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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  Real American Muscle - 1992 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RedLT1 - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car with 15,000 miles and one year later have 25,000 miles on it. It is a lot of fun, although a pain to get into. Once you are in it feels like you are wearing the car. I average 25 mpg on the road with my foot in it. Where else can you get this much power and still get respectable gas mileage?

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  2nd blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By rao - September 17 - 2:00 am

  my 2nd blazer..1st was a 1999..both have been leases..love the 4wd..great in the snow..never been on the beach with it so cant comment on it..visability when turning head is not good..head rests are in way..bump on floor pasenger front seat is uncomfortable on longer trips..reliability has been great..never a problem..both cars..

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  Loaded AV in SETexas - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By American Man - September 17 - 2:00 am

  Just bought my Avalanche (AV). Full function buckets are awesome Ride package is better than any other truck I have had in the past (Dodge, Chevy, Ford). Convenience package is great (O/S mirrors are good choice, adjustable pedals for the wife are a big hit as well! Appearance is sharpened dramitically without the body hardware! With the Z66 package, the truck sits up nicely (17" rims/tires). Engine provides ample power.

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  I love it ! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mary Lindsey - September 16 - 5:36 am

  It handles just like a car. The styling is very nice. I am really enjoying my SUV. I have found driving on the highway much better.

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  99 Z24 - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Malteselegacy - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Great car! All my friends make fun of the car,because they call it a commoner car. They paid over $30000 each for their crappy imports,while I paid less than 25 and my car is going strong. I bought it brand new and have had it for 4 years now and it has over 65000 miles and still going strong.

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  3 years of ownership - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Don in midwest - September 16 - 2:00 am

  Purchased new. Now 42,000 miles. Starts, runs, everything works. Good balance of size, interior, price. Very tight steering system and corners well. Can do a fairly long road trip with out comfort issues. Dealer has been very good. Had some problems early on. Replaced an engine(3.1L) due to knocking (bad pistons, damaged cylinder) Replacement engine clatters like a diesel when cold but doesnt seem to be an issue when warm and apparently still goes many miles. Gets great mileage 32 mpg highway. Original Firestone tires were junk, started making noise at 30,000 miles. Even though rotated at 6,000.Have not seen the brake problems I hear about.

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  2002 SS Camaro - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By lastSS - September 16 - 2:00 am

  The car is absolutely a blast to drive. The acceleration is unbeatable. The handling is superb. I have beaten many cars, some of which were double the price of mine. Dont think you are getting a Mercedes when you buy this car. It is not for the weak hearted. It is a muscle car, not a spors car. There is a difference.

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  Fun To Drive - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By K Klingenberg - September 15 - 10:06 am

  Just purchased a 2006 LT AWD Black. Drives very nice for a vehicle in this price range. I am 6-5" and the vehicle has plenty of room and is very comfortable. Would love to have "OS" handles on the passanger side. Not sure why this was not incorporated into this vehicle? It would have been nice to split the rear bench seat. That would allow for more flexiblity when using the 60/40 seating. The turn signal and wiper handles are somewhat stubby and the driver has to reach for the handle to turn or activate the wipers. Lets bring those out a little so we can keep our handle on the steering wheel. Overall, very well put together vehicle. Only time will tell how dependable the vehicle is??

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  I like my car - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By Norma A. Padron - September 15 - 2:00 am

  It is a very spacious car, with great visibility and high. Dont like at times the high because for short and old people it is kind of difficult to get in. Window motors are not too good, both, driver and passenger brake easily and when you need it the most.

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  My last Tahoe - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Fruit - September 15 - 2:00 am

  This is my third and final Tahoe...I thought the 95 and the 99 Tahoes were much more comfortable in their rides...this 01 gives a more trucklike ride..the cargo capacity is also smaller. The smaller engine didnt save anything in the gas milage dept. I also found rattles in the front end...the rear tailgate window came off its hinge. I think there is better value out there in the future....