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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  Great Looks - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Sam - September 1 - 1:00 pm

  The Uplander has the styling that I love. It looks like an SUV but has the capacity of a mini-van. It drives great and has all the features I want.

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  Great American Quality - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mike - August 31 - 6:21 pm

  For all of you out there that buy foreign because of the so called superior reliabilty this car is for you. Well built, fun to drive, excellent quality for your money.

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  A Comfortable Workhorse - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By AC - August 31 - 11:35 am

  This truck has been great for me. Lots of highway miles every weekend and it has been - no issues except cosmetic, normal wear and tear.

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  Update on Equi - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tar Heel Born - August 31 - 10:27 am

  Weve made a couple of trips to the VA mountains from the central NC area after installing a reciever hitch and hauling a ROLA cargo box. Weve been through a couple of oil changes (3000mi) and we like our Equi more than when we first got it. Gas mileage on our trips, which includes a lot of mountain roads and town driving has averaged almost 22 MPG on both trips! We confirmed the computer reading by figuring it the old fashioned way, just to make sure. Have had a couple of small warranty items repaired with no problem. This is a fun vehicle to drive and my wife (primary user) loves it. Sun roof and leather makes it nice. Entry front and back is great (Im 62" and 255lbs)!

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  Never again - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By spar5 - August 31 - 9:22 am

  Bought car with 12k miles on it and by 20k it had become a nightmare. At 24k needed to replace warped rotors and again at 40k. Idler arms on both sides needed replacing at 38k. Front end still squeeks like crazy but is hard to hear at times over the rattles in the dash. Post on drivers side also rattles. window motor on passenger side went out. Now tranny problems. Done with GM products!

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  Nice small truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By bart - August 31 - 9:07 am

  Gas mileage was at 18.5 mpg until i installed the k&n air filter, then mileage went to 21.5. Have used it to tow 6x12 U-haul trailers with amazing results, plenty of power and gas mileage stayed good. Its not like my old F-150 but more economocal to drive. Only had two warranty issues so far. Front sensor on ABS and squeaky rear brakes, which the dealer took care of both.

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  Electrical - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike - August 31 - 12:30 am

  Electrical headache. Been towed to dealership 4 times since purchase. Told all 4 times it was a bad battery. Now for the 5th time, its dead in driveway 30min after I turned it off, guess itll be battery again. Driver mirror doesnt work, lumbar in seat doesnt move, and seat somehow starts to heat up even though the button is off. Also, contrary to what the dealership tells me, the dash lights will randomly go off at night and start to flicker. Apparently none of this can be duplicated so GM says it isnt happening...ghosts I guess.

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  Black Beauty - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By D. Hill - August 30 - 11:16 pm

  I bought this truck new in 93, it was the first car I ever purchased. It has the 2.8L v-6, which consistently gets 26mpg back and forth to work. It has the manual 5-speed, which makes you feel like youre driving a much larger truck. This was the last year they made the S-10 with the traditional truck styling, all the chrome, and accent strips, etc. Everytime I have the truck out someone will inevitably say to me, what a nice lookin truck! I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has complimented me on my black truck! It has a great ride, and handles well in the rain and snow. I once had a cop pull me ove just to look at my truck.

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  Sporty and Comfort - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By redgirl779 - August 30 - 10:02 pm

  I just bought a LTZ and I love it! I like the sporty look and feel of the car. The interior is great and the features that come with the LTZ is excellent. I will put my LTZ up agaist a Honda or Camry anytime.

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  Satisfied Owner - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dwaine Kamnetz - August 30 - 2:13 pm

  Solid GM Product