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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  Vehice Is Great :) - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Z24 - November 29 - 9:16 pm

  This 1992 Cavalier Z24, has been a very fast, fun, and comfortable vehicle to have. I have had it since I was 16, and am now 21. I bought it from my dad, on my 16th Birthday. Took it out, and wrecked it, then he repaired it for me. Ever since then, I have never had any other type of accident with this car. It has always started the whole 5 years I have had it. My friends at school, always wanted to ride in it, because it looked to cool. Its been a great car.

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  Love it! - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Runt - November 29 - 1:11 pm

  Not one problem EVER! Love this car and wouldnt trade it for anything. Will be my Sons car next year, that is how much I think of this car.

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  Love this truck - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By superhobie - November 29 - 5:46 am

  Bought this as a replacement for my 2001 crew cab duramax. I was a little worried about if it would be able to tow my 12000 lb trailer since it has the 6 liter gas engine. As it turned out it has no problem whatever towing it and the 6sp allison tranny is a joy. The mileage could be a little better but since regular gas is alot cheaper here than diesel it works out alright. I especially like the built in trailer braking system instead of having the aftermarket unit hanging under the dash. After 20000 miles I have not had a single problem with this truck . It is as tight and quiet as the day I bought it. I only use it for towing our 35 ft camper. Again love this truck.

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  Perfect EXCEPT........ - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By LYN E - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I love my new Equinox...I was one of the first ones on the streets and I liked the new look. Everything is perfect EXCEPT...the rear headrests are so tall it makes for much difficulty when backing up...this also causes a bad blind spot when you look in the rear view mirror. It handles great, super fuel economy, great stero sound...excellent comforts with the leather interior (the cloth seats are very hard). I love Chevey and this is a great little truck!!

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  More than I expected - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tcob - November 28 - 10:00 am

  The Trail Blazer has turned out to be a more enjoyable vehicle than I expected. Comfort and handling have been excellent. Averaging 18.1 miles per gallon has been another unexpected pleasure. Seats are comfortable for short and long trips. Stereo is more than adequate, clear with virtually no distortion with CDs. Controls are easy to operate and somewhat intuitive. I enjoy the ride.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By pmlap - November 28 - 10:00 am

  Very nice, traded a 2000 Silverado regular cab. Great performance, good looks. Get about 13mpg. Could use a power sliding rear window.

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  Love the Caprice - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice
  By tony - November 27 - 1:43 am

  I have used the Caprices in my Funeral Escort business for over eight years and they have performed beautifully for us. The vehicle is almost undestructable. It is heavy duty all the way around and you can always count on it. If you perform the routine maintainence and change filters etc I believe the car will last for 400,000 mile or more and I have seen Caprices with that mileage on them. I think it was GMs best made vehicle.

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  Still Blazin - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mister - November 27 - 1:05 am

  Ive had my Trailblazer LT for over two years now, and absolutely love it! Since I wanted to keep this one for a while, I got it with just about every option available, and have appreciated them all...especially the steering wheel controls. I did lose the drivers window motor and A/C circulating valve early on, but both were fixed with no problems. The ride is smooth, acceleration nice...all around fun to drive. I have OnStar, but would have liked to have XM as the newer models do. City mileage is a little shocking at 14-15 mpg, but highway gets up to 21. As others have stated, the gas tank should be bigger. Thanks GM for an excellent SUV!

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  Road Warrior Perfection - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Gandelot - November 26 - 9:16 pm

  I drive for a living, and after owning 3 vehicles in 2 years...Ive finally found the perfect vehicle for spending up to 8 hours a day/four days a week in. Comfort is incredible-Handling is great-Power is spelled C-H-E-V-Y.

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  Perfect! - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By hayden - November 24 - 11:30 am

  Perfect truck, beats dodge and ford in every aspect