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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  This car is awesome!! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Rich Gregor - October 30 - 11:10 pm

  This car has it all! Im getting over 24 mpg, it accelerates like a sports car, goes around corners like its on rails, is loaded with equipment, and looks great to boot! The best all around car I have ever owned (and Ive owned over 30)by far. Plus I got it for less than $18,000 after incentives and GM card rebates. Proof that there is hope for GM after all, if they can only build more cars with this level of performance and value in one package.

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  OK, but not as good as older models - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike Nelson - October 30 - 8:15 pm

  I have owned 15 Tahoes, Yukons and Suburbans and they have been very reliable until the 2007 model year. My Tahoe has been in the shop 23 day in the first 5000 miles and still has problems. We took it on vacation a month after our purchase and it would not go in reverse. The dealer had to make some substantial repairs to the transmission.

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  Very Surprised - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Ken - October 30 - 3:12 pm

  I am very pleased. Gas mileage is 36 on hwy but 26 in the city,(Stop and go) The car is very comfortable for me even though I am a larger male.

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  My beater - 1991 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jett1 - October 30 - 1:13 pm

  91 4x4 4.3L swb 3rd owner. These years of trucks were the last of the trucks that were not yuppie-fied. I bought the truck had to replace engine (due to my driving style) new clutch new tires and breaks. with all that still like the truck the lack of performance and poor fuel econ keeps me from speeding. And its size keep the truck needing friends at bay. I know that it sounds like I dont like my truck but I do very much. I hope to have my kids learn to drive in it because the prev mentioned reasons and it is old enough to not be concerned with the expected body damage.

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  08 Malibu LTZ - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Paul Doyle - October 30 - 9:06 am

  It was an impulse buy - hooked up with the dealer over the internet, real nice sales guy...followed up, went into the dealership about 2 days later (right down the street), went out for a test drive, loved it, and before I knew it, I was signing papers. Havent looked back since. I love this car.

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  Has been an excellent car for my local needs - 2015 Chevrolet Sonic
  By David Coon - October 30 - 4:54 am

  I am selling because i no longer need two vehicles.

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  Very Happy Aussie - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Billydriving - October 29 - 5:36 pm

  Purchased with 7000 miles on clock to tow my 33 ft.Fifth Wheel touring USA for eventual shipping to Australia for touring Australia with fifth wheel also shipped home. Extremely happy with incredible power from 8.1 L/Allison. Great ride even on our sub-standard roads. I cannot complain about 7 mpg towing over 10000 lbs. Love this truck!! Big size a problem in city driving/parking but excellent in purpose truck was bought for-towing.

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  Fun Ride - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Buccley - October 29 - 2:18 pm

  I have had the car now for almost 3 months and nearly 5k miles. I have 2LT 2.4L. Its a fun car to drive, for a car its size does well on gas mileage, when I baby it I can get 27 mpg, when I drive more aggressive I can expect about 24.5 mpg. I have older parents and its really easy for them to get in and out of the car without hitting their head on the way in, and its a quite smooth ride. I helped a friend move and had plenty of room to haul stuff. The selling price of my HHR was 19.6k, for that price I have the 2LT package, heated leather seats, 6-CD changer, XM radio, and running boards (and some other additional trim). I dont think for that price you can do much better.

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  $45K Bomb - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kevin Drahozal - October 29 - 1:25 pm

  What a mistake. The fob hasnt worked correctly since we purchased it – seats move, windshield washer operates un- expectantly, lift-gate opens when the remote start key is pushed... Worst yet, the engine ‘seized’ at 15K miles. GM replaced the engine under warranty but has done nothing to assured us that we haven’t got a lemon. In fact they have just about convinced us we do! Now we have a lag between when the accelerator is pushed and the vehicle moves, which we’ve been told is ‘normal’ or ‘within tolerance’. Going Japanese for our next vehicle.

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  2005 Monte Carlo LS - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Dan - October 29 - 10:36 am

  I bought my monte over 4 years ago used with about 20,000 miles, now I have a little over 123,000 miles and it still runs like new. I have had a few problems minor problems but i have spent less than $500 in repairs in over 100,000 miles. The car has good acceleration for passing and is fun to drive.