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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  Satisfied - 2002 Chevrolet Astro
  By Mike - August 19 - 1:41 pm

  Purchased vehicle as a rental return. I need AWD because I sell property in the mountains and occasionally go off road. Clients are always comfortable. Currently has 180K miles, mostly reliable, minimal repairs have been needed. Gas mileage in the mountains averages 13-14 MPG. 18-20 MPG on the road.

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  Finaly - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Dogs love trucks. - August 18 - 9:56 pm

  I traded my Harley in for a truck. Hey cant ride a bike in the snow. I love the way this truck rides. I used to have a Cadillac and this feels much like it. All the interior options really make this truck feel like a high end luxury vehicle. I find it has almost all the features that my wifes brand new 2010 mazda 3 has but three times the space and 4x4 too boot. That said this thing eats gas like a fat kid eats cake. And I dont get the plastic cladding on a 4x4. To me this is asking for trouble. However, That said I do love this truck and would recommend one to a friend. But one without cladding and maybe a newer one that gets better mpg.

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  V8 power - 2010 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Tom - August 18 - 10:36 am

  Love the looks, interior is very comfortable, mileage isnt bad for a v8 with 4WD. Especially like the V8 power. Have had no problems at all in this first year of ownership.

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  Comfortable Ride - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By GAChevyOwner - August 17 - 10:12 am

  I have now had the Traverse for 10 months and its extremely comfortable. Cant feel road bumps which is nice! I have a 1 hour commute each way with lots of traffic and get the promised 17 MPG in the city. Havent had a chance to take a long road trip yet, but the couple of short trips we have taken, we are extremely happy. I have had full grown adults in the 3rd row and all have said the room is great. The only complaint I have is the side mirrors need to be redesigned. Water collects on them in the rain and makes it impossible to see, with the huge blind spots in this vehicle, the side mirrors are a must! I wish the sun/moonroof had a hard cover to block out sun when needed.

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  Problem under 300 miles - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By XCOPPER - August 16 - 10:43 pm

  Bought this car Brand new off the lot. 275 miles later the stereo volume control wouldnt work. buttons wouldnt work. They replaced with a new one, Parts guy stated there were several ordered because of this problem. Gas Mileage isnt as great as they tell you. Might be because its still breaking in, not sure. City I am getting around 19-21 MPG. I test drove the same model before I got this one ( it had 500 miles on it ) the A/C was not working.

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  Paint chipping - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By michael sackett - August 16 - 6:47 pm

  Sinse I purchased this 2010 camaro the paint is chipping away in front if the rear tires. I talked to a dealer about this and was told that they, meaning Chevrolet knows this was a problem and was not going to do anything about it. I called customer assistance and reported my problem. I was given a ref # and they would get back to me the next day. I must say my car is red with ground effects, now its red with white spots down booth sides. I am embarrassed too show the car to anyone. thanks Chevrolet you let America down. Michael R. Sackett

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  2009 beige cobalt - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By christine Parker - August 16 - 12:39 am

  Fun to drive, 30000 miles, mechanical problems, turn signal wouldnt shut off, now "something " is draining the battery, in shop for diagnosis. could not locate fob for above mentioned car

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  Fine van - 1993 Chevrolet Astro
  By blinky - August 15 - 9:30 pm

  I rescued this astro van ext from the yard of my neighbor after he died. It was not driven for three years. I replaced two freeze plugs changed the oil cleaned her up and put it on the road. It drives and handles great. Heres the kicker, it has 260,956 miles and can out run my 1993 Toyota corolla. I love this van.

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  impressed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Bob - August 15 - 6:40 am

  This is my first new car. I really enjoy it. I think that the fuel economy as provided by EPA is correct if you choose the 4 cyl and lowest HP. It depends how you drive mostly but on a straight highway and 65 mph you can get even better than 33 mpg. Recommendation to the other drivers: USE CRUISE CONTROL to get the best mileage !

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  Hard Seats - 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Martine - August 14 - 10:15 pm

  I love everything about the Tahoe, except the seats. I am really disappointed with the quality. The seats are flat and hard. I regret our purchase. I dont know how I overlooked this in the "15 minute" test drive. We downsized from a suburban to a Tahoe. I really thought the lack of cargo space would be the problem, but have adjusted. We have plenty of room with third row seats folded up. Still have the option of removing them for even more space. We bought our Tahoe one day and left the next morning for a 12 hour road trip. Arrived at our destination with back and leg pain. This was a yearly road trip weve taken for last 20 yrs. Sadly, it was the most uncomfortable trip ever.