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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  More than I expected - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By shobe - April 3 - 5:15 pm

  This is our second minivan. It has plenty of power. I bought because of a back injury and the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle. I used to be a Chrysler man but with the service I get from my local Chevy dealer, I will not switch back. Service is very important to me with all the miles I drive.

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  Great SUV - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bgfmc - April 3 - 1:13 pm

  I spend 6 hrs a day driving my Nox and I love it. Only one small issue fixed by my dealer immediately (clunking Lift gate support)-I am very happy with this car- I traded a few year old Grand Cherokee and for what I save in gas almost pays for my Nox

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  Good Midsize Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By adamp*diddy - April 3 - 8:07 am

  I was looking for a decent midsize truck when I stumbled across my Colorado. I had not seen one before and mine had just rolled off the tractor trailer. I test drove it with the plastic still on the seat. I have had almost no issues with it at all. It handles all the work I throw at it. Dont let the 5 cylinder put you off. It has get up and go. Good truck I would buy another one.

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  Well pleased - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By pt - April 3 - 5:59 am

  Great ability to open and store deck panels by one person. Good visibility in traffic. Handles all 4W terrain well.

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  Excellent all around truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Bob Wood - April 2 - 5:31 pm

  Traded in a Silverado for the Colorado. The Silverado had a much nicer interior and more hauling capacity as well as a nicer ride. But the Colorado looks great (got the red monochromatic package), and also got 4 wheel drive for the same price as my 2 wheel Silverado. Also gets much better gas mileage and has more room for the kids than the large pickup extended cabs. Just which Chevy has spent more on the interior materials.

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  My Third Chevy Minivan - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mic hele - April 1 - 10:15 pm

  After driving a Lumina APV and Venture for 140K+ miles each, I had to give the new Uplander a try. I saw some negative reviews, but much to my delight, the van has performed without any issues. The front seats are comfortable providing good back support and allow you to get a good view of the road. The headlights are amazingly bright. It has a smooth, quiet ride and has been better on gas than my past vans. The inside is roomy and the sound system is great. The DVD player with remote is good for movies or video games for the kids. The dashboard displays are easy to read and the controls are easy to use. Ive received a lot of positive feedback on the new exterior look as more SUV-like.

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  Solid Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By jerry - April 1 - 5:58 am

  This SUV handles great and will tow heavy loads with no problem. We have taken a long trip with 7 passengers comfortably. The seats fold flat easily and the ride is great. The gas mileage is its weak point 17mpg but we knew that before we bought it.

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  Solid Auto - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By bradley2 - April 1 - 1:41 am

  Good Car.

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  Its been a good car for me - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By JS - March 31 - 10:05 pm

  I bought a new Chevy Metro back in 1998. It now has 160,000 miles and is still running fine. I have absolutely no complaints about my Metro. It has served me quite well as a dependable, economical commuter car. It is very fuel efficient and has been very reliable mechanically.

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  Fun - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By pandion - March 30 - 9:56 pm

  I love my Cobalt SS/SC. I just wish I could have gotten the gunmetal rims. I don’t think it’s as fast as most like to boast, but I have driven some very fast cars before this one. The styling is nice inside and out. It’s a little difficult to get comfortable in the seats; you just can’t seem to get just the right height and such. I’m 59" and still can’t seem to get comfortable. The back window is next to useless because it’s so small and the wing creates a blind spot even with the lower profile wing that I got. Handles very nice. Gas mileage could be better, but what else would you expect from a supercharger.