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:

• 

  Chevrolet Malibu - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Debra Shields - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love my new Chevrolet, Malibu. It handles excellantly. I couldnt be more pleased. It is compariable to a Toyota Camry. Toyota has got some definite competition on their hands. In my opinion, the Malibu is much nicer all around than the Camry.

• 

  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jkh83 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  Although many car magazines analysis of this car are harsh, I feal as though thi sis an excellent car. I have had for eight months now and have had no problem. The fuel economy is great (26mpg avg.) and the ride is quite compliant. This car isnt the fastest car on the block, but it is a joy to own.

• 

  An "unknown" reliable minivan - 2005 Chevrolet Astro
  By goofster - July 10 - 12:01 am

  I brought this vehicle use in Jan 2006. Surprisingly this vehicles build quality has improved drastically. No squeaks and rattles to date compared to other friends older astro vans. Improved braking and quiet interior. 4 wheel disc brakes setup was taken from chevy/gmc truck division. It possess impressive stopping power. Fuel mileage is not bad, getting 21mpg on the highway. Rear A/C and rear heat are awesome. Trunk space is ample for those long trips. Leg room in all rows are very good, compare to other minivans. Power is good. No problems to date.

• 

  great truck - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By ken - July 9 - 11:23 pm

  i dont know what some reviewers of this truck were driving, but it wasnt the same as mine. its a great truck with plenty of power, and a great ride.cannot find a thing to complain about. would definately recomend to anyone.

• 

  Economical, Reliable 4 Wheel Drive - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Bruce A Goetz - July 9 - 11:00 pm

  Fun to drive, handles well suprisingly roomy inside. Underpowered on highway, but economy is good tradeoff, never less than 19 MPG to 24 highway. Reliable - 140,000 miles & still going strong. Only garage work required was AC Fan (AC has been somewhat of a pronblem since) oil leak repaired. OEM Uniroyal tigerpaws ran 130,000 miles - first brake job needed at 136,000! Great in the snow! Seats uncomfortable for over 1 hr drives, strong winds at highway speeds affect handling. Drove hard 125 miles a day for 1 1/2 yrs over 2 winters, 4WD made slippery roads very manageable. 4WD, CD, cruise, ABS, power windows Oh my! Great hunting/fishing SUV, pulls 20 boat easily for under 20 mile trip.

• 

  Eliminate Back pain - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By danwrox - July 9 - 6:22 pm

  I first went to the Suburban from a minivan to help reduce back pain and it has saved me lots of Doctor bills. I used to be in pain after long drives but I drove from Boston to Orlando without a break and it was a dream. This is like driving around in your living room from both a comfort and space standpoint. It has tremendous power but will still get almost 19MPG if you go easy on the acceleration. I wish auto critics would end the foreign car bias and give credit where credit is due. Coming up on 100K and only a window motor for problems is true quality design. And considering 80K on the original tires it has been well below most vehicles for maintenance costs.

• 

  Fallen in love - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bob - July 9 - 8:53 am

  I have fallen in love with this car. Have had over a month. People go ga ga over it.I am 6 ft 1/2 in tall weigh 265 lbs. The interior is so comfortable for me. It is so put together right. Fit and finish makes me feel like I bought a luxury car. Wish I could write a book about it because I think I could. Not to say bad about anything else but this is my dream car. Mileage with half and half (half city..half county no high way driving) is 27. Must say I am very pleased. Most new cars were off quickly but this just makes me feel better the more I drive it . My wife likes to drive trucks but she is falling for the Malibu also.

• 

  Living with a 2005 Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By bonjonny - July 9 - 3:16 am

  This truck runs good except it seems to always be looking for the right gear. If you run it hard, it runs good. The truck is comfortable for 2 adults. It has great style and looks. The paint and fit of fenders & doors is very good. The only problem Ive had so far is wind noise on pass side doors, and the radio sounds like the speakers are blown. It goes back to the garage this week because of these 2 problems. All in all its a pretty cool truck.

• 

  Almost perfect mid-size truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Ed - July 8 - 2:53 pm

  The Colorado has great pulling power as I am a landscaper and have no trouble consistently towing 3000+ pds.The gas mileage for city driving while pulling my trailer is a consistent 14 mpg.17 mpg if not towing in city.24 mpg in highway driving. I have the inline 5 cylinder engine, and it provides better acceleration than my 4-wheel drive,351cu.-in. full size truck! That truck gets 8mpg pulling trlr in city compared to my colorados 14mpg. The gas savings alone are paying for the chevy...The only drawback to this model is the seats are really not very comfortable, and the passing gear relly jerks your head rearward if you stomp on the gas to get around someone.My favorite part of truck is looks!

• 

  Almost Perfect! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dannysal2004 - July 7 - 7:38 am

  Considering my last car was a VW Jetta, the Equinox feels like I am driving an aircraft carrier! I love this car (well, actually, its a truck/crossover). The interior space is expansive and the seats are super comfortable for both driver, passenger, and folks in the back seat. The ride is soft does a decent job absorbing bumps in the road. The back seat adjusts so you can have extra cargo space or extra leg room in the back.