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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  2003 Crew Cab - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By wiznbyu - November 27 - 2:00 am

  So far this has been a good truck. I dont tow anything, but needed a 4X4 for hunting and winter. The four door is great for kids and I still have a small box for hauling whatever I need to move.

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  classy looking suv - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By salvato - November 26 - 3:46 pm

  i do not find any of faults listed by consumer reports in this vehicle,such as poor fit items and poor quality plastics. (big deal). cup holders are only disappointment so far., we are enjoying it so far except the gas mileage is a little suspect right now.

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  nice car for the price - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tammyg - November 26 - 2:00 am

  i like my cavalier. i have had it for almost 5 months and it has been a very good and dependable car. it handles well and the pick up on it is really good for a 4 cylinder. i think the gas mileage is pretty good on it as i do lots of traveling. but i do a lot of interstate traveling and seem to be having to fill up just as often as i would doing in town driving. the car is very uncomfortable to be in for traveling though.

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  Make Ready - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Jack Barthel - November 25 - 11:36 pm

  I really like my 2007 Tahoe but it has some problems. I cannot get it to stop the engine light from coming on when I use e-85. Also the traction light keeps coming on and they cannot find out what to do with these problems,they are working on it but I have lose 7 days driving time already.

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  Equinox - could be better - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Walt - November 25 - 12:43 pm

  I like the vehicle overall, it is fun to drive, looks good and the quality of construction is very good. The vehicle is a good size and has plenty of power. It rides well for an SUV and the AWD works excellent in snow. Head and leg room are good and the engine and transmission provide a nice smooth acceleration and power band.

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  Good truck for what trucks are for - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By nccpastor - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this truck for the real- world...I dont haul massive amounts of steel, gravel, or tow competing makers up a hill. It is perfect for throwing boxes in the back, helping a neighbor move, getting a sofa to the church, or other real-life tasks. The 4WD has gotten me out of the Chicago snow several times. I love the 3rd door and extended cab area - you can fit a family of four in this truck. The gas mileage could be better (I get 16-18), but it is a truck. Solid. Reliable. Real-world.

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  C5 vette - 1998 Chevrolet Corvette
  By 911vettebenz - November 25 - 2:00 am

  I pursched this car as a runabout. I grew up with Porsche and have had numberous in the stable and currently have 2 911s. I enjoy the car. It is relatively reliable with no significant events to date except that the battery came apart from the past and leaked down in the engine bay. Upon opening the trunk in the rain, it all pours inside the storage bay. This suspension is alittle soft, so I have to adjust the ride to performance mode to stop from being thrown into the roof. The performance is adequate, the zo6 is probably the better option.

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  Great family hauler - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By whittp - November 25 - 2:00 am

  The Suburban pulls my 4500lb boat effortlessly. I was very impressed with the stability and performance under heavy load. The drive train is very well matched to this size vehicle. I have only had minor problems all of which were addressed by the Chevrolet dealership. They included a freon leak in the a/c system, a rattle in the steering linkage, and a malfunctioing seatbelt.

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  Cappuccino Frost - 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By jem7149 - November 23 - 2:00 am

  Nice car and nice ride for 2003. Can tell the room in back is for short people, but hey, just me and my girlfriend so well kick back and enjoy the sunroof! Performance and handling are tight and smooth.

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  Great Truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Marc - November 22 - 4:13 am

  I bought my 2007 Silverado because of the new design, and I needed a new truck. The truck is great, runs great, smooth, quiet, and has plenty of power. The only thing I dont like is the gas mileage, I have 2000 miles on my truck so far, and mostly highway driving and I cant get better than 11 mpg. all and all the truck is nice, but the fuel economy is not worth buying a truck like this.