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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  ZO6 - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mij1962 - December 22 - 2:00 am

  Been a great car and is fast.

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  07 2500 LTZ Dmax 4x4 Std Bd Crew - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By tmac6 - December 21 - 11:10 pm

  Just got this truck last week. Very comfortable to drive. Power is amazing, particularly off the line. Very quiet. Wont fit in the garage as it is too tall and long. A bit disappointed with the Bose sound system. Nice but certainly not audiophile quality. Nav system very user friendly. In new body style, they changed the passengers dome light from an airliner reading light to a more generic light. Result is that the light cannot be turned away from driver at night resulting in too much glare.

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  like my 2003 s-10 3dr ext.cab. 6 cyl - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By littlejohn126 - December 21 - 2:00 am

  GREAT TRUCK FOR THE MONEY

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  Overall Great car! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By ParrishFam - December 21 - 2:00 am

  We have had very few problems with our Impala. The brakes had lasted until 48,000 miles on the front, still over 50% left on the rear. Alignment goes out pretty easily. Only real complaint is the OnStar. The entire system has been replace twice and needs to be replaced again. Comfortable for my wifes daily commute. Large enough for family (5 people) trips. Excellent fuel economy for the power the motor has. Considering the SS model in the very near future. Highly recommended.

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  2010 Equinox 1LT FWD - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Doug A - December 19 - 11:56 am

  I like the design and ride of my Equinox. Smooth and quite on the rode. 4 cyl seems a little sluggish sometimes but the fuel economy is good. So far averaging 23.8 mpg. There is plenty of room for my wife, dog and I to take trips. Interior design is nice and contemporary with no wood grain.:) Have had issues with wavy lines in windshield. Dealer replaced it with another wavy windshield. Also have seen this in other Equinoxes on the lot. It is extremely noticeable on sunny days. If you can see lines in your windshield too please put in a formal complaint with GM through your dealer to replace it and help me out. Also had paint chipping where the fascia meets the right front quarter panel.

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  Good car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Mr_Picks1 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Fun car to drive to drive with the 5 speed trans, great gas mileage, very quiet motor.

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  wish you were here - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Z28Rick71 - December 19 - 2:00 am

  This car is a blast to drice, especially if you crave American muscle-car performace. V8 Power, a loud exhaust, and that classic jet fighter look, although later editions of this rear-drive torque-monster have a face like the Concorde, and we are not talking about the supersonic jet here either. On long trips the harsness of the Z28 experience can get on your nerves but the gas mileage will be surprisingly good. I have gotten 26 MPG in this car! driven strictly around town expect a mere 16. especially if you have a haeavy foot.

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  Its been around awhile - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By JumpinJack - December 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought this small suv in 2001 with 24k and I now have 50k. Had a leak in the oil line hose (few drops in the driveway) and it was fixed under warranty. I keep my vehicals till there done and I plan on having this suv until it has at least 150k. The body and interior look as good as you maintain it or beat it up. So, the main thing I look at is this engine/trans has been around a long time and I have friends who have put over 160k on thier older blazers and they still run. This truck will not ride like the new car-like suvs or get you the milage of them. They also wont cost you a small fortune to own.

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  Chevy - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Messner - December 18 - 2:00 am

  CHEVY, the best. I love my truck, its the best in 4wheel drive and the snow. I live to see it snow, cause I have no worries about driving in it. If I could I would move farther north or a place it snows more than Ohio. I do wish I could afford a newer SUV, but the one I have will do for know. Thanks

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  Sneroll - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By sneroll - December 16 - 2:00 am

  An extremely reliable car, with lots of space for both passanges and cargo. Very versatile and easy to drive despite size.