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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  Coballt SS/SC - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By SharpMan - October 15 - 9:40 am

  Looks great, fun to drive, good gas mileage. Build quality acceptable for price range of vehicle.

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  A great small car with much potential! - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Buddy - October 14 - 5:43 pm

  I replaced a 98 4-dr Metro (60000 miles)with this Aveo LT model with auto trans and all the options (MP3 radio, 6 speaker system, anti-lock brakes, etc.). The difference is night and day. This is a car that can be modified to satisfy several markets. Make a few cosmetic changes in the front, add a stronger drivetrain and sportier interior and this car will appeal to the younger crowd that wants a new car with style, but one that doesnt cost a lot of cash. The ride is smooth and quiet, and the engine is sufficiently strong, light years ahead of the old Metro model. GM has a real winner in this model!

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  Stepped up to something bigger - 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Adrian Q - October 14 - 1:54 pm

  I traded in my 2010 Equinox since the equinox had started to have some rather costly repairs. So i figured to get something bigger with more space. And that is exactly what I got. Compared to the equinox, the Traverse has en enormous amount of space. Even with the third row up, there is still ample cargo room in the back. That and passengers in the third row can actually sit comfortably and have plenty of head room and leg space. Since this was a bigger vehicle, it did take some time to get use to it. I have a narrow drive way and it took some effort to adjust to a wider car. Aside from that so far the ride is comfortable and acceleration is very nice considering the size of the engine. I thought i would be underwhelmed since the V6 i had in the Equinox made it very quick, and the steering was very precise and responsive. The Traverse is a little more muddy but not too much, i think that i am just feeling the weight a lot more then i did on the Equinox. So I feel the weight a lot more on the turns then i did on the Equinox. But not so much that its an issue. Its more something that i need to get use to. Over all I am happy with the Traverse. Since what i needed was a family SUV with lots pf space for kits and and entertainment option for long trips, the Traverse was exactly what I was looking for. The only thing negative that i can report was that when we fist got the car and took it on the express way, there was a noticeable vibration in the steering. We took it back to the dealer and that was corrected quickly and no fuss. Aside from that we have made some long trips and it has been great. Entertainment system is adequate even though i wish i would have been able to get one with a newer version on Chevys MyLink. But these are minor grips since so far a really like this SUV.

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  Is this what Chevy has to offer? - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jb Reno - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I am a First time Chevy owner, ex ford guy. I am thinking I made a mistake with this purchased truck on Mon. evening and it was in the shop Tues. night with a bad tranny. Never had a problem with my Fords.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By AF_Ret - October 14 - 12:39 am

  Took Museum delivery of 09 Atomic Orange convertible with 4LT, NPP, Z51, Auto, Nav system on 22 Sep. Drove back to So CA and it was the most confortable long distance ride of any car that I have owned. The 6 way power seats are extremely comfortable and exceeded my expectations. Handled like a dream on winding mountain roads. Could not believe the acceleration that this car has. Gas mileage better then expected, 26.6 MPG cross country and this included city, mountain and interstate driving during break in period. A great automobile.

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  My Chevorlet Impala SS 08 - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By David - October 13 - 8:55 pm

  Seems to have a steering response that is way too quick, better turn the traction control off if you plan on stomping on the gas pedal and pulling into the passing lane. As well, you better turn the traction control of if you see someone eyeballing you at the stoplight, or they are going to leave you burning rubber. Factory tires are junk and do not handle water, hydroplanes easy in the rain, Is quite dangerous in fact, this is a 50 mile per hour car in the rain. The steering can correct, but the tail is like a boat out of the water.

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  Nice car! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Rayna - October 13 - 8:24 pm

  I wanted to write this review due to the fact that people have complained about this lovely car a lot. I got a 08 Chevy Aveo because I needed something better for my job and this car fit perfectly. No it doesnt have the power of a Corvette but if I wanted the power of a Corvette I would have bought one! This car has been getting me from point A to point be and this is a nice family car but sporty looking too!

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  Happy to have one! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Joey V - October 13 - 8:06 pm

  I once had a Ford Escort but that was a while ago. I drive 48 miles 1 way to work, and drive on the coast of Califonia. Speed limit 65. I work early so no one on the road and I drive 60 mph. Nice ride to and from work, getting 38 mpg. It will be my 14yr old daughters in 2 yrs and she loves it. Big change from my Suzuki XL-7 which my college son drives now.

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  2008 Chevy Equinox Sport AWD.. Great! - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By GMEQUINOX - October 13 - 8:45 am

  GM has hit their mark with the 08 Equinox Sport, most of the reviews Ive read from actual drivers (not people who write car reviews for a living Im talking people who actually matter) say that the 3.4L engine was underpowered and not overly responsive. This is not the case with the 3.6L engine this engine growls and throws you back in your seat on a whim. The interior space is actually amazing on all Equinox trims, when looking at the Equinox on the outside it looks like a really small SUV/Crossover but when inside and you start to load it up, you would never know how small this vehicle actually is. I would recommend this vehicle for anyone interested in sport, handling and cargo room.

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  Great Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Amanda - October 13 - 12:48 am

  Truck is great, bought it a few months ago and have had several trips in it out of town. It does extremely well for a V8 with this size of truck, I was averaging 22mpg and made it from Panama City, FL to Tampa, FL on a little under 1/2 a tank (5hrs). The interior design is great, minus the extra holder space on top of the center console, you cant get into the console without moving things off that space. I love the extra power outlet in the back, as well as the Bose stereo system-has great sound. I live on a backroad that leads out to a 4 lane highway and I know that when I come to the stop sign, this truck definitely has the get up and go to scoot out into traffic when I hit the gas.