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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  Recommended - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dorsettfan - June 22 - 10:00 am

  Gas mileage was bad at first, but has gotten much better. Getting about 16.5 mpg which is very good for the size. Ride is awesome. Quiet ride.

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  Best truck around - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Kanzacc - June 22 - 10:00 am

  This truck is an absolute pleasure to drive, especially with the quadrasteer feature. It turns and handles like a sportscar.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By AZ Avalanche - June 21 - 5:53 pm

  Bought my 2007 Z71 Avalanche 1 year ago. Have 18,000 + miles with not a single problem. Truck has great, smooth power and excellent fit and finish. Rides extremely smooth even with Z71 package. In construction and usually get a new truck every 6 months, but plan to keep this one. Very comfortable with well placed and logical controls. Gas mileage averaging 14.8 over 18k of driving all in city. Best all around vehicle out today.

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  I like it - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By yakimagal - June 21 - 9:36 am

  I am getting ready to purchase another car as I have had this one for 10 years. I find I am comparing everything I look at to my Astro. The interior and exterior still look almost new. I have replaced the tires 4 times in 10 years, whatever that means. I love how it handles on wet pavement and snow. With the AWD, I can travel the mountain pass without putting on chains. Compared to my last car, 89 Astro, the handling is so much better. There has been some repair work, but standard stuff as a car ages. Check engine light 3 times in 10 years. The lighting on stereo has burned out but stereo still works well.

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  My new Equinox - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dmack - June 21 - 6:23 am

  I purchased a base Equinox in 2005 and thought it was great, but needed a bit more power. I just upgraded to the sport model which has 90 more hp and other upgrades as well. I would recommend this car to anyone in the market for a small - medium sized SUV.

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  This car is the real deal - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Steve - June 20 - 9:13 pm

  We bought our Equinox 12/17. So far it has exceeded all of our expectations. We filled up at half a tank and we got 32.1 miles per gallon. I have never bought a car that actually got the gas mileage advertised. These cars are hard to find but well worth the wait. I never thought I would buy another GM car so I am surprised at how well built the car is.

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  Just cant stop smiling - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Still Smiling - June 20 - 3:18 pm

  Ive been a fan of the Corvette as long as I remember, but this is my first one. Comparing it to anything else Ive ever driven... well, I just cant. It outperforms them all in just about every way. Obviously, it is a sportscar and no one can deny its performance (even not considering its price). I shopped several european vehicles and looked at a couple of Asian models. The only thing close of US manufacturers are the Viper (not civil enough for me) and the Cadillac, which is a heavier underpowered Corvette. Nothing compared. Acceleration is incredible, handling sublime, but what Im most impressed with is the comfort. Im 63" and feel comfortable enough to enjoy a 10 hr trip

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  Good while it lasted - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sarah - June 20 - 12:49 pm

  In the begining it was a very good vehicle. I had to replace the alternator when the car had 58,000 miles on it. A few weeks after I made my last payment, at 75,000 miles, it seemed that everything went wrong. The fuel pump went and had to replace it, of course the car wouldnt run with out it. While that was being fixed I was told that I would have to replace the front wheel bearings very soon, the air conditioner went with a few days of being told that, the paint began to peel off the rear passenger doors, the car also started to leak oil and the door locks started acting up. I thought this car may become a service department regular so I decided it was time to replace it after only 5 yrs

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  Great Car - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By shouze - June 20 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a car that got 30 mpg or more...after a long search of used vehicles,none that were cheap, I decided on the Cruze. The LS is affordable and has a great comfortable ride, along with an interior that is awesome. this is a fun car to drive. once you drive it you will be hooked!

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  Great truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By woodrow - June 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a very nice truck, and obviously built with pride and quality. I have not heard any noises, from fuel sloshing, brake squeal, driveline or any other noises. I am unable to achieve the fuel mileage stated on the window sticker, that is disappointing.