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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  Trouble Free Service - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By DaveTV - December 5 - 1:30 am

  My Tahoe has been a wonderful truck. I bought it with 6000 miles and 119,000 miles later it continues to satisfy. The only repair work has been brakes at 80,000 and a fuel pump at 124,000. The car has yet to need a tune up and is still on the original CV joint boots up front. The Tahoe is very comfortable and easy to handle with a relatively short turning radius. The truck has been a great tow vehicle for my fairly heavy 19 ski boat. The 5.7 Vortec with OD tranny performs well while turning in a respectable 17 MPG on the highway. No plans to unload this one anytime soon.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By BobL - December 5 - 12:11 am

  Had the car for 6 months and 10,000 miles. Cant find anything to complain about yet. Comfortable and fun to drive, great pick-up, and fuel economy better then I expected. 25 mpg around town and 30-31 mpg during commute.

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  My 2004 Corvette - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Paul Schreiber - December 4 - 3:54 pm

  Ive always loved Corvettes. My one and only one before my new one was a 1968 convetible I bought in 1972 while still in the service. Theyve come a long way! My 2004 is the LeMans Commemorative Edition. The color is what really sold me. Ill never sell this car and when my driving days are over I plan on passing to along to my son and he assures me he will do the same. Hopefully it will become a "family tradition".

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  Rolling right along - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By adVenture Family - December 4 - 2:29 am

  Great on gas about 25 MPG. about 500 miles on 1 tank. Nicely fits XXL people. VERY easy in-easy out. The auto slide door is heavenly when dealing with children and baby seats. Lots of room. We moved in from a 4- Runner SR5 and a neon. I love how it handles tight like my little nimble Neon but has the higher eye-level. Its got more guts than either of my previous vehicles. Its quiet and has a cushy but sturdy feel to it. The cargo area is useful with the cubby holes. The dual heat/ac blows hard and is effective even for our 120 degree days in the desert as well as those nippy 20 degree mornings. Weve changed the fuel filter once due to temp gauge showing hotter than normal. That fixed it.

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  This is wonderful - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By shaun phares - December 4 - 12:30 am

  I was doubtful when I first saw the Avalanche, but after I bought it, I realized it was the best vehicle I have ever bought. Believe me, Ive owned a few. It has everything I could have wanted in a truck and then some.

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  Definitely a Contender - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By James Zerilli - December 3 - 12:02 pm

  Im not going to say that this car is the best car in the world. But I will go so far as to say that it is one of the best cars on the American market. It is fun to drive, has a great power plant and the ride and comfort are excetional. Fuel economy is also pretty good, although I have yet to see the actual EPA numbers on the expressway and the on-board computers fuel economy estimates are usually a little exaggerated. I would unhesitatingly reccomend Malibu to anyone seeking a mid-size sedan. I am only driving one car, and Im sure some disgruntled people have gotten some worse than I, but I still think it is as good as anything out there.

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  Great Value - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Pete Kerl - December 3 - 2:14 am

  We have had our LT for about six months. It is a pleasure to drive and for the money is tough to beat. It is quiet, responsive, and easy to drive. We had over $8,000 in rebates from our GM card, Olds loyalty, GM loyalty, and Drivers Edge card. The LT comes with remote start, leather, spoiler,heated seats, information center, 16" tires and side air bags. All we added was the sun roof. No problems. We considered the Grand Prix but my wife felt the visability was better in the Malibu.

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  Best CUV - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ems - December 3 - 12:06 am

  I test drove nearly every similarly sized suv/cuv on the market and the Equinox was the best in my opinion. I even test drove the new Hyundai Tucson that has only been in the dealership for a week. The Equinox had the quietest cabin, good ride and handling, and the features I wanted for a great price. Im getting about 25 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. I expect this will get better when it breaks in more. Also, the weather has been in the 20s.

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  I told the dealer no way, but then I drove it - 2016 Chevrolet Spark
  By Rick - December 2 - 2:45 am

  I am 52 years old and have owned BMW Audi Volkswagen Acura Toyota Nissan Honda Chevy Ford aad Jeep. The only American made vehicle that I was happy with were the several Jeeps that I have owned over the years. I barely even noticed these little cars on the highway let alone picture me driving one. My last vehicle was a 2004 Volvo XC70 that was a great vehicle for many years and always reliable. But as I got closer to 200,000 miles on it and started having to face some serious repairs I decided that I would rather be invested in a newer vehicle. I am an outdoors kind of guy so was looking for a 5 to 10 year old SUV or truck. I went to the dealer with that in mind but due to some credit issues Ive had I was informed that I could not get into that type of vehicle for what I wanted to pay. The sales guy then pointed me in the direction of the spark and said Ihe could get me into that. I shook my head and told him no way and walked away. He handed me the keys and said take it out for a drive. I was there so I figured what the heck. As I drove it for about 20 minutes it occurred to me that this vehicle was exactly what I need at this point in my life. So I went back and bought one. It came with a 5 year 100,000 mile warranty and the peace of mind that that gave me sealed the deal. I now I look forward to getting into my car every morning for my commute through Denver to where I work without wondering if today is the day that Im going to find myself stranded by the side of the road because my car broke down. That means a lot to me right now and I am glad I made the choice that I did. I got a great price with low monthly payments and I have great peace of mind. I actually look forward to driving places voluntarily. I have had it for a month and I absolutely love it. The CVT takes a little getting used to but once up to speed it performs very well and the fuel economy is unprecedented. Smalll hatch storage but it influences me to get back to my minimalist outdoor camping days because now I can no longer bring along the kitchen sink . I guess thats another bonus in a backwards way for me . Buy one. You wont regret it.

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  Nice to drive and own, Looks sharp! - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Red1 - December 2 - 1:04 am

  Easy to handle, eases in and out of traffic, great handling, looks sharp, comfortable for me, maybe not for larger individuals, sporty style....