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:

• 

  Somewhat Satisfied - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By --Andy - August 19 - 2:00 am

  My Monte has been mostly a great experiance. If you own it, keep it clean inside & out because you will get alot of people noticing it! Brakes - Great - Im on the original set @ 50K. Power - NICE. Never ashamed to drive this car. Only problem has been electrical with gas gauge not working. Turn signals were also a problem, but resolved by replacing 4-way switch. Also low tire pressure - once on, it stays on. Have to reset by removing batt for 15 minutes.

• 

  chev impala 2003 - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By David Berry - August 19 - 2:00 am

  All in All the impala is a great car for the money love it needs some work on the comfort and road noise but a great car

• 

  Bermuda green in WI - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Leah - August 18 - 2:23 am

  The Equinox has great leg room for back seat passengers- my 3 kids fit just fine and will for some time. Also like that 2 of them fit along side a booster seat. Dont like that they got rid of the cargo shelf, would have liked to have one. Think that since the roof rails are standard the cross bars shoudl be as well- not a $150 add on. Overall though, I really like the car and how it drives.

• 

  Most Reliable Vehicle I Ever Owned - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By OregonDan - August 18 - 2:00 am

  I just read through a few of the S-10 reviews and thought I should add my 2 cents. Purchased the truck for $10K drove it over 100,000 miles and never had any problems except for a burned out fuse ($5) and I replaced myself... and Im NOT mechanically inclined. I sold the truck in 2001 for $5100 with 110K miles and regret not keeping it longer. Used it for commuting to college and hauling firewood. Great little truck. I may have gotten the 1 out of 1000... but sold the truck to a manager at Pepsi for his daughter and he informed me that Pepsi runs a fleet of lil S-10 trucks and all of them have passed 100K miles+ with little to none problems.

• 

  Good Design - Needs Better Execution - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By oldcorvettefan - August 18 - 2:00 am

  This is my second 4WD, first Blazer. I really enjoy the easy way it moves into and out of traffic, and the V6 is better suited to the Blazer than it was my old S10. My biggest disappointment is how poorly the interior and door panels fit. The vehicle sounds like the doors are going to fall off if you hit a crease in the road just right. Nothing like our new Malibu Maxx, which is much tighter.

• 

  Blazer LT - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Mookie - August 18 - 2:00 am

  On the whole, I have had a good experience with this vehicle. Some issues include: oil fittings leaked after just 2 years. Back seat not very comfortable for passengers. In winter, climate control system is difficult to adjust and maintain heat.

• 

  Great Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Ralph - August 17 - 4:13 pm

  Bought it off lease with 35,000 miles on it. Looks and runs new. Seems to have plenty of power and will be put to the test when I hook up the fifth wheel. I have a 2002 Suburban that is the best vehicle I have ever owned and the reason I bought this.

• 

  05 Nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By shaspa81 - August 17 - 3:40 pm

  I do like my 05 Equinox, but on a long trip my family took, the comfort wasnt the best. There was plenty of room, but I have always had passenger cars which have the seats mounted lower to the floor. I am sure this is the reason for my discomfort on our long trip. The motor could use a bit more power. Even on local highways, the transmission downshifts when going up hills.

• 

  good but good be better - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By pwcbill - August 17 - 2:00 am

  gas gauge needs adjusting,still have about 6 gals left when it reads empty.rattles but only when a/c is on.over all good vehicle.60,000+ on mine.

• 

  Surprised and Pleased - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By GMjoe - August 16 - 12:43 pm

  I purchased this SUV as a replacement for a rapidly declining/dead Olds. It has really surprised me how much I like it. It is great on the road, I see 22 mpg hwy and 16-18 city. The interior space is ample and very usable. I find it more usefull than my GMC long bed for many applications. This is the first car I have ever purchased that did not have any entries in the option side of the sticker. I have since added a trailer hitch and have been pleased with the towing performance with my sailboat. So far not one problem. Knock on wood!