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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  Couldnt part with it if I tried...again - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By missaretha - February 27 - 3:20 pm

  I bought this car brand spanking new. Ive babied it on every oil change, tire rotation, mileage service, etc. The gas mileage is great, between 35 to 40 mpg on the highway. Riding with the top down is not as windy as I thought it would be and the stereo has never needed improvements. If you like it loud, this car gives it to you. I also like the fact that I have a Teal colored car. Ive never seen another car in the same color.

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  Good Overall - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lexi - February 27 - 3:10 pm

  My husband and I really enjoy the suv. The only complaint that we had was the headrest and the inside seats seemed to be made cheaply.

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  Nice ride. - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By karch03 - February 27 - 9:58 am

  I like the Chevy Equinox. We looked for a croosover for a few months. We came close to purchasing a Jeep Compass but a friend who had purchased a 2006 Equinox turned me on to the idea of purchasing one. I am glad we got the Equinox since it sits 4 inches higher than a Compass. If you are looking for an American made crossover then this is one to get. It has a smooth ride with lots of power. I recommend the LT over the LS as GM put a lot of plastic into the interior. But plastic is easy to clean and cheap to replace.

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  07 TrailBlazer is great! - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By joshedcom - February 26 - 7:30 pm

  Purchased the TrailBlazer a few days ago and I love it. I tested many other SUVs and this SUV beat it. The sales person gave me the impression the car came with more features and mislead me in our conversations. Thankfully, I knew more about the car coming into the dealership and was prepared.

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  Got to love it - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By animal70X7 - February 26 - 11:20 am

  I have had my Aveo for 8 months now and I am thrilled with it. I have been averaging 35 MPG in city driving and about 42 on the highway. My car has been an absolute thrill to drive around the hills of West Virginia. I cannot think of anything that I would change about this car.

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  American made - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By coleton lollis - February 25 - 12:38 pm

  This is a great car. An amazing ride. One of the best Vettes yet. The sleek interior design and ultimate performance makes it one of the best

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  great - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By deedee - February 25 - 2:00 am

  love my truck , it the one and only i drive 24\7

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  great reflections - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By *Cat* - February 25 - 2:00 am

  This is first car I have owned in long time, previously drove SUV or pickups. So far I am loving this car. Only reason not a full 10.0, havent had it long enough to rate the reliability, but dont foresee any problems there. When driving thru town, and checking out reflection in store front windows, this car looks ssweet!

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  Love it so far! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Studakrn - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought my Trial Blazer a month ago, and I am totally happy with it. Its quiet, the ride is great and the power is outstanding. Have onstar, and its totally cool. Test drove several other SUVs and found this to be the most confortable and attractive.

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  Awesome Truck - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Fan - February 25 - 1:27 am

  Being 68" its the only vehicle I can drive 15 hrs and still be able to walk afterwards. Added K&N intake and comp cams components to engine great edition. Gets close to 18 around town and 20 on freeway. Planning on replacing brakes with aftermarket disks. Found Optima battery to solve charging problem and genuine AC Delco alternator, havent had a problem since. Keep fuel above quarter tank and fuel pump lasts a long time. Recently was in a horrible wreck where vehicle was totalled, no passengers were injured, vehicle did everything it was supposed to. Love it so much am going to buy it back and do a frame up rebuild. Recommend one to anyone looking for used SUV just keep up on maintence