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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  Lumina, not flashy, but reliable - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Ken - May 31 - 4:05 pm

  I had this car for about 2 1/2 years with minimal problems. Gas mileage was good for a mid-sized car. I averaged 24- 26 mpg with mixed driving. It had 130k+ when I traded it. It had no leaks and was running fine. The car seemed very balanced and rode smoothly. I had no problems in the snow.

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  Fun at a low price tag - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kris - May 30 - 10:50 pm

  This car is a fun cruise around the city and it has a whole lot of acceleration. It lacks a little in the handling but it makes up in the style and design.

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  The skinny on the Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Ryan - May 30 - 1:38 pm

  The Colorado rides like a full size and is as comfortable in every way as any truck on the market. With power everything and plenty of power in the 3.5 L 5 cyl for your everyday hauling and stop and go traffic it leaves one wondering....why didnt anyone think of the 5 cyl before? I like the lines on the body, they are simple and catch the eye with its square ends. This truck is almost exactly like the Slverado in cosmetics, and it is perfect for the anti-suv population who still want to haul the kids and the u-haul, with comparable fuel economy.

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  Love it, hate all of the little problems - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By AHall - May 28 - 10:09 pm

  Bought the TrailBlazer new in March. We have ejoyed the extra room with our small little family. Also love the power the strait 6 gives us, but with that comes the terrible gas mileage! I have also had it back to the dealer 3 times now for adjustments to the doors because the wind noise is so bad. Tonight I got home and started to roll the power windows up and the driver side completely stopped working. Here is another trip I am going to have to take to the dealer. Other than all of the stupid little problems I am having to put up with, it is wonderful!

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  Gave American cars a shot - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tyler drew - May 28 - 8:06 pm

  Overall, I am pleased with the vehicle except for the gas mileage. It is for me nowhere near the stated rating, however, I drive with a very heavy foot. The acceleration is nice for the size engine, and the LTZ package offers all the extras except for a moon roof (which I opted for). So far,(3 months) I have found the build quality to be acceptable and I havent had any problems at all. My wife likes the car also, and among vehicles at a comparable price, I think it is a good choice. For me, the Altima, Camry and Maxima didnt do it for me with their interior design (dahboard, cluster arrangements). I figured American manufacturers will have to get their act together, so I gave them a shot.

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  Duramax Reg Cab - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By knute - May 28 - 6:56 pm

  Great performance, have to check the mirrors to see if the car hauler is still behind me when Im towing. Interior seems smaller than my 04 but still comfortable. A little too much bling with the chrome bumpers and the bulges in an attempt to make it look bigger than it really is. Had the front bumper painted black to match the body color. Looks a lot cleaner.

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  i tlike this suv - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By saclepto - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I like this suv very much nice room and great power with the 5.3 motor i have pulled some heaviy stuff with it and had no problems at all highly recomm

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  good job chevy. could be better. - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By shamgotti - May 28 - 10:00 am

  bought this vehicle 10 june, and so far so good. like this vehicle more than the rav4 i test drove because of size and v6 power. toyota had it beat by far in terms of interior material quality. likes-v6 power, leather seats, exterior styling, stereo system dislikes-interior material quality (especially the dashboard) firm seats. overall i am happy with my purchase.

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  minor details - 2017 Chevrolet Trax
  By Chaz - May 28 - 7:57 am

  I live in Rochester NY and we average 100 inches of snow per year, with AWD this vehicle preforms great. Only down side so far, no sun visor extension, not even an option, its an option that should be offered or better yet standard like on the rest of the Chevys. Because of hood design, wipers cannot be place in the up position. This a problem when we expect ice on the windshield, makes it difficult to clean and replace blades.

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  TrailBlazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Wes p - May 28 - 6:46 am

  Front seats not as comfortable as should be; seem to lean in to the center with lack of support. Drives and rides great its just the fuel economy is just not what it should be. 16mph on average is not good when the mini van was about 25mph.