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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  Chevy Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ESowa - November 18 - 10:00 am

  The Chevy Equinox is a stylish vehicle with plenty of room for a family of four, even teenagers. The cargo space is adequate for hauling plants and dirt for gardening. However, my transmission does not move smoothly between gears and the dealer said that that is normal. There is a definite catch as the gears move from first to second and second to third.

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  Dont like the shift paddles - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Shift Paddles a Flop - November 18 - 12:26 am

  Great car but they screwed up when they moved the manual shift to the steering wheel. You still have to put the shift stick in Manual before you can use the paddles. It would have been more convenient if they had left the ability manual shift on the shift lever like most other manufacturers. Another complaint is that GM changed suppliers for the built in garage door opener. The new units will not work on any door or gate installed within the last 10 years. My 2002 Envoys unit worked fine on all my gates. My wifes only complaint is seeing out the rear window.

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  Silverado vs F250 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By rocket - November 17 - 12:50 am

  Overall I have been happy with this truck, I use it to pull a 7000 lb 5th wheel camper, without any problems.

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  Great SUV without the Price - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wrkhrdr - November 14 - 5:33 pm

  Great things about this "small SUV" include great response in steering, quick and agile like a car (comparible to the Impala which I have also owned), and great styling, especially from looking head on.

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  cute and chunkey - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By greattobealive - November 13 - 10:00 am

  after 2400 miles an annoying rattle has developed from somewhere in the dash. from the factory, dash is warped where it meats the windshield. fog light switch is difficult to see/reach. takes some feeling around to find it while you are driving. like chunkey body styling. pleanty of room for huskey 65 people like me. fuel economy is less than desired. hope it will get better. gets nowhere near the 23-28 mpg. getting around 21 mpg with 70% highway driveing. missing pull strap in trunk from factory.

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  Enjoy my New Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By LifeInAroostook - November 13 - 10:00 am

  I traded a 2001 Suburban (a massive vehicle) for my 2005 Equinox, and I am mostly happy with it. Trading from such a large vehicle, I find the interior size of the Equinox to be quite adequate, and Im surprised at how easily Ive made the transition. I have 2600 miles on it now. I like the power and the solid feel of the road that it provides. There is lots of room for my two Greyhounds and one Husky with the back seat down and I like the styling, both inside and out.

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  some improvements over prior models - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
  By obrienw - November 12 - 6:23 pm

  The interior has some improvements over prior models but Ford is still much nicer. The powertrain is why I bought this truck and it does not disappoint - with the exception of the need to replace fuel filters too frequently. Engine and allison trans are great for pulling my gooseneck trailer. Has bigger tag receiver , with insert. They dropped the trans temp gauge from prior models but the info is available from the Driver Information Center. Had emergency brake sticking and a driveline vibration issue but otherwise good solid truck.

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  So far - so good - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jim mccormack - November 12 - 10:26 am

  Other than the lack of power with the 4 cyl., I am very happy with this Chevy. Exceedingly comfortable to drive and handles very well and smooth on the open road. Smooth ride, steering is a dream, minor problems with door hinges, as stated so far - so good.

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  MY SILVERADO HAS NEVER FAILED ME - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kenzootak - November 7 - 8:37 pm

  MY 2010 SILVERADO HAS 47,500 MILES now. No problems at this time. WAY below freezing jacks up tire pressure monitor. AND THE ORIGINAL TIRES WILL NEED REPLACED SOON. Auto transfer case works well for 4x4 use. Drag to get in neutral. BUT THE AUTO SELECT DIAL FOR 4X4 IS EASY TO USE. THE MANUAL BUTTONS ON SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION WORK WELL TOO. HOWEVER THE MANUAL BUTTON HOLDS A LOW GEAR IF SELECTED WHEN YOU ENTER BACK ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED IN LOW GEAR ASSUMING AUTOMATIC STILL. THOUGH ON HILLS ,THE MANUAL BUTTON WORKS TERRIFIC WITH THE GEARS USE. FANTASTIC STEREO AND SPEAKERS. WIDE TURN, BUT OKAY. MINE IS REASONABLE ON GAS. IT IS OK FOR LOAD TOO.

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  100K and Beyond - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By bobd10 - November 5 - 3:45 am

  I bought my "05 Maxx with 52k on the meter. I now have 105k. Got hit twice, both side swipes at the front end (1 on each side). Hasnt given me any major problems. Just chenged the plugs, was easy. Put in irridiums, seems like it has better response at high speed acceleration now. Only 2 gripes...the front turn signals melting and the CD player not accepting discs on the first try. Otherwise, great car.