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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  Bad bad purchase - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Hauppauge, NY - September 25 - 2:16 am

  Dont even consider buying this vehicle... Nothing but problems.... Front linkage constantly loosening. Brake rotors wearing unevenly. IGNITION PROBLEMS...whew!!!! Blower Motor Vibrates very loudly Tires wear unevenly. Smithtown Chevy....horrible dealer. Ripoff Salesmen, and Service manager is a tyrant.... no satisfaction, they only fix what they want too... beware REAL GAS MILEAGE ONLY 13 MPG...... HIGHWAY MPG=14MPG CITY MPG = 13MPG

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  My Tahoe! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Gina - September 25 - 1:23 am

  I love my Tahoe, especially now that we have added 22" rims and Billet Grille/Bowtie! We tinted the front windows and customized our plates, and its wicked! The only thing I regret is not getting leather. We live in the Valley in CA and black leather would be too hot, but the new fabric interior is awful! Everything sticks to it. We have tried fabric softener sheets and sprays. We constantly get it cleaned, and are still using a lint roller to clean the fuzz that sticks to it. Only complaint.

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  Great car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Milaur - September 24 - 11:50 pm

  I have owned my HHR for one month. I am amazed with just about every feature of this car. It rides so smooth, handles well and gets fantastic mileage (around 27-32 mpg) overall. It has great power, I got the 2.4 litre motor with automatic transmisson. My HHR is equipped with the 16" wheels, which ride fantastic. I am more concerned with ride over performance. I drive about 20,00 miles a year and cant think of a better vehicle for what I do. The overall build quality of this car amazes me. It feels so solid for such a small car. The paint quality is fantastic and the interior is very tastefully done. I would highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Real Nice Ride - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bob Reeves - September 24 - 9:42 pm

  Thus far it has been a great ride. Overall perforamnce and reliability has been excellent. I have not had to take it in for any issues since I purchased it in Feb. 2006. I am extremely pleased with it.

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  Great Ride - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Great Fit - September 24 - 7:46 pm

  Forget the over priced Toyota or the Edge with all that windshield glare - I am truly happy to own this Chevy Equinox. Love the tinted windows and sunroof. I actually like it better now, than the day I bought it with some reservations - Those reservations are long gone. Zero warranty work needed so far. I like a well built dependable ride.

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  Great, could be better though. - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jay in SW Illinois - September 24 - 4:41 pm

  Its a great car for the money. (After all, you wouldnt buy a car like this unless low cost was important to you!) Its very stylish inside and out and seems well made so far (1200 miles). Engine is fuel efficient but I am surprised it isnt more so. Chevrolet and the Korean manufactures of the Aveo could make some simple improvements to make it a great car...variable speed intermittent wipers, actual electronic door lock buttons, more storage, better cup holder location in the front seat, etc. Overall, it is a good car for those on a tight budget.

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  Chevrolet Cobal - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ? - September 24 - 4:16 pm

  Difficult to read the speedometer in the daytime. Would rather forego tach and have speedometer in center. Hard to enter and exit due to slope of windshield. Once inside, the car drives great. Good acceleration and good steering - cornering.

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  Cobalt Love - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By matt - September 24 - 2:10 pm

  I traded my favorite car I have ever owned, a Chevy Tracker, for a new Cobalt. I was afraid of switching to a small sedan. I love it. It drives great. It is nice to look at. The paint is a deep blue that the sun sometimes reflects off as purple. Getting 31.4 mpg city/driving combined. Perfect big city car. Its a winner of a car if you dont have to have the biggest one on the road.

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  We bought the "Ad car" - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mark - September 24 - 11:47 am

  We bought the bare-bones "loss leader" car that the dealers advertise as "2008 Aveos for $7995!" The price was great, given that we are willing to do without A/C in an around-town car, and prefer the manual 5 speed. The promotional price was way better then the Edmunds invoice or TMV price, even after the dealers add-on $275 "title fees." We also had to fight to not pay for other dealer add- ons. As expected, this car feels quite underpowered and is noisy, but overall we got more than we expected. The gas mileage is really not as great as everyone says, and is less than the old Escort we traded in. I dont know why it is low, but we can buy a lot of gas with the savings compared to a Yaris.

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  CHEVY FAMILY - LOVE IT!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Janis Colby - September 24 - 8:13 am

  This is my 2nd Monte Carlo. I had a 1985 Monte Carlo SS and I loved it. I just got a 2005 on 9/30/05 and I love it. Saw the 2006 body style but didnt like it. I also test drove the new Impala SS and thought the style looked like a Jetta. Not impressed, didnt like look of new dashboard at all, 05 - like my 85 - so went with the Monte LT 05. They are a dependable car and I love the style, performance, and all the features - totally different from the 1985. Also test drove an SS 05 and really not much difference. Seems to apear to be a heavy car, which is great for our weather in the winter. Truly reccomend. Great Job Chevy!! GM A lot better looking than the 02-03 model.