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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  Watch for Blind Spots - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Amy - May 2 - 12:36 pm

  So far my Equinox has been a great purchase. However, if you drive in the city the head rest on the back seats create a horrible blind spot. I had to get the dealer to remove them so I could see. Also, I dont find that the air conditioner cools that well. I thought something was wrong with it, but the dealer checked it and said it was fine. Ive had better cooling cars. Its a comfortable SUV to ride in. It has the look of an SUV, but it drives like a car.

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  Todays Impala - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Cy - May 2 - 10:00 am

  I chose this car because I wanted a large car with a sporty ride for less than $30,000. This seemed like the best choice and it has been a fine choice. I put alot of highway miles on this car and it is an excellent vehicle for highway driving. In fact I got 50,000 miles on the original brakes which is the most I have ever gotten out of a set of brakes.

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  Great truck, reliable friend - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By great truck,Reliable - May 2 - 2:30 am

  I purchased this truck new, and have put 100,000 miles on it. Never stranded or stuck, no mechanical problems at all. Simple routine maintenance. Great hauler/tower. Survived head on mule deer accident, backed into tree, hit a rottweiler, and was in a garage destroyed by tornado. Nothing but a few scratches. Cons: Funny wear on front tires (inside wear), a/c sometimes weakens on long hot roadtrips, long wheel base decreases offroad ability due to long turning radius and high center potential, spartan cab comfort features on the base model.

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  Surprise Surprise! - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MarJan42 - May 1 - 8:24 pm

  After towing a trailer of furniture from VA to NJ the transmission is shot! 2nd time towing a trailer and is very disappointed that it broke down without any indications in MD. Now I have to put out big bucks to have it replaced before I get it home to VA. This SUV has less than 82,000 miles on it and I have owned it for less than 3 months. Purchased it because it was suppose to be able to handle towing.

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  A Pickup with Class - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Texcowboy9 - May 1 - 1:09 pm

  First we thought about buying an Escalade, then we looked at both the Avalanche and the Escalade side by side. Not any difference in the profile. The front end was different as was the interior. For saving the extra money and being practical we went with the Avalance on a Smart buy. We have been on one trip (1200 miles) and this is a very comfortable and luxurious truck. We averaged 19 mpg on the trip, the power is very good along with the fuel economy. Six passengers are no problem. We took my daughters dog with us one way to leave with a friend, the back seat folded down, the rear bulkhead folded down and the kennel sat with the door open in the cargo area facing forward. Worked great

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  Gas lover - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ct - April 29 - 7:40 pm

  Love the truck but the gas tank is empty most of the time. I have 3.73 gears for pulling boats and heavy loads and the best mpg on the highway at 55 is 15.9. Not 20 mpg.

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  The Bed Rock of GM Value - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By MikeDeas - April 29 - 7:01 pm

  I was not initially impressed with this Impalas styling as I thought it was a bit conservative but inoffensive. But a closer look at the contents, prior experience with its 3.8L V-6 (older design) and a test drive converted me out of my 2000 Chrysler LHS which while roomier, and less prone to wind gusts, used 89 octane fuel (vice the 87 octane for this Chevy) and more of it. The Impala LS was also more tightly assembled and to date, Ive had not one problem. GMs current profitability problems certainly werent caused by this Chevy!

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  Extremely pleased - great for tall drivers - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ljski - April 29 - 2:18 pm

  Only 350 mi. on it so far. An excellent choice if you put high priority on fuel economy, a comfortable & quiet ride, comfortable seats, leg room, the capacity versatililty of SUV. Its a great highway cruiser offering one of the most pleasing & serene rides Ive experienced in a vehicle of this price. Its relatively heavy which, along w/ its high waistline translates into a solid secure feeling. But it wont wow you with its pep or its cornering (which are still certainly acceptable) Great front & rear seat room for 64" guy; headroom is good even w/ a sunroof. I chose it over RAV4, CRV, Venza and Sorrento. Seems good value if you can get at invoice w/ 0% finance and $1500 cash bac

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  What you pay for - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By metalshop - April 28 - 3:14 pm

  Its not as bad as some people say. A good car for the price, and when you buy a base model, expect base model features. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. I have almost 17K miles, and it hasnt been in the shop yet. Its taken me across the US and back 3 times now. Does everything I ask it to do. No problems with the CD player or the sunfoof. Great AC & heat.

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  Solid, but ZR2 was underengineered - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Ron S - April 28 - 1:21 pm

  Original owner of black ZR2. Great sightlines from drivers seat, great looks. Had the ABS chip fail in first week of ownership and three front hubs replaced before 42K due to combination of failed parts and mechanic error. Due to oversized tires 31x10.5 being mounted on standard 4wd wheel steering and suspension assemblies (except for Bilstein shocks), this truck eats brakes and lower ball joints. Never got more than 19.8 MPG and now avg about 16MPG with hard driving. I am meticulous with scheduled maint including flushing trans. Major costs included replacing encoder motor at 130K, and fuel pump, water pump, and alternator near 150K. Original engine and tranny and still running very well.