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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  Misleading - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Annette Smith - December 19 - 9:10 pm

  I purchased this vehicle because I needed a car with good gas mileage. I am a teacher and was going back to school for my masters. I went to the dealership where I had bought my other two Chevrolets. They showed me the Equinox, I drove it, and bought it. I did so because the information on the side window said it had a 16.7 gallon gas tank and it got 19 miles in the city and 25 on the highway. After having it 2 weeks I called them and said I didnt think something was right with the gas. They told me to wait and it would get better. It has not! When I talked to them after Christmas they said there was nothing that could be done. They said the stickers can sometimes be misleading!

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  Not happy - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dan - December 19 - 4:21 pm

  Well, this is Suburban number 3 for my family and will probably be the last one I buy. We love having the room for our son, the dogs, and all our gear, but this is a money pit. Gas mileage is 14.2 running 70-75mph, replaced fuel pump at 85,000. Between 85,000 and 100,000 we have spent $3200 in repairs. Add in the tune-up, brake flush, radiator flush and we are over $3500. The Suburban is probably one of the best vehicles in terms of meeting the needs of our family (pulling a boat, hunting, traveling, etc), but the fact that I cant get 100,000 miles out of a vehicle without a pile full of repairs is insane. Unless you can trade every 3 years on new, dont buy a Suburban.

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  Equinox Sport - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Equi-Sport - December 19 - 1:27 pm

  Bought the Equinox Sport just over a week ago and like it more and more. We traded an older Acura MDX for something that still had AWD, good power, and better fuel economy. All in all so far, the suspension on the AWD Sport is stiff, yet easily steerable, the motor has plenty of power for the average "Race-ready" father, and lots of interior room. I think the inside could be more refined, but we are used to forein cars. The console and sun visors seems chincy, nice leather, ample leg room, like the gauges,and decent mpg if driven normally. We do 60 miles a day on the highway, and the mpg is averaging 22 right now. This is not a Lexus or Acura, but Chevy has done well and added options.

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  1999 6 speed hardtop - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By lonewlf - December 19 - 12:27 pm

  I have owned Corvettes all my life and this is just another in a long line of Corvettes that I have owned. I was told my other Corvette owners that once you drive a C5 you will never want to drive an LT1 again. They are correct. I drove a C5 and 9 months later, after searching very carefully, I purchased my 1999 Corvette Hardtop. It handles great, and I love the 6speed. It provides a nice comfortable ride, has a lot of power, and does not allow for much outside noise. It is a very functional and reliable Corvette with great curb appeal. A daily driver that turns heads.

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  Great Going GM - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Harley60 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  Great handling a very comfortable ride. A chevy man for decades, a few year ago swithed to Jeep. Back to Chevy, will never own a Jeep or Chrysler product again.

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  I LOVE THIS CAR!!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By jbrooks544 - December 19 - 10:00 am

  I dont know what car the Edmunds reviewer was driving, but it wasnt an Impala. This car Handles great, plenty of room, all the options you could imagine, all for under 23k. this thing has almost no body roll, no boatiness, firm steering, but very quiet and smooth. If you do enough research and do a test drive you will be sold. What is not to love? This thing is as safe as a volvo, almost as large as a crown vic inside, gas mileage of a compact, styling of a BMW/saab/volvo, 10k less than a midsized SUV, and has a better ride than a 500 series Mercedes SEL.

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  You cant beat it! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jacque - December 19 - 10:00 am

  When my lease was up on my sedan I test drove a Trailblazer and fell in love with it right away and the love affair hasnt ended. Ive driven the Durango and the Jeep Cherokee and I feel the Trailblazer is a superior vehicle from handling to appearance. The Trailblazer is bold and new in its body style. I have been nothing but satisfied with my purchase.

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  Great overall truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By s10man - December 19 - 1:30 am

  If you are looking for a combination of power and fuel economy, this is the one. Absolutely tight and well executed.

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  Great Car - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By med1 - December 18 - 11:03 pm

  I bought this car because I wanted something versatile and suited to outdoor adventures, but which would also be practical for city driving -- that is exactly what this car is. I took it offroading in the Northern California wilderness and in Death Valley several times, and the Tracker proved itself to be tough, well-built, and the short wheel base lets it go almost anywhere. Unfortunately, the short wheel base is also the most negative aspect of the car. It was very squirrely on the freeway and I spun out a few times on wet or snowy roads. When I blew out a tire on I5, the car spun out of control and was totaled. The squirrely-ness of the car is my only complaint - no mechanical problems.

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  Go ahead, buy one! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By CA C6 Fan - December 18 - 8:32 pm

  One of the finest vehicles I have ever owned. Blindingly fast, comfortable to drive every day and immediately recognizable. It drives like a commuter (overall 22 mpg - from 400 HP???) and performs like an exotic. Mine is silver (exterior) and black leather (interior). Loaded with all the goodies (youve got to get the Z51 handling pkg & the Bose stereo). Have had it for about 6 months/5K miles and it has been extremely reliable. I did purchase a GM/Vette extended warranty, just in case (got a great deal on it too). I have the automatic (5spd) and the only thing I would have done differently would have been to get the 6 spd. manual.