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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  Equinox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John Campbell - July 30 - 12:33 pm

  A nice replacement for my Jeep Cherokee. I hope it doesnt follow in the traditional Chevy style, by falling apart, and having cheap drive train components. The interior looks very nice, but it doesnt seem to be all that durable looking. It is very comfortable, and I think will deliver in the long run, but the jury is out. It took me 20 years to return to a GM product. I hope I didnt make a mistake. I paid $26k for a $30k sticker which is well equipped, including On-Star and XM radio. By the way the XM radio is really cool, but at $12.95 per month I can do without it. I know 4 people with this XM radio and none are re-newing. They need to get the price down.

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  A great car. - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By nollocs - July 30 - 12:16 pm

  I bought the car brand new in 2003. I love it. I have had a few problems. But nothing big. The gauge cluster acts up some times and will not work. I had a rod that was bent in the AC unit, but that was fixed under warranty. It has 87,000 mile now. This last tank of gas I got just over 34 mpg in mixed driving. But I usually average 30-31mpg in mixed driving. It has plenty of power for a cheap car.

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  Love My Chevy Equinox!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jlhlacey - July 30 - 12:49 am

  I was in the process of selling my car and got a few calls on the reviews they read on here. I had to come check it out myself as I couldn’t believe it… I bought my SUV in 2005 used. I have loved it since the day I bought it. It has been an outstanding vehicle for me. It gets great gas mileage for an SUV, it’s roomy and I love how it tells me when I need to put on the traction control. The car is beautiful inside and out. My car now has 50,000 miles and I have replaced the brakes and the tires it has been a great car. I am actually having a hard time letting it go….Very roomy, great ride and handling and has been reliable. I love my chevy!!

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  Love Our Chevy! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Hansen Family - July 29 - 11:19 pm

  New Traverse LT2 owners. Out grew our 5 passenger SUV as we needed more passenger and cargo space. Researched a lot of vehicles, including Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Saturn Outlook, etc. This vehicle was, by far, our favorite. It has a great design, is very comfortable, drives like a car (instead of an SUV or minivan) and gave us the most features for our money. It feels like a luxury vehicle without the luxury vehicle price tag. We are glad to have an American made vehicle, especially one as fun as this! Welcome back Chevy!

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  Worth Every Penny!! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tom W - July 29 - 7:51 pm

  I bought my 2008 Malibu LTZ 6 months ago and since then Ive received no less than 8 compliments on the vehicle from total strangers. I stopped keeping track after a while, but one guy wouldnt believe it was a Chevy and a girl at a drive-thru practically climbed through the drive-thru window to admire the two-tone interior. Runs great, handles great, and looks great. Worth every penny in my opinion!

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  Not a Ferrari, but under credited cars. - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By chogan85 - July 29 - 4:27 pm

  If your looking for a good first car for you teenager, do not dismiss this car despite GMs reliability and quality record. I am now 23 and looking for a newer used car but I have to stand up for the Cavalier, shes been an overall great little sporty car. With the 3spd auto, (some performance mods) respectable torque, decent stock suspension, the 2.2l 2200 engine may not pump out a lot of mind blowing horsepower, but its been a very reliable engine. Acceleration could be a bit better for its class. Awesome gas mileage (*with* performance mods!) With a WAI, catback exhaust and performance header, I get 26 city and 31 highway. The interior isnt that bad, overall pretty basic and comfortable

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  This is my 2nd Cobalt! - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By C-57D - July 29 - 12:49 pm

  What can I say - I bought a 2005 because I needed a car (my 92 Lumina Van croaked at 218000 miles). There was nothing wrong with the 05 but GMAC wanted to get rid of their leases and they made me a good deal! The 09 feels like it has a little more power and is a bit more solid overall than the 05. Never had a problem with either car.

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  Good, reliable, but really small... - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By gmann - July 29 - 10:00 am

  We leased this SUV, and paid entirely too much for it! But, it has been very good to us. We havent had to take it in for anything major, only minor cosmetics. However, the interior is cheap, and very small. We have to kids, and once they and their car seats are in the back, theres no room for anything else. Also, the spare tire is on the side of the trunk, which takes up precious space! The gas mileage is alright, but typical for an SUV. Buy this only is you can get an AMAZING deal!

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  I love it!!!!!!!!!! - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By FireBoy - July 29 - 10:00 am

  FOR THE MONEY, WHAT A GREAT DEAL...RESTYLE LOOKS GREAT. MY WIFE IS A EUROPEAN CAR FAN AND LOVES THE HANDLING AND ROAD FEEL. VERY PEPPY AND THE MONEY WHAT A BARGAIN...XM RADIO IS WONDERFUL IF YOU ARE A MUSIC FAN....

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  I Love my Truck - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By COBIABOATS - July 29 - 10:00 am

  I dont think they thought out the location of the parking brake to well but I do love my HD. I research the 6.0 engine and chose it for the 300 horses it delivers. ( I use to have a 1978 Chevy with a 454). Under load it rides like my Sevile. While towing an 8,000 lb 26.5 Cobiaboat daycruiser I had to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting an airhead who cut me off. I went from 35 to zero on a downhill with my load and barely squeaked the tires. I only use my truck on weekends to tow my boat or my fifthwheel so Ill get 20 years out of this truck!