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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  PLENTY OF GAZES - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By FMT132 - December 22 - 10:00 am

  HAVE MY NOX FOR 5 WEEKS AND ENJOYING IT. A LITTLE INDIFFERENT WITH GAS MILEAGE BUT TIME WILL TELL. GREAT JOB CHEVY. HANDLES WELL BUT STEERING TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO. ITS A GREAT FEELING TO HAVE BEEMER AND LEXUS DRIVERS GIVING MY NOX THE ENVY LOOK WHEN I DRIVE PAST THEM. ALL IN ALL A GREAT PKG. HAVE 1500 MILES AND SO FAR SO GOOD.

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  Stuck on GM - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tteb - December 22 - 10:00 am

  As a life long GM owner, I just bought another for work. The 4.8 runs smooth and gives 20 per gallon on the highway. Ive got a 97 S-10 that doesnt do this good on gas? The ride is excellent for a truck. The silver paint is great if you dont like washing your vehicle all the time. I like this truck so well Im selling my S-10 and going full size for my own personal truck. I appreciate the standard features such as cruise control, CD player and tilt wheel. Chevy costs more than Dodge but you get what you pay for.

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  Been my best vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By kars - December 21 - 12:53 am

  Bought this car new and has held up very well with minimal maintainence. Drives well in snow for being 2W drive. Owned 7 years and only thing to brake down was the lightcover in the trunk.(very minor)

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  Basic Review - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mr. G - December 20 - 9:33 pm

  Sales car. Great average gas mileage of 30 miles/gallon highway. Large trunk held my clubs and bags with ease. Great reliability. Plenty of room for 5. Excellent lumbar support, and with no center console could stretch my legs on long cruise. Well engineered, good balance of power and economy, plus roominess all for a price less than Toyota and Honda. Regular oil changes only needed new tires at 48,000 and new brakes/rotors at 58,000. Only complaint is the brake rotors, had to have originals turned twice.

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  Rating the Vette - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Raymond - December 20 - 11:36 am

  I believe the rating I gave this Vette in the top of the survey pretty much told you how I feel about this car. Simply put it is one of the best Vettes yet, but I will have to admit there is a place in my heart for the 1957 Corvette convertible. Dont get me wrong I realize the 57 didnt handle or perform like the 05 but it was a little jewel.

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  My Tahoe - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By dsmith1279 - December 20 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love the car. I have had it for over a year and have not a bad thing to say about it.

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  Finally! - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Rachael Lange - December 20 - 1:33 am

  With it being my sixth vehicle in the last eight years, I can not say enough about it. It is the only one I would actually consider leasing another one of. I am very impressed with its handling capability being a front drive V8, and it also adds practicality (although hardly practical) for an every day driver, with roomy interior for a coupe. The ride is phenomenally solid and quiet. The only thing youre really going to hear is the rumble of that 5.3L, 303 hp engine. Gas mileage is actually better than my 04 Grand Prix GTP (Supercharged V6), by 2.5 miles! The redesigned front end was definitely over due and, gives the 06 Monte Carlo a much more sophisticated yet aggressive appearance.

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  Wife loves it but... - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By billme - December 19 - 10:13 pm

  Love the style features and performance. However Chevy could have done a few things better. No individual reading lights, all lights must be on to read in the back. No mirror lights or lighted sunvisor mirrors. Power seat switch poorly located between seat and door. Only have 2000 miles on it but find fuel economy somewhat low, possibly not broken in yet. When in the front passenger seat the roof pillar doesnt allow me to lean to the right or rest my arm on the door.

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  Awesome SS - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Dana - December 19 - 11:03 am

  I just got my SS just the other day. I went from a C320 Benz to this SUV and it is awesome! From the 20 wheels to its power. I found myself going from leather to cloth and I enjoy it a lot more than I thought. This is the first SUV I have owned and I dont think that I will go after another car again from owning the SS.

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  WOW - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Chris - December 19 - 9:20 am

  This is the first full sized truck Ive purchased. I had a Dakota before this. The difference is amazing. The Silverado has incredible comfort even with the cloth interior. The seats are very supportive. The ride is smooth as well. The 5.3 V8 has exceptional power...and I get 17 mpg! Not bad.