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:

• 

  It rocks - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By guitarman - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Chevy got it right -- a great looking vehicle that everyone notices and totally right-sized! Not too big, not too small.

• 

  Buy it ... Youll Love it - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By texascoins - September 3 - 10:00 am

  I traded in my 1500 LS ext cab, since the rebates were too good to pass up. Chose the Crew Cab since the added room inside was worth the loss outside. Better traction than the Ext Cab with posi, less mileage than the 4.8l, but ok. Great visibility, wonderful standard features, and a few options put this one at the top of the list. POSITRACK is REQUIRED, since all 1500s are like a cow on crutches in the rain. Another A+ for GM, havent been able to say that much since the 1980s. Very satisfied.

• 

  Love my truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chris - September 3 - 12:47 am

  I bought my Colorado when the S-10 that I was driving died, and it was a very good decision I must say. I was looking into other light duty trucks, but I am glad that I chose the Colorado. It gets better gas mileage than any of the other trucks I was looking at, and right now thats pretty important. What I was suprised about was that for being only a 5 cylinder truck, it has more power than I expected it to.

• 

  The Best Car Ever!! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Keith - September 2 - 7:08 pm

  I bought this car brand new. It has been the most reliable car. I store it every winter. I do yearly maintenance on it like changing the oil, flushing the radiator and transmission fluid. I usually take it on at least one long road trip a year and it is awesome to get it on the road and open it up. It just went over 80,000 miles and still snaps your head back on take off

• 

  Silver Bullet - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By S W T - September 2 - 4:37 pm

  This truck is a huge improvement over my 95 S-10. Much larger, taller, tighter, more powerful. The 5-cyl, 3500 motor is responsive. Not race like performance (it is a truck), but quick when needed. The transmission does tend to search for the right gear too much. The truck is extremely quiet, has a solid but comfortable ride, and has adequate gas milage for a mid size pickup. Making the Z-71 suspension available in a 2WD is a good move by Chevrolet. The package makes the truck look much better without the expense of 4WD on a vehicle that will not be taken off road.

• 

  See Ya Toyota! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By pamemake - September 2 - 4:26 pm

  After much research and model shopping I finally made it into my local Chevy dealer. I took the Malibu 4 cylinder for a test drive and really liked it, until I took the 6 cylinder for a test drive. Wow! What a smooth ride. Very comfortable and tight. The car handled our pot-holes very nicely during the test drive. The ride was supple and controlled and the noise level was very very low. The car handled like a vehicle that should cost much more. Nicely appointed and fun to drive. I touch the gas and I go! No lag in the 6 cylinder. The 4 cylinder was a little laggy for me. After my test drive, I wanted the 6 cylinder. My Prius was boring and low powered and I couldnt wait to trade it in.

• 

  Great truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By JIMW - August 31 - 11:50 pm

  When the Colorado came out, I had a ZR2 S10 I thought I would never part with. After driving and looking the Colorado over I bought one. Good gas mileage, smooth ride, and when you want to get up and go, it takes off smooth and fast. I am impressed with it. No trouble with it. I have had it 6 months got the Z-71 4x4 try one out.

• 

  Fun and Practical - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lora C - August 31 - 2:00 am

  I have had my 2003 malibu for a year. I love the power it has to start off. The stereo system is awesome with the automatic volume control and the different preset tones. The trunk is roomy enough to carry alot of stuff. The added net is perfect when you just have a few bags of groceries. The interior in may car is beautiful, it is cloth with the Chevy bowtie embossed in it.

• 

  Our First Chev - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By LuvRZ71 - August 31 - 2:00 am

  We looked at almost all of the mid/full size SUVs before deciding on the Tahoe. The looks of the Tahoe distinguish it from the rest of the pack (especially in Z71 trim), and its interior was *the* most comfortable of any vehicle we test drove. Our previous SUV was mid-size, but my wife and I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy it has been to adapt to the larger Tahoe.

• 

  Our road test - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By rich - August 30 - 11:04 pm

  Just returned from vacation (Ia to NJ) total trip avg mileage 22. Very nice ride kids entertained by DVDs. Power could use a few more ponies but had no problems crossing the Appalacian mountians. Maintained 75 mph on all interstate grades.