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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  Hard Driving - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Sturns - April 29 - 5:30 pm

  I have had this car for less than a year and have had to do a lot driving. It scared me a couple of times, but its come out a champion. Its hardy and the gas mileage isnt too bad. It has made me take a second look at GM. Sorry Japanese.

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  Satisfied - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By amaira - April 29 - 1:22 pm

  For the money I believe I made the best possible choice. For 52,000 miles it has run well performed well and carted a lot of personal belongings. It looks good is roomy and mileage is good for a vehicle this size.

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  2000 Chevy Malibu LS - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mario - April 29 - 11:55 am

  Very nice to drive. Very comfortable for extremely long trips. Love to take it when I have to go to Kansas. Buttons are very easy to use and everything is in a good spot.

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  2005 Chevy Trailblazer LT - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Casper - April 29 - 11:50 am

  The car is quite nice to drive. Very easy to use especially with the steering wheel controls. I plan on taking it for a long trip this May so that should be interesting. Pretty quick at least faster than my Mazda. Very good car for a small family.

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  Sporty Ride - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By buckeye mema - April 29 - 6:57 am

  We have owned vans for many years but decided we wanted to size down. I loved the look & price of this car and the ride is good. Some of the interior design is a little "cheap" in quality, but with the good price of the car you have to expect that. The two things I do not like are the sun visors are too short, they could use an extension of some type & the way the hatch opens, it is hard to get it open you have to grab it in just the right place. We do take a number of weekend trips and have found the gas mileage to be getting better. We are getting about 30 miles to the gallon now. Too bad the gas tank could not be a little bigger, but like I said we owned vans before.

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  Transmission Problems Under 75,000 - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By Bonnie - April 28 - 11:02 pm

  Had 2 transmission repairs under warranty at 75 and 80,000. I dont think the dealership fixed it properly, because had to be assertive, and now it has lasted another 225,000 without problems. Had trouble with dealer trying to get out of warranty for transmission and throttle body, saying it is because we didnt have oil changes at GM and used our own serviceman (had regular oil changes every 2500 elsewhere). Dealer said transmissions must be overhauled every 15,000 or would void warranty and said that brakes needed doing at 7500 then didnt put enough brake fluid in and they failed after the repair. After warranty over have been very satisfied with van. Love van except front leg room.

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  Wifes New Ride - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lee - April 28 - 6:06 pm

  After test driving suvs from Honda Pilot, Fords Edge, GMC Acadia, Saturn Vue, we decided on the Chevy Equinox. Two main reasons 1. Ease of getting in and out of the vehicle. 2. This was the only vehicle that didnt have an obstructed view by wide front door window trims. The viewing area is much more open than any of the others. We also found the dash was not raised or slanted upward, but smoothly angles downward. Both my wife and I have bad backs and its entry is with ease on my 62" 280lb frame. My wife just lost both breasts to cancer and pulling down on the rear hatch is not a problem as it was with the other SUVs. All in all, a well rounded design and earthy downhome elegance.

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  Now we go in a Tahoe - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dwightex - April 28 - 11:22 am

  Bot this car since we commute 1x week 200 miles back and forth from home to work through the mountains of western Maryland. This truck is a dream to drive on the highway. We bought the car because of 0% finance and GM rebate. The $49,000 sticker was really the same price as a $36K car, so it was a good value. We are pleased, except that the car is so big and heavy it is a little tough in the city. Gas mileage for us is 16.9 combined over the past 5000 miles.

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  first new vehicle - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By johneb09 - April 28 - 7:32 am

  Ive had many vehicles, but this is the first new vehicle. This one has the chrome package, 20" chrome rims, chrome trim, mirrors, and door handles. I love the looks of it. It now has 4300 miles and am averaging around 17 MPG. The instruments are easy to read, and the controls are easy to reach. The seats are comfortable, the handling is responsive and the ride is pretty smooth. It took a little getting used to the cylinder deactivation as it seemed a little sluggish when accelerating from a stop. However, when you need power, its there. I occasionally pull an 18 foot fiberglass boat and hardly know its behind. All in all a very nice truck, and the rebates made it hard to pass up.

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  decent compact - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By ch15x - April 28 - 2:00 am

  If you want a simple means of transportation, this is not a bad pick.