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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  Equinox MPG not as advertised - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lsr1 - June 9 - 9:53 am

  I bought a Chevy Equinox 2011 a few weeks ago, and the MPG of 32 Highway is not even close to the actual. I do mostly highway driving, and I am only getting 18.5 MPG. I have been very conservative on how I am driving (no fast start, or engine reving). One of the reasons that I chose this vehicle above others is becasus of the fuel economy. Chevy outright LIED, and so did the dealer. Now they wont return my calls anymore when I ask them why they lied to me about the MPG. How can Chevy get away with that? I WILL NEVER buy another Chevy as long as I live, and I will discourage anyone I know from buying a Chevy as well.

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  Great gas sipper for the price - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By carnut59 - June 6 - 9:53 pm

  I have an S Class Mercedes and Infiniti SUV...when gas hit $4 a gallon, I bought this used 2005 Aveo with 16,000 miles as a gas sipper for the 20,000 miles or so I drive a year for business reasons. I really like it for the price, and consistently get better than the EPA ratings, I get 30 city and 40 highway with the automatic. I have gotten 43.8 before. I do all my own maintenance and its all cheap and easy on this car. Its crude and flimsy in many ways as you would expect for the price, but its great in congested traffic and tight parking lots.

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  Outstanding MPG!!! - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By sonata3times - June 6 - 10:01 am

  I bought the Chevy volt for one reason only. Im a business man who drives around 300 miles almost everyday. Driving both city and highway averages 104mpg. Im glad I got this and not the Prius.

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  Bought my 2011 Equinox March 2011 - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By triciag1 - June 4 - 9:27 pm

  The first day I got my car it had to be put in the shop for a week to change out a module for the on-star/Bluetooth. A couple weeks later had it in the shop for 16 days due to transmission problems. Dealer put a whole new transmission. Im not very happy at all !!! Just not sure the quality is what it should be in the equinox. I love the look of the car and the way it handles. Im just very concerned about the dependability. If I had to do it again Im not sure I would buy the Equinox !!

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  2000 V6 Automatic with T-Tops - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By camarogrl00 - June 3 - 3:02 pm

  I had my wonderful Camaro for 8 years, over 98000 miles. Although I went through 4 sets of tires and breaks on normal driving, which I feel was WAY too many replacements. I still loved her. No matter how old this car gets the body style is still something so appealing. Unfortunately she needed too much done to it for me to keep driving, antoher set of tires and other stuff, I had to get rid of her. Anyone who has had a chance to own this fun and awesome car knows what a gem it is, regardless of any issues. I miss her everyday still and it has been 3 years since she was traded in.

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  Car looks great, but drives horribly - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By videomanfx - June 2 - 3:01 pm

  I should have listened to Car and Driver Magazine. The article talked about the Equinox being "faster" for Zero to 60 mph, but the Kia Sorento rides better. Well, thinking like a "man", I chose the Equinox because guys like speed. I did a test drive and did not notice anything odd. But, I later found out that it was because all of the roads around the dealership are smooth! You cannot tell how a car really handles until you take it off the lot. I have only owned my vehicle for 2 months, but every single day, I feel EVERY crack and bump in the road. I complained to the dealer and they stated that it was normal. The car looks good buy rides horribly. The suspension is horrible.

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  First Vette - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By msm8221 - May 30 - 5:30 am

  Ive own a lot of cars and for the money (I paid 45k -less tax) for a base after 6K discount from GM and 3K from dealer, this is a bargain compared to the SS/RS ragtop Camaro which has few incentives. @ 430 HP, it isnt a bone crusher and Im sure the manual tranny SS Camaro will stomp it to death in a 1/4 mile. Nice fit-finish, nice features, I hope good resale value as I dont keep cars long. I have always consider the Vette a sissy car driven by middle aged men trying to be cool while holding their toupee in place. This car makes me reconsider my previous opinion as it is sophisticated, good looking and powerful. NOT the muscle car the Camaro is.

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  2 days old, speaker system in back out, full tank gas almost gone! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jrt_banks - May 28 - 8:36 pm

  Hi! I recently purchased a brand new 2011 equinox three days ago with 130 miles on it. I LOVE the look, comfort and drive with this SUV. The standard features are amazing, the sound system is killer, and the bluetooth is awesome. I paid a little extra and got the LT1 with the sunroof and remote start, back up camera and power seats. TOTALLY worth it. The DAY I bought it we got hit with a HORRIBLE, and I mean HORRIBLE hail storm and tornadoes. (FIGURES RIGHT?). My suv handled amazing in this weather. We actually got stuck in the car when some of it hit and during the high winds it did not wander at all and NONE of my windows or anything got even a little crack. I do however have hail dents

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  Just a fun little car! - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By theguy89 - May 26 - 3:53 am

  I got this car when i turned 18 and im now 22 years old i had 90 thousand miles on it then and it now has 150 thousands miles on it i had to replace an alternater and a starter but nothing seroius very well build car no major problems and i dont regret it at all.this car had been threw hell and back but somehow its still runs as if it was brand new.what can i say? well its damn good car thats what i can say!

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  325,000 km and still runs like its brand new ! - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By seth16 - May 25 - 6:02 pm

  Ive had this truck for a year and a half , before that it was owned by my uncle . This truck has 325,000km on it , most are highway kilometers but it still runs like its brand new ! It has plenty of acceleration for what i need and hp ! The seats are very nice and great for long rides and easy to clean also . The back seat looks very decieving everyone before the go on think that it wil be very unconfourtable as you look at the size , but when they are sitting in it ( even for long trips ) they rather have this seat than the passangerseat because of all the leg room . I also love how it doesnt have carpet , easy to not get stains . I love this truck for many different reasons !