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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  Stylish and comfortable! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tamara Seiwell - November 30 - 8:30 pm

  I have only had my Equinox for 2 weeks and I love it. I have everything in my Equinox that it could come with and can say its very comfortable. From the dimming mirror to the leather seats, etc. There is nothing that I dont love about it. Not only is the vehicle nice inside but it also handles well around corners and on the road. Chevy did a really good job on this vehicle.

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  A move up from a METRO - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By pms - November 30 - 12:33 pm

  Being a person who hates big, pretentious vehicles, I appreciate this car very much. I think America could use an attitude change to "bigger Women, and smaller trucks". One does not feel MACHO in this type of car. It is only for the intelligent, secure buyer. The relative luxury, when compared to a METRO is wonderful. Some zip in the engine, power locks/ windows...I am spoiled!!

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  Great 03 Silverado - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By JJG - November 29 - 10:00 am

  Bought this truck with 8,000 miles on it and still cant figure out why it was turned back. Its the most comfortable truck Ive ever owned and the difference between it and my 2002 3500 Silverado are significant. Chevy worked on the basics for the 2001 and 2002s but refined the beast in 03. This was/is my wifes truck and at 110lbs, has no trouble getting around and enjoys being Queen of the road. The Duramx/Allison combination is perfection and POWER!

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  Z71 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dltunct - November 29 - 10:00 am

  I leased my Z71 about 2 months ago and absolutely love it. The ride is better than any othe SUV I have ever driven. At 55 on the highway I did average well over 20 MPG. As the speed goed up it does drop down below 20, but still better than my old Grand Cherokee.

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  Best truck every - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By redgate190 - November 29 - 10:00 am

  I had this vehicles as a rental in september. i orignally owned a 1994 blazer loved the way it drove and whe i got behind the wheel of this i feel in love. Going down I-95 was a joyy. comfortable, smooth ride and great gasmilage compared to my 94 blazer. I bbrought my car about a month ago and i am still loving it. everyday it gets better cant wait till the summer so the kids can enjoy the dvd screen going to the beach what a relief this will be. i also added a second dvd player for the third row.

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  1 year & 15000 miles later - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By highrollers12 - November 29 - 8:07 am

  15,000 miles & 1 year later with zero problems with this car. I have not even been back to the dealer since the purchase. This car is very quiet. I get 28 city and 36 highway, I am light on the gas and rarely travel above 70mph when on the highway. Love the interior and exterior. Great car.

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  Final Production Run - 6 Speed - SSR - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By KenOfAZ - November 29 - 12:08 am

  This red hotrod turns heads. I am always getting compliments on it. The six speed manual shifts very smooth with 5th & 6th gear both overdrives. It takes a lot of revs to get this heavy truck off the line with the 3.73 axle ratio. It needs a lower first gear, or lower rear axle ratio. Gets about 20 MPG at freeway speeds in 6th gear. About 13 MPG in the city. The 400 HP LS2 6 liter engine has great power, but has a lot of weight to pull. So it is pretty quick, almost as fast as my old 345 HP 1998 LS1 Corvette. The truck handles great for a truck, but nothing like a true sports car. It is a lot easier to get in and out of than a Corvette. A future classic.

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  Built Like An Anvil - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Youngturk - November 27 - 9:19 pm

  This is my second Trailblazer. I had my first for three years without one single problem. And although some people might think the styling is a bit dated, its unpretentious, and as functional and reliable a vehicle as you could ask for. Comfortable and fun to drive. And the inline six is bulletproof. This is one solid, well-built vehicle.

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  2005 Mailibu Maxx Best Car Ever! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Paul - November 27 - 1:33 pm

  Three years of great driving and lots of power with v-6 engine. Had no problems during warranty period. However, recently noticed a noise in the steering. Car is now 3 months out of warranty and dealer called GM for me and they replaced steering column paying 75% of total cost. I was happy with this gesture from GM. I was out $150 on the total cost of repair. Car has been great in snow and ice. I got 4 studless snow tires and wheels from Tire Rack.com and it is rock solid in bad weather conditions in Idaho.

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  For the homeowner with kids... - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By jseotbc - November 27 - 10:00 am

  With kids and frequent trips to Lowes/Home Depot, this is THE vehicle. It is big enough for the family and to bring home large items, yet small enough to fit in an average garage. Great ride.