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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  poor gas mileage - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By sonnyh777 - March 29 - 9:58 am

  I am very disappointed with the gas mileage. I took a trip to Florida on straight flat roads and could only get 23 mpg. It had 4800 miles when I took the trip. I am used to getting 32/34 mpg on my 2006 Impala and it was a 6 cyl. The only reason I selected the Equinox was for the advertised great gas mileage. We had planned on taking a road trip around the country, however, with this mileage we will have to cancel. I wish I had kept my Impala!!

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  great for the money - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ty&mikespopop - March 25 - 10:00 am

  At $10,200 The Cavalier is a bargain.I bought the base model strictly as transportation to work.It came with a 5 speed manual trans,A/C and a cd player as well as P/S,and P/B.What started out as just a work car has become our everything car.Its fun to drive, good on gas and handles like a sports car.It has excellent brakeing and emergency handleing.Someone cut me off and ran me onto a grass shoulder at 65mph last week and the car behaved like a champ.

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  Hats Off To GM - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Pacetreker - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Now have 2 Malibus, a 2002 LS & a 2004 LT VE. Love them both, but appreciate the newer consept of the later model, as this car deserves the Caddy Emblem...

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  one bad bowtie - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By flash2003 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Lets see, the SILVERADOSS. Is a Great ride, handles like a corvette interior like a caddy, awsome BOSE sound system. I is a quick fullsize pick up truck with awd and great towing cap, ext cab with large rear doors, Also it has some nice options

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  Very Happy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Donna - March 24 - 8:03 am

  We havent owned the ca a month yet, but we are very happy with all aspects of it. We are very happy with the comfort of the car. We love the back seat. We got one that folds down and has small storage areas in it. The pull up seats are a real saver on the seats. The trunk is huge too. We love it and are very happy so far with our purchase. We got one that will run on E85.

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  Great Looks, Great Engine, Poor Mileage - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By 4Wheeler - March 24 - 2:00 am

  So far, So good. Just got the truck this week. Love the looks, puts my 2002 Blazer to shame. Handles great and love the loads of space. Would be a bit happier is the 3rd row seats folded all the way down.

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  IF ONLY - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Richard in OK - March 22 - 10:00 am

  I bought my Z34 cheaply,and got a 2yr. warranty with it.Lets face it,its a sport coupe, not a luxury sedan. The ride is stiff, which you are reminded of at every bump .The seats are uncomfortable and its hard to get in and out of the back seat.Performance is very good once you get the car moving and it finds the rpm that it likes. I never worry about passing cars as the power is always there. Fuel economy on the highway with air on is about 28 mpg.Little things could have made this car great. One thing,those Z34s that run well,seem to run well. Be thankful,if you have one, but be aware of the problems.Call me crazy, but I still have to like this car.

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  A Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By steve10 - March 21 - 10:33 pm

  I Love my Cobalt. I had a Cavalier and it was okay. The Cobalt is great. I have never wrote a review and had to do it as I love this car. Good AC, in Fl a must. The seats are a big improvement over the Cav. Everything is better. Chevy is building better cars. The handling is much better. Just seems solid. Knock on wood.

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  Equinox 05 - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By MVO - March 18 - 2:06 pm

  I have only had this vehicle for one week and so far my only and greatest disappointment is the fuel economy. My old 87 with over 300k miles got better gas mileage than my new car! It falls below the advertised 19 MPG average. Im lucky if I get 14 MPG. I do love how it handles and the spaciousness for the passengers.

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  TRAILBALZER EXT LT - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By RAG67 - March 18 - 10:00 am

  BUILD QUALITY SEEMS TO BE EXCELLENT. I AM A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE 5.3 V-8. I ALSO AM LUKE WARM ABOUT THE WAY THE VEHICLE SITS UP IN THE REAR. SEATING FOR 6 IS TIGHT BUT ACCEPTABLE. SEATING FOR 7 IS A STRETCH.