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:

• 

  Best investment I have ever made - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Molly - August 5 - 12:37 am

  Its easy to handle. Easy to get in and out of places. Very dependable. Very easy to get in and out of.

• 

  SSR with Chrome package and wood trim - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By lucky - August 4 - 10:07 am

  One week after I bought it, I took my teenage daughter and headed up to Georgia and South Carolina . The luggage space was excellent and as my daughter put it there was extra space to put the stuff we buy . That was both good and bad if you get my drift.

• 

  2005 - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By M L Lavigne - August 4 - 8:13 am

  We just love the way the Equinox handles, the comfortable seats, and the smooth ride. Another plus in the Equinox is the space for a womans purse. Everyone who has ridden in the back seat cant get over all the leg room they have back there.

• 

  Skeptical Chevy buyer - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dano - August 4 - 5:10 am

  1st new Chevy I have owned. Didnt rated it a 10 yet, very close. Car handles nice, ride is nice and I dont have the problems that I have seen on this forum, which I looked at before I purchased my Impala. This car is a very good improvement (I test drove Impala 3 years ago and wasnt impressed). I hope to have this vehicle a few years.

• 

  Great College Vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Maxxd - August 4 - 1:53 am

  The Malibu Maxx came out of no where while searching car lots, oddly enough it had every feature I wanted and for a very reasonable price. Dont believe the in-dash MPG rating, instead calculate it out yourself. Ive found the computer is off by a large margin, including waiting at a light in the MPG calculation. I average (with city and highway) around 26-28 MPG. Great car for a college student like myself or a family just starting out.

• 

  Great vehicle with great winter traction - 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bill - August 3 - 10:51 pm

  This is my second Equinox. My first one was a 2011 AWD 4cyc LT1 that couldnt stay out of the shop...Frustrated and almost out of warrenty with the 2011, my salesman put me in a new 2013 AWD LT1 and Ive owned it just a little over 3 yeaars now with 34k on it..Its only been back to the dealership once in these three years and it also gets 29mpg on the highway at 71 mph...Very nice vehicle.

• 

  Second One - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Travis - August 3 - 5:48 pm

  What a great car, this is the second Corvette I have owned. The first was a C5. This is a great car to drive. Wow can it move and turn heads. Plus I get 27 miles a gallon going 80.

• 

  99 Tahoe - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Shorthill - August 3 - 10:44 am

  This has been a great truck. I keep it well maintained. There have been a few little problems with radio and dash lights but all were easily resolved.

• 

  My TrailBlazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Marge_in_AZ - August 3 - 10:00 am

  After driving a 5-speed manual Chevy Silverado for 11 years, this is a dream car.

• 

  1 Year Later - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By MLJ - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Purchased new last July. Great vehicle so far. Great snow and offroad performance. I like the engine and power. Some interior and front end sqeaks. Air bag light problem previously reported has gone away. Getting 15-17 mpg city driving.