad the noise of wind is awful. You cant even hear someone next to you. And the back seat ride is so hard and awful to ride in.

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  Downside to Chevy HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By tammy - July 13 - 3:06 pm

  I purchased my car and fell in love with the car. We drove it to Myrtle Beach on vacation and on return I had to invest $450 in new brakes and rotors. The car is only a little over a year old and is already rusting in some places. The Chevy emblem is chipping. I have 40,200 miles on my car and then had to replace wheel bearings. If you are buying the car for gas mileage, this is the car for you! If you are looking for durability- you may want to consider something other than the Chevy HHR.

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  Great car Trax - 2016 Chevrolet Trax
  By joe purpura - July 13 - 1:39 pm

  Excellent value for the money. Acceleration excellent for such a small engine. Surprised w/ the gas mileage. Handling is fine. Space is excellent.

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  Great little car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By EX E4 - July 13 - 1:12 pm

  I currently have about 250,000 miles and all I have had to do was replace the clutch and an a/c line (besides regular maintenance). I drive 90 miles a day to work and back and average about 30 mpg. This car has never left me stranded. The original battery lasted 8 years!

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  Great truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By michelle - July 12 - 4:40 pm

  I am a loyal Chevy person. I love my truck its dependable, it takes me anywhere I want to go or do. I use it in my business iam a paving contractor. I pull equiment with it everyday with no problems.

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  2005 Malibu LT 6-cylinder - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Carguy999 - July 12 - 2:53 pm

  I originally bought this car to commute 76 miles roundtrip to work. Very comfortable, very reliable, very fuel- efficient. 70% highway driving has yielded an average of 28mpg. The only repairs needed have been a couple of recalls and a steering fix common for this generation of Malibus otherwise just oil changes and tire rotations. Not an exciting car, but very, very practical. I had intended to sell it now that Im retired, but Im re- thinking that. A far better value, and a much better car, than my wifes 2006 Toyota Camry.

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  Better than our minivan! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By D Whitman - July 12 - 10:00 am

  In general, experience has been very positive. Vehicle is very practical for a wide range of family needs. Plenty of room to carry the soccer team AND equipment. Also like flexibility of space for vacation needs. Engine performance is very good - good pickup and plenty of power to pass on the highway. eats are very reasy to fold down and variety of combinations is nice.

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  Beths Mal Maxx 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By lusherbe - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Overall, pretty happy with the car...low payments for a reliable car that has great get up and go.

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  Problems, problems, problems - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By nadlem1 - July 12 - 10:00 am

  4 steering colums,3 brake jobs , 1 muffler and 1 electric mirror Is the summary of the problems I had to live with during the last 8 months.

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  Chevy Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By maproksch - July 12 - 10:00 am

  Without question the most comfortable car Ive ever driven. Lots of cargo space, storage space, leg room. Smooth ride, look forward to seeing how it handles in snow.