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:

• 

  MAXX to the Limit - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By RoxanneN/J - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Just bought the MAXX this week. Love it. Kids Love it. Traded reliable Malibu for MAXX with SUV space without SUV Maintenance. Opted for the LS version and bought individual DVD players for my 2 kids at $130.00 a pop. Dont need Onstar, but can install later if need to. Cheaper than installing the DVD Entertainment System. After seeing this at the Auto Show. I patiently waited for the MAXX. SUV Space w/the feel of a car and w/out SUV Price, Gas & Maintenance.

• 

  Love it! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Wall - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Best riding 4x4 and maybe vehicle I have ever had. Much better seats than in Chevys pickup line. Fuel economy is average 16-18mpg. Tows well and is good off road. I put 20,000 miles on a 2003 and traded it off on a 2004.

• 

  life saver - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By rs - May 24 - 2:00 am

  After owning the Avalanche less than a week it was struck on the driver side rear door by a full size car traveling 35 m.p.h.+ and was spun off the road and down in a ditch Not only did the vehicle stay upright my 2 small children in the back seat escaped injury from the impact

• 

  Like it more than I thought I would! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rdg81 - May 24 - 2:00 am

  We bought our Trailblazer used in December 2003 with @16,500 miles on it. Its loaded with all the toys, leather, etc. So far Ive enjoyed this car even more than I thought I would. Hard to beat on long trips with the kids. Plenty of room, smooth ride. Not great gas mileage around town, but can get @20 miles per gallon on highway.

• 

  great truck ------------ - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By phonetech00 - May 24 - 2:00 am

  Had my truck one month and have 2500 miles.. so far it has been great..Have the 5300 v8 and so far have been getting an avg of 18mpg. get a decent 20 to 22 on the highway if I keep it at 60 or below..

• 

  wished i could get rid of it!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By mary furrow - May 23 - 12:45 am

  Oh my! So so so many things wrong with it!Before warranty went out the dvd had to be replaced and the speakers not to long after that , ,then the sliding doors motor went out! Then transmission problems.... And brakes... And then my suspension went out on the back trunk opener!Dont have the list with me now at 55,000 abs light coming on ... And the side door does not open it comes open on and off... And I just keep it lock!We got it in 2006 we still owe 15,000.. Never again! I wanted to help amercian and but amer.. Van.. When this is paid off ! Its gone! Paint fading and parts out the van falling off.... Let me stop!

• 

  Handling - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jim Winchell - May 22 - 8:28 pm

  Change the shocks, they come with street car shocks. When I bought my 04 it did not handle will, Brian the service manager, sent me over to a front in shop and they put on new truck style shocks for 4WD units ($500.00) man what a change, had a better ride, no more lean around corners, no rolling from side to side when changing lanes, also my CHP friend had a lager Chev SUV he also changed out the shocks, big improvement to his ride. I have 98,900 mile on mine. I would buy another one, but please tell the people at GM wake up guys and put better shocks on from the factor..

• 

  Honest Opinion - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Roger - May 22 - 4:36 pm

  I enjoy this vehicle very much. Use it to drive to work in DC. Do not like the gas mileage I am getting to this point. Only have 1500 miles on it. Very stylish, easy to drive, and interior room is outstanding. Am getting 11-12 mpg all city and only got 17 on very short interstate trip (60 miles or so) Have not yet seen any of the coolant hose problems that some had written about. Pretty nice vehicle for the money, just needs few tweaks.

• 

  best small truck i feel - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By sparta729 - May 22 - 3:19 pm

  I absolutely love this truck, I wanted to get one for a long time. Zr2 package is my favorite, because it lets the truck come already as a fun looking small sized offroad pick-up. The s10 also is still a Nice truck which ever version, u have, like 4x4,2wd, stripped, loaded, anyway its still comes as a Nice looking truck, unlike the Tacoma or Dakota were if those trucks dont come in the better models they look stripped, and cheap, the Tacoma more so.

• 

  My 2005 Equinox Problems - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike from Buffalo - May 22 - 1:12 pm

  I bought my 05 Equinox used in 2007 with 25000 miles on it. The first problem I had with it was the ignition. The key would get stuck. Took back to dealer and they fixed it. Second thing was water in spare tire well. Rear hatch gasket was leaking. Paid $200 to have gasket & rug padding replaced. So for no more leaks. Third had rust on inside body of both rear doors. Took to dealer to show collision shop guy. He said hes never seen that rust problem on any other Equinox. Drivers side sun visor wont stay in position when its down to block the sun, obstructs your view. I have to prop it up. Now Ive got a creaking noise in front steering when I make a right turn. Who knows what will be next