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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  best suv out there - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By smooth rider - September 27 - 10:00 am

  this is the best suv i have ever owned. i had a 97 bravada 00 jimmy but this blows it away the ride is unreal it handles like a dream.

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  Nice car - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By bruce - September 27 - 9:30 am

  I had 520 miles on my 09 HHR when we left on a trip to Denver NC via Norton VA. It was pretty well loaded down with luggage etc. Lots of steep hills to get to Norton but it pulled them very well. no problems with the brakes either except the pedal does feel soft. Coming back to Ohio thru the Blue Ridge on I77 it ran great with the cruise set at 70. For the trip I averaged 29.2 mpg and it was a comfortable ride. You do have to know how to set and use the outside mirrors as there are blind spots.

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  After a months ownership - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By JP - September 27 - 9:27 am

  We bought the Equinox because we needed a car that could be towed 4-wheels-down behind our RV and, happily, the Equinox fits the bill nicely. We bought the 2.4L 2WD because we were interested in fuel economy, but the mileage that were getting doesnt really support our decision - its much poorer than we figured it would be considering the relatively low vehicle weight (about 3700 lb). The acceleration likewise was surprisingly bad. That said, were happy with the vehicle - the interior is nicely appointed with lots of conveniences, although we had to buy the LT version to get hands-free bluetooth and back-up camera. We wanted GPS as well but would have had to spend more to get the LTZ version. One surprise is that Chevy doesnt want you to maintain your own transmission fluid level, so theres no dipstick for the transmission.

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  Wow, this is a Chevy? - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Halofan - September 27 - 5:13 am

  This is my 3rd Chevy truck and I cant believe the upgrades. My last was an 04 Crew Z71 4x4. A nice truck, but it is no comparison to this truck. Fit and finish is superb, ergonomics are awesome. Ride is phenomenal. Enough adjectives. Early on, its a really nice upgrade to the previous generation "workmanlike" truck. Ill have to wait and see on reliability, my 04 had it share of issues in the early going, but Im loyal to Chevy.

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  Cheap build quality - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Nancy - September 27 - 3:43 am

  I have always loved the Silverado but I have come to believe that they are getting more and more cheaply built. My last two Silverados have had the same airconditioner problem by the second year. My 2004 with 53000 miles just had the rear differential cover replaced because it rusted right through the middle. (And, this truck is kept garaged and underbody washed in the winter. It isnt even my primary vehicle.) The metal used for the differential cover might as well have been aluminum foil. Not even a coat of protective paint. As I look at my 2004 compared to my 2002, I see a lot of cheaply done work and parts in the newer model. Thats why my next truck will be a Toyota

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  Highly Recomend - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By gilli2us - September 26 - 2:04 pm

  Excellent, versatile vehicle. Can haul full sheet of plywood with tailgate shut. Excellent payload, love the fuel management features. Supurb interior, and ingenious design with the mid- gate, and removeable rear window. Truck drives like a car, or hauls like a good truck should. It does get a little cramped with the rear seats folded down. You have to move the front seats forward pretty far to get the back seats to fold down all the way.

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  Just what I wanted - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By hoppyalong - September 25 - 2:10 pm

  Excellent SUV. Drives like a dream. Strong engine and fun to drive. Good looks also. So far at 7,000 miles no bad smells. But poor gas mileage in town (13 - 15 mpg). On the road as high as 22 mpg. But not 25 as advertised. I average no more than 18 mpg. It took over 5,000 miles to stop rattling and squeaking. Very quiet now. Feels like you sit down instead of sitting straight across or up on to the front seat (Im 6 1) when getting in. Electric steering saved me from getting hit by a truck on the drivers side. Very quick response. Back seat works great for tall people or to add more space for stuff. It would have cost $15K+ to get the extras I have. I love the sub-woofer and XM radio.

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  Great SUV - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By stephanie - September 25 - 9:05 am

  I drove Jeeps for years. I am so glad I made the switch to my TrailBlazer. I can only say great things about it! Would recomend it to anyone looking for a midsize suv! We have plenty power to tow our camper and boat. Better gas mileage than expected!

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  Wonderful Car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Joel - September 25 - 3:53 am

  I just purchased this car, pretty happy with it so far. In my opinion its a nice car for the money and gets very good gas mileage. Nice and roomy for small family of 4. I disliked it at first thinking it was going to be like a PT Cruiser and I was wrong and sold when I test drove it. It was exactly what I was looking for. So I suggest if youre thinking about looking for a roomy family vehicle that you can haul stuff if you want then this is the perfect car for you.

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  2002 Chevy Cavalier LS Sport - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Dmagic - September 25 - 1:03 am

  I recently purchased the cavalier LS Sport Sedan. I must say that for the buck, this is a best buy! It has all the custom features most people want, available in factory make. The sound system is excellent, and puts a little bump in your ride. Considering it only has a 4 cylinder, the car has quite an amount of pickup too.