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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  Excellent Vehicle - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By AF_Ret - October 14 - 12:39 am

  Took Museum delivery of 09 Atomic Orange convertible with 4LT, NPP, Z51, Auto, Nav system on 22 Sep. Drove back to So CA and it was the most confortable long distance ride of any car that I have owned. The 6 way power seats are extremely comfortable and exceeded my expectations. Handled like a dream on winding mountain roads. Could not believe the acceleration that this car has. Gas mileage better then expected, 26.6 MPG cross country and this included city, mountain and interstate driving during break in period. A great automobile.

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  Nice car! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Rayna - October 13 - 8:24 pm

  I wanted to write this review due to the fact that people have complained about this lovely car a lot. I got a 08 Chevy Aveo because I needed something better for my job and this car fit perfectly. No it doesnt have the power of a Corvette but if I wanted the power of a Corvette I would have bought one! This car has been getting me from point A to point be and this is a nice family car but sporty looking too!

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  2008 Chevy Equinox Sport AWD.. Great! - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By GMEQUINOX - October 13 - 8:45 am

  GM has hit their mark with the 08 Equinox Sport, most of the reviews Ive read from actual drivers (not people who write car reviews for a living Im talking people who actually matter) say that the 3.4L engine was underpowered and not overly responsive. This is not the case with the 3.6L engine this engine growls and throws you back in your seat on a whim. The interior space is actually amazing on all Equinox trims, when looking at the Equinox on the outside it looks like a really small SUV/Crossover but when inside and you start to load it up, you would never know how small this vehicle actually is. I would recommend this vehicle for anyone interested in sport, handling and cargo room.

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  Great Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Amanda - October 13 - 12:48 am

  Truck is great, bought it a few months ago and have had several trips in it out of town. It does extremely well for a V8 with this size of truck, I was averaging 22mpg and made it from Panama City, FL to Tampa, FL on a little under 1/2 a tank (5hrs). The interior design is great, minus the extra holder space on top of the center console, you cant get into the console without moving things off that space. I love the extra power outlet in the back, as well as the Bose stereo system-has great sound. I live on a backroad that leads out to a 4 lane highway and I know that when I come to the stop sign, this truck definitely has the get up and go to scoot out into traffic when I hit the gas.

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  Three years down the road. - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By daddysangel - October 12 - 8:42 pm

  We came from my second-hand 1996 Geo Metro 3-door hatchback dying from a major oil leak & my dads 1998 Chevy Malibu to my 2005 lazer blue with dealer installed gray pin-stripping `Nox LT. Id been lurking for year(s)searching for a vehicle to haul my WWII VFW dad & any future walking aids hed have. Regular oil changes, tire rotations & annual car wash is all it has needed (garaged for the last 2 years). The MPG was 14 in 2005 and I expect it to still be low since it only gets to run to the doctors, groceries, church and senior citizens club in a small town with 20 to 35 mph speed limits. It got a compliment this summer after its annual carwash about how pretty it was...is it new?

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  I love my "Lil" Car!! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Lils Mom - October 11 - 11:49 pm

  After paying almost $200 for a tank of gas in my Suburban, I decided it was time to make a change! I wanted a "no frills" car, didnt even know if they made such a thing! When I saw the Aveo5, it was exactly what I was looking for! After the initial shock of switching from a Suburban to this car, I was in love! Drove 2,000 miles the first month just because it is so fun to drive! My monthly payment is less than the cost of one tank of gas in my Suburban! I did have a stereo installed. Couldnt deal with AM/FM...but other than that, Im as thrilled as can be with my car. Her name is "No Frill Lil"....very basic, but an awesome drive!

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  Impressive - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Wvasko - October 11 - 4:31 pm

  Saw it, liked it, drove it, bought it. It was a great experience. The ride is smooth, acceleration good for nice sized rig and 6 cylinders. Exceptionally comfortable easy, to load groceries etc. Easy to get into and exit. Some dont like the seat belts, I do as they are lower than most and not across neck. We have been averaging 18.5 mpg. I was very impressed going over the bumps etc.

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  Chevy Malibu Base Model - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Wildbill1 - October 11 - 10:00 am

  Car performs well, the four clyinder engine performs as well as the V6 engine. Fuel economy is excellent. The front seat area is slightly smaller than previous model years, also the back seat is smaller. Added features such as info is nice to have. Overall the car is excellent. The new design is great and looks great.

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  Best Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jay - October 10 - 2:23 pm

  This is the best vehicle ive ever owned. Its got a great ride and quiet interior, but still can tow and haul. The ext. and int. fit and finish is perfect. I have had "0" problems. One last thing, the styling is great. Everywhere I go friends and family want to check it out.

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  Love my Blazer - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MattK - October 10 - 1:21 pm

  I have had mine for 2 years and not 1 time in the shop. Super comfortable and fast and fits 5 very comfortably. No complaints other than gas mileage which can be expected for this engine/size car. I get about 19/20 mpg in a suburban area with a decent amount of light. I would buy again!