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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  Overall, well-built car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Blake Brown - February 9 - 11:46 pm

  Very exciting car to drive. I wake up every morning excited that I get to take a trip in it to school or work. Everybody who sits in my car thinks it very comfortable and likes it a lot. Lot of comments from strangers.

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  Astro Number 2 - 2003 Chevrolet Astro
  By TN dog mom - February 9 - 6:42 pm

  Pack it up pile the dogs in and away we go all across the USA --- most of the time Im travelling alone and rely heavily on the reliability and durability, good performance of this van! The roomy interior is just right for all the paraphrenalia that needs to accompany us on our adventures. This is my 2nd Astro ..... my trade-in Astro had 260,000 miles on it and was still going strong! I am looking forward to putting 260,000 on this one too!

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  Love my C5 - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bob Kaplan - February 8 - 6:11 pm

  Second C5 I have owned. Fifth Corvette I have owned. Best so far. Fast and smooth.

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  Awesome Car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CandisCarter - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have had my car for a year now. I have never had any problems with it. It is one of those cars that is big enough to fit 5 people (which is good since I am only 19) but has the sporty image that I wanted.

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  Equinox Review - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Soulman - February 8 - 10:00 am

  Good performance, good size, smooth in highways.

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  Better than a Lexus & More Affordable - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Maude1015 - February 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a superior vehicle. It has the styling of a very expensive vehicle. The back seat is the roomiest Ive ever been in and it is quiet, comfortable and drives like a dream! If you have not driven one, you are really missing out!

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  Refined Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ed Vaca - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I have enjoyed the luxury inside the truck. I have the leather bucket seats, they are very comfortable. I like the power of the 5.3. So for so good!!!

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  Great car and a great price. - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Tim - February 7 - 3:30 pm

  I have just recently purchased my Cobalt and I love it. It gets great fuel mileage but it still has a lot of get up and go. The car could use some handling work but besides that its great.

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  4-wheel Steering is Great! - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By amerigo88 - February 7 - 1:37 am

  Had the 3/4 ton for 9 months now. Wanted 6.0 liter so ended up with 4-wheel steering and all the toys. Its been great driving all over the Southwest, towing a 6,000 lb trailer and three children. Leather, heated seats, DVD panel for children, 4.1 ratio on rearr axle for towing its all good. One complaint is the third row gets jarred when crossing speed bumps. Must be that heavy duty, solid rear axle. WARNING: Take a few weeks to get used to 4-wheel steering, especially before towing. Had an unfortunate accident caused by unfamiliarity. I turned front wheels left, rears went right and shoved trailer into telephone pole while "helping" me turn out faster. $1500

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  Second Time Around - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Second Time Around - February 6 - 10:33 pm

  I leased my first Trailblazer in 2001 and I liked it so much when my lease was up I decided to re-lease the 2005 LS Trailblazer. I noticed some features and bugs have been worked out. Tail lights actually work in my 2005 and my 12v plug is missing in my 2005 to blow up my bike tires. All in all I like the overall feel of the steering, drive, and pick up of the Trailblazer. The LS is just as nice as the LT without the bells and whisles. The sun, sound, and safety package is great! My friends own the Durango, and Explorer and wish their family worked for GM instead. Thank you for such a great automobile and hope GM keeps going in the right direction!