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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  Hidden Gem - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Jerry D. - October 26 - 1:42 am

  I bought this "07 Uplander with 12000 mi. on it.As others have said it does resemble an SUV.This is my first van purchase and I am surprised at the ease of handling,smooth ride,excellent braking and adequate power. The exterior look is better than the normal van and the 17" wheels put it in another class.Im so glad I discovered this van as I had never heard of it before a month ago.Love it!

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  The Equinox smoked CRV and RAV - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By electrical engineer - October 25 - 9:33 pm

  Im an engineer who thoroughly checks out my options and ensures optimum bang for my buck. We wanted the Element for the look and we tried the Element, CRV and RAV4. My wife wasnt really thrilled with either of those three so we drove over to the Chevy dealership. We tried out the Equinox and trust me, it smoked the CRV, Element and RAV in terms of power, comfort, interior look and feel, and price. Exterior is in the eye of the beholder but we really like the look. Stereo is superior, feels like luxury inside with nice control layout. The drive on the highway is nice and quiet and when you step on it (pedal), the engine is relatively quiet compared to the others we tried.

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  Go Chevy! Its your birthday! - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Soulfinger - October 25 - 1:50 pm

  This is my 3rd vehicle ever and my first chevy and suv. I am so pleased with this vehicle i have considered moving into it. Its the perfect size for someone like me afraid of bigger SUVs (for now anyway). Its very hip and stylish inside and out. I got a great deal on it. Like I said i have never driven a Chevy but i am confident in thier quality and dependability. I am a happy Blazer owner and would serioulsy recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a fun and reliable suv.

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  AE vert, 6-spd, CD changer, BSM - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dmaxwellh - October 25 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd C5. I love these cars! The AE red is simply fantastic and the magnetic select ride with real- time damping is remarkable. You cant help but enjoy the Corvette; it looks great, sounds great, and drives great. . .

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  S2S - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By ssslllllll - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Its Simply Amazing. It is the greatest SUV Ive Ever seen

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  1998 convert auto Borla triple-black - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Dennis DAndrea - October 24 - 7:25 pm

  Trouble-free. Drive it from eastern Long Island to Corvettes at Carlisle, PA, every year. Nearly 10 years old but only 19,000 or so miles. Four-inch Borla pipes look and sound great.

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  2002 Chevy Avalanche 2500 4X4 8.1 - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Larry Richard - October 24 - 5:33 pm

  One of the best riding and driving vehicles I have ever owned. Awesome power and torque. Gas mileage is not bad for all the cubic inches you get. A good all around vehicle. I would definately buy another one.

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  Excellent improvement for the Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike - October 24 - 2:01 pm

  I recently bought the 07 LTZ. This Tahoe rides very smooth compared to my Trailblazer. The interior is elegant and very comfortable. Go with the leather when buying this definately worth the additional costs. Also, the 2nd row bucket seats are great for the kids, they are far enough apart to not fight and bug each other. The flex fuel is a joke. Hey Chevy this is a SUV lets get off of the catering to the enviormentalist bandwagon. The horsepower and mileage takes a huge dive with flex fuel.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Dave - October 23 - 5:10 am

  I did a lot of research between the Tundra, Frontier and Colorado, and with the latest GM discounts the Colorado wins because it gets better MPG. If you need to tow anything over 5000# you really need a full size pickup, and although the Colorado tows less that the Tundra and Frontier, it feels just as tough.

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  Greystone/Ebony 4WD LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Watchman - October 22 - 4:24 pm

  Ive only owned this vehicle for a week but I can say that after driving the Nissan Titan and the Chevy Silverado, the Suburban based Avalanche has the best finished interior and best ride of the three vehicles. The 5.3L (327ci) engine feels a bit undersized but the fuel economy is surprising so I have no complaints with performance. It would be nice if the engine would idle in 4 cyl mode to further improve city mileage. A 6 or 7 spd transmission would help bolster acceleration as well as mileage. The column shifter somewhat obscures the sterio controls. Seating is comfortable and the large console storage is a plus. Steering wheel audio control functionality is better than in my Acura-Nice!