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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  Kens truck - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Ken - July 24 - 11:40 pm

  Very tough truck in extremely tough conditions (Snow, Ice, Mud) and still with smooth ride. With longer wheelbase this truck is well balanced and apparently has good insulation because its very, very quite also. Added canopy, dual fans, dual exaust (flow master), converted to synthetic oil at 36K and sprayed bed with LineX. Now at 18MPG on HWY, 12-13 in town. Want to trade up to a Durmax but hard to give this unit up.

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  I like it! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jimbo - July 24 - 6:30 am

  I have not taken my Equinox on any long trips, but I really like the driving feel and the comfort of the seats and interior. This vehicle seems to fit me like a nice glove. I have the four cylinder and drive it in Eco mode all the time and it has plenty of power to satisfy me. The only dislike for me is the tilt steering. I am continually trying to lower the steering when I get into the vehicle when it is already at the lowest setting available. Im thinking about seeing if I can modify the steering so I can lower it more. I really like the Nav and infotainment system. Its a costly option, but I think it is worth the cost. I previously owned a 2009 Malibu, but like this one better.

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  Excellent Car - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lauren - July 23 - 8:53 pm

  I have owned my Malibu for about two months now.I had wanted one for awhile and we got a good deal on it. It feels like a luxury car for a reasonable price. It has a lot of great features and I havent had any problems. Ive always had GM vehicles and I have never had a reliability problem. This includes an Oldsmobile with 240k miles on it. It has a good amount of pick up (in the v6). In summary this is a great sporty car with a good amount of space in it. It is good for someone with or without children.

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  Best drive in the world - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Candace Daigle - July 23 - 11:34 am

  This is my second 2007 chevy Tahoe, first bought an LS, then bought an LT3, I love all of the extra features, drives like a dream, and it is great for travel. I saved more money in car insurance this time than last. Chevy has a winner in my book!!

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  Best van for our needs - 2005 Chevrolet Astro
  By claudia palamar - July 22 - 3:23 pm

  This is the third Astro we have owned. Currently we tow a 26.5ft travel trailer through the midwest and have experienced no problems. One must drive responsibly and not expect to break any speed records.

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  Love It - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Scott - July 22 - 2:23 pm

  Got 33 MPG even with AWD. Seating is more comfortable than CRV and RAV4. Fun to drive.

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  New Z06 - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By JACK SENN - July 22 - 11:08 am

  The Z06 is the best car Ive ever driven. The power is unbelievable. The fact that I can take a Lamborghini Gallardo or a Ferrari F490 in an American car that costs a third of what those two do is amazing. The styling is incredible, the ride is smoother than the 911 4s, or the BMW M6. This car is the real deal. My 505 hp 7.0l engine is getting about 22 miles to the gallon. This is all around the best car on the market for the money.

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  a keeper - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By luv2boat - July 22 - 10:00 am

  Bought the truck new. compared to ford and dodge but chevy had more creature comforts for not just the driver but the passenger, go figure! Much quieter interiors than others. Pull a 20ft I/O boat and never complains. Regular maintenance and TLC makes for a great looking / running truck. only trouble was some cracked leather which was replaced, a window seal that was reglued, and now at 42,000 miles is a malfunctioning gas gauge and front drive seal yet to be fixed.

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  Best Ride on the Road - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mike - July 22 - 9:55 am

  My wife has an X5 and I have the Z71 Suburban. It drives so well I can not give it up. We have three kids and this vehicle is perfect for us. I have all the "bells and whistles" and it is perfect for road trips to the beach, etc. We have looked at all luxury SUV options. This is your best value. I recommend the Z71. We have the third row and bucket seats on the second row. If you get a bench seat on the second row it makes it very difficult to get the kids in and out.

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  2007 Atomic Orange Z06 Corvette - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 2007 Corvette Z06 - July 21 - 3:59 pm

  This car is awesome. GM finally did it right. Several times they have come close, but never actually did it. What do I mean by they finally did it? For the first time they have not allowed a specific price point to keep the car from becoming what it should have done many times over. The greatest American muscle car that has basically no limitations. You have to spend 200K to get a car that can even come close to the all around performance of this car.