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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  Suburban Rocks! - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By suburban - January 19 - 6:27 pm

  The Suburban beats the Excursion by far including comfort, fuel economy, and most important, style.

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  Oh yes! - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Vermonter - January 19 - 6:01 pm

  Trunk well put together. Tight and quiet. Fuel mileage is as expected for mountainous region,16.8mpg. Radio volume is a bit weak when trying to crack up to a good XM radio song. Overall, very content with this vehicle. BTW, I moved from an Diesel Excursion to this "Burban"

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  Love My Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ELMER DIALS - January 19 - 1:55 pm

  This is without a doubt the nicest vehicle Ive ever owned. I work at a Chevy dealership, so I see and drive lots of vehicles. With the exception of the new body style Avalanche, this is my favorite Chevy truck. The gas mileage is 15-17 mpg depending on how you drive it. It takes less than 2 minutes to convert it into truck mode. The re-sale value on these vehicles is great too. NADA loves em. Ride quality is great. Good power. Better than an SUV with back seat room and its hidden under the plastic cover. It keeps my wife and babys junk hidden all the time.

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  Chevrolet Equinox - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Asha Das - January 19 - 5:00 am

  A fun to drive vehicle. Good performance, excellent road holding, and good steering mechanasim

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  I love this car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Steven - January 19 - 3:23 am

  We put a lot of miles on this car, it has been a real work horse for the family. It has over 75K miles on it to date and it has performed flawlessly. I would recommend it to anyone in the market for a midsized SUV. One of the best cars I have ever owned and a great value.

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  Many new parts, still runs strong - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By byrofree - January 18 - 9:59 pm

  I bought in 1999 with 100k. I replaced transmission at 125k and a year later the transfer case went out and threw metal into the transmission. I had to buy another tranny and a new transfer case. Replaced water pump, belt, hoses, radiator, AC blower, brakes, rotors. The paint is flaking as I keep it outside. Recovered front seat cushions with leatherette. Previous owner put a Jacobs hot ignition in it, K&N filter and flowmaster exhaust with 3" pipe and adds a lot of pep. He said sluggish before also helped with gas mileage 17 on hwy. Has 32" tires on a 3" body lift. Never had a drop of trouble with engine. I am about to change starter as solenoid going bad.

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  Burb - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Barry - January 18 - 2:49 pm

  I drive Ford trucks at work and this SUV blows Ford out of the water! I love it! Chevys got me hooked. My F250 needs about 4 lanes to do a u-turn. My Burb needs like a two lane road and my outside tire will barely be off the road. It is so much more comfortable than the Fords. We test drove Expeditions and the Burb was no comparison

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  Awesome SUV!! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ImaniJ - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Equinox about two months ago and I love every minute inside of it! The seats are so plush and it rides extremely smooth. I was also interested in the Nissan Rogue initially but the amenities you get in the Equinox for basically the same price of the Rogue, is no comparison. Fuel economy is awesome. The exterior design is so smooth....loving it!

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  Very good van - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By hlima - January 17 - 5:33 pm

  My sister has a Caravan. I like that van, but when we tried the Venture we didnt think it twice. Its very comfortable. The only problem is my wife wants to drive it all the time. No repairs until now, only normal mantenance. The electrical system works fine but there are some minimal issues like the lights blink once when you press the brakes.

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  Very sweet ride - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lora mccloy - January 16 - 8:11 pm

  I love my new 2007 TrailBlazer. I had a 2002 TrailBlazer and just traded it in on the 07. Its loaded. The comfort level is most awesome. I will never own a different type of SUV. Its just pure sweetness. Thank you Chevy for making such a fine ride. I find myself wanting to ride in it all day long.