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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  duramax allison - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By cubmandan - September 16 - 10:00 am

  good strong truck has lots of power a exellent work truck great fuel milage

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  Silverado 1500 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Paul Tyler - September 16 - 10:00 am

  Comfortable, reliable and solid construction. This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that did not have a rattle or squeak somewhere at sometime. I am 65 years old and have owned a lot of vehicles in my life and the is at the top of my list as far as quality, comfort and performance. I purchased a 1966 442 with a 3.90 and 4 speed muncie in November of 1965 which I still own today. The 5.3 Silverado is the closest thing I have owned in performance to that excellent old 442. I do not care about the overhead cams, 3 and 4 valves per cylinder, etc. I love my Chevrolet Silverado.

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  Good little truck - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By martymcfly - September 15 - 9:23 pm

  I really think GM could have kept the 2.2 instead of experimenting with more engines. The 2.2 was great on fuel and performance. Yeah I know you say this new engine has more power but correct me if Im wrong, dont but a small truck to haul with buy a half ton or more. Yeah i know I drive semis. I really enjoy the truck all the time though fun little deal

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  Getting Better - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Scott - September 15 - 8:58 pm

  I traded a 2003 Z71 for a 2008 Z71. Many improvements, all for the better. This is a very dependable vehicle but components do go bad. There are so, so many that make it perform like it does I cant say enough good things about the 2008 Avalanche Z71. It is a go- getter. Although a little pricey the astute buyer can do his homework and negotiate smartly and save some money.

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  Love being in my EV vehicle - 2016 Chevrolet Volt
  By John Mahaffey - September 15 - 7:24 am

  This is the car you want if you dont like to pay for gas yet you dont want to be completely dependent on electricity. I have only gone to the gas station once since I purchased the Chevy Volt. Since my last fill-up of gas I am at 250 mpg. My mpg since I got the car sits at 140 mpg. This is an extremely sporty car compared to the Prius. There is a lack of space in the rear seats but is surprisingly roomy in the front and has a decent amount of trunk space. You will be amazed at the amount of power/acceleration this EV has!! The best part of this car is the cost. With the Federal and State rebates, the hit to the pocket book is minimal.

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  Love It - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TROY HOLMES - September 15 - 3:33 am

  3rd silverado owned. Excellent ride. Super, super quiet in cab. You have to test drive this one. I waited 3 months for it to come out. Drove 1 1/2 hour to get what I wanted. It came with more options than wanted but whos complaining about remote start, and tire pressure monitors, Z71 package

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  Long Live the Chevrolet Suburban - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Freddie Hamad - September 14 - 10:54 pm

  I purchased this White 2007 Suburban LT 2 with rear entertainment system for my wife as we are expecting our 5th child ( in 4 years ) and her 2004 Mazda MPV was just too small to be comfortable. I, being in the auto sales busines, ( I have been selling Mercedes Benz for 2 years ), I researched every SUV out there. After driving everything, I settled down on the Suburban. My wife was very nervous about driving such a large SUV, But After a couple of weeks with the Suburban, I can not get her to let me take it out, she is in love with it and will never go back to a mini van.

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  I Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bowe - September 14 - 8:10 pm

  This is my first automobile purchase in almost 10 years, and I couldnt have made a better choice! The comfortable seats, cruise control, gas mileage and sound system are spectacular for a travelling long distance runner, such as myself! I do agree that the stereo controls are a little confusing but my teenage son help me to figure that out. I love my Equinox!

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  Tahoe 07 4x4 - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Rttjr - September 14 - 1:50 pm

  Love the car with its new look, great array of options and excellent handling. Wish they would not of put plastic seat guard tracks for the third row seats. It leaves a very uneven cargo floor space and doesnt look clean when the seats are stored in the up mode.

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  Great Utility Vehicle! - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By nca4731630 - September 14 - 11:16 am

  Chevrolet has hit upon something pretty special with this truck. It is one great vehicle. It can cruise to formal events and can easily transform into a work truck. The mileage is pretty good considering it is a full size truck/Suburban. I was worried about the switching from 8cyl mode to 4cyl mode on the fly but that works superb and is inditinguisable to the driver.