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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  Just Bought One - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Wayne McDowell - April 30 - 10:00 am

  I really like the Equinox except for one thing. The head rests are so uncomfortable they give you a headache on a long trip. We complained to GM and it seems we arent alone with the complaint. They moved the head rests forward 2" in the 2005 model. My wife doesnt even want to sit in it if we are driving more than 30 minutes. The seats are overly comfortable either.

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  New Chevy driver - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Eddie - April 30 - 1:10 am

  The little truck turned out to be a lot more fun to drive than I thought. The engine is a little noisy when on the gas. I really dont like the not having a key lock on the drivers side.The gas mileage is great. I average 25mpg. I looked at Nissan and Toyota, and both were too pricey for what I needed in a pickup. I drove the Nissan and Toyota and neither truck had the power that the Chevy had.

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  Certified Pre-Owned Value? - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Brett Wedekind - April 29 - 7:49 am

  Buying the Camaro SS from the dealer provided me with the opportunity to purchase the extended warranty/service plan, which Im glad I did. In would recommend this to anyone buying available used sports car. It was much more affordable than buying a new model.

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  Better than Most - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Saigashooter - April 28 - 4:06 am

  A nice car for a single person, or to just have fun in from time to time. The 3.8 NA V6 is easy on gas but still has some giddy up, though a stock 4.3 or larger V6 would be nice. The car is large though it doesnt handle like a boat. Transmission is a weak point if you have a bad habit of laying rubber at intersections, though it is mostly due to a poorly built throttle position sensor, which causes whining between 2k and 3K rpm The car certainly looks different than any domestic or import sedan or coupe, and people will comment on it. The interior is nice, though some owners report gaps between the glovebox and dash. The rubber treatment on the interior needs to go, as it wears easily.

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  05 GMC - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By kruzan - April 27 - 12:20 am

  Great truck, 05 GMC Sierra 2500HD Duramax is the king of diesels. Wish it had bigger wheels/tires(17-18"), and the interior stinks if trying to sleep. Front seats do not recline all the way, very uncomforable to sleep in. I drive long distances through the night at times and know I cant sleep in this truck. Only mechanical drawback/weak link is the Allison transmission. It is weak and needs more beef, especially in the torque converter and C3/C4 clutchs.

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  equinox LS - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By d adair - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Purchased April 27, 2004...wasnt intending to trade just yet but wanted a larger vehicle for the daily freeway commute...I have been pleased with the fit and finish and engine responsiveness. The 5 speed automatic transmission combined with the 6 cyl engine supplies a good mix for the rigors of daily commute w/o feeling like you are pushing the motor to its limits. Gas mileage is Ok... could always be better. Happy previous owner of 2000 Tracker w/ 5 Speed Manual. Thought I wanted another manual transmission but am satisfied with 5 speed auto.

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  A good choice! - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Shree K - April 22 - 10:06 pm

  I decided to opt for the Impala over the Ford Fusion and the Nissan Altima. The car has close to 10,000 miles on it and the experience thus far has been pleasant. The biggest surprise to me was the fuel economy numbers. I was averaging around 25mpg with my 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5S. The Impala averages that at similar driving speeds. However, recently, I decided to slow down to 65mph and my fuel economy jumped up to 28mpg! The interior is very comfortable and the seats are supportive. The CD player hiccuped and had to be replaced - now it works great! The ride is smooth and quiet. The engine can be a bit buzzy when the RPM crosses 2500. Overall, good choice!

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  z chev - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By tom - April 22 - 6:13 am

  This truck has 4 wheel drive and gets 18 mpg running around town. Much better than my 2000 Ford f150 two wheel drive which got 17 mpg. Have had no trouble and love the off road capabilitys. The Firestone tires are about to be replaced at 50000 miles, again much better then the Ford.

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  Great new truck!! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TWAGNER - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Seams to be a Great truck,Has lots of power,the 5.3 V8 285hp engine puts the Fords to shame.I love the leather seat and center console.Bose system rocks!!

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  Chevy Impala - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jean-rive - April 17 - 7:57 pm