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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  Awesome Ride - 2002 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Scott B - April 9 - 7:26 am

  This is my first Vette. Like some other posters I never thought I would own one of my own. Lots of power when you want it. Not bad gas mileage when youre cruising.

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  MyRating - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By OWENS - April 9 - 6:03 am

  I really enjoy this SUV. It is well equipped and has all the comfort of a BMW. My daughters and grandchildren love it.

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  Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jennifer - April 8 - 9:10 pm

  Its so aerodynamic, similar to the Lexus RX330 but way more affordable for the average person. The seats fit perfectly to the curve of your back. The ride is so unbelievably smooth and quiet. The inside has more room than any other mini-sized SUV.

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  An awesome beast! - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jcimral - April 8 - 8:45 pm

  This is my seventh Corvette and hands down it is the best one yet. Performance is off the scale, but it is also docile enough to be your driver. See you on Route 66.

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  Awesome Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By JFH - April 8 - 9:40 am

  I love the way the Equinox handles on the road. I get great gas mileage with my Equinox with 20 - 26 mpg. I like that everyone has sufficient room to be comforatable for traveling. The storage area behind the seats is great too with the table top for layers -- great idea!

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  Finally, an SUV taken to the next level - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chris - April 7 - 11:30 pm

  Great overall SUV. Exterior styling is sharp. Turns a lot of heads and I get a lot of comments. Interior redesign is where this SUV shines. The look and layout is nicer than my Lexus, though the dash materials arent quite as soft. The handling, power, ride, and just overall driving experience is second to none for an SUV. I like the front end better than the Yukon, otherwise pretty much exactly the same SUV. Also, why pay $20K more for an Escalade when its also basically the same SUV. I looked at Toyota Sequoia, Ford Expedition & Navigator, Lexus GX, and Toyota 4Runner, and the Nissan Armada when looking. The Tahoe just simply is better in so many ways. Great job GM!

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  Awesome Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By G-unit - April 7 - 3:23 pm

  Very interesting design on the interior and the exterior. Very versatile and completely a great and fun drive. Extremely smooth and perfect for your young children. I bought it for the look but i got more than I had expected. I got one of the best quality cars to start off the year 2006, the Chevy HHR. Beautiful and smooth.

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  My Silverado is replaced . - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Harold Wainwright - April 7 - 10:13 am

  I moved from Michigan to Eastern Tennessee. I found the Silverado awkward to drive in a city with lots of hills and curves. When I saw the TrailBlazer I knew its what I wanted. It has a trailer hitch the same as my pickup. so, I can pull my utility trailer when hauling is needed and enjoy the comfort and convenience of an SUV when not working. It has lots of power. Finally, this SUV is handsome.

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  35th anniversary edition Camaro SS - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By rljarvis - April 7 - 10:00 am

  This is my 5th Camaro & I wanted to get the last of the breed when GM the ends the F-body, so I got the 35th Anniversary edition Camaro SS convertible. Too much for a regular Camaro ($38k+), but well worth it for a collector edition of 1 of the last of the true muscle cars. Great performance thru a bullet proof 6 speed tranny & fun to drive. Arrest me red is not my favorite color, but this is a very nice package with exterior stripes, leather, large wheels and tires; an overall package that makes for a real performance car, easily capable of serious performance upgrades, yet with decent gas mileage a& a civilized car capable of commuting in the worst traffic.

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  LTZ - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RICK KLUGE - April 7 - 8:16 am

  GOOD PERFORMANCE, OVERALL VERY HAPPY WITH CAR.