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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  EXCELLENT CAR, GREAT PERFORMANCE - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Loogie - July 8 - 2:00 am

  I love my 96 Z28, no problems at all. Extremely fun to drive, very fast!! Mustangs dont stand a chance. Great performance for the price. Comfortable interior/leather bucket seats.

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  Great SUV - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Johnboy - July 7 - 11:13 pm

  This is a great suv - I did not know about 2007 models until I went to the showroom and saw one. I got all the stuff except the DVD player. The ride is great, the front suspension change makes this feel like a sedan. My wife know has taken control and I no longer can use this car. GM did a great job - we traded in our great 2004 Tahoe - what a diffrence. The only con is the nav/radio/rearview/control system is a major distraction - its hard to drive without looking at it and therefore taking my eyes off the road.

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  HHRoom! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pitbull - July 7 - 1:56 am

  Maybe every radically styled new car turns heads, but Ive never been the center of attention the way I am when I drive my Sunburst Orange HHR into town. Young, old, even cops do double takes! I couldnt get out of the dealers lot without being persuaded to give another customer a test ride around a few blocks! I got the LT with the larger 4 cyl. engine and manual 5 speed. What a blast to drive! Mixed in-town/highway milage - 29 mpg for the first quarter tank. I live at 8500 ft elevation. Takes the hills just fine. Seat comfort is exceptional. Interior is very well designed and I just love the XM radio! Side curtain bags, ABS, adjustable belt height; great safety. Homerun, Chevy!

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  Good Truck - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Doc M - July 6 - 10:26 am

  This is my third Chevy truck after an 82 and an 89. Very competent trucks, and I hope this one proves as reliable as my 89 and my brothers 01.

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  Extreme! - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By 2Extremeforu - July 6 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck 99 Chevy s-10 pickup extreme extended cab stepside If anyone is looking for a truck and still wants something sporty this is the truck for u!

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  Great car/truck - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Devola - July 6 - 2:00 am

  The best of both worlds, its a truck that rides like a car. A little hungry a the pump but it worth it.

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  RATE THIS VEHICLE - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By rednic - July 6 - 2:00 am

  HAVE OWNED OVER 40 NEW CARS. TRADED CADILLAC FOR THIS CHEVY. TRIED OUT SEVERAL NEW CARS. THIS CHEVY IS BY FAR AHEAD OF OTHER MAKES FOR GAS MILEAGE, COMFORT AND EASY TO DRIVE. NO PROBLEMS.

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  Very Fun Car - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By HHRfan - July 5 - 6:20 am

  I did a lot of research before I bought my HHR, but I was surprised at just how fun this car really is. There are a lot of extras and small touches that make the car something special. Of all the cars Ive ever owned, this one makes the best impression. Contrary to some reviews Ive read, the handling is fun. The ride is as smooth as glass, and the steering is very responsive. Its amazing how tight it turns in parking situations. I can make u-turns in very, very tight circles. The small windows and windshield give the car a fun attitude when you drive, too. The novelty of the doesnt get in the way, though. Its not over the top. Its just fun. My favorite car ever.

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  REVIEW2003 - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By jbrewer - July 5 - 2:00 am

  I NOW HAVE OVER 102k MILES ON THIS CAR AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE KEY TO THE LONGEVITY OF ANY PIECE OF MACHINERY. WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A 3700 MILE TRIP WHERE OUR HIGHWAY GAS MILEAGE AVERAGED 28MPG. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

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  best bang for the buck - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Helio Castroneves - July 5 - 2:00 am

  You can take this relatively inexpensive automobile and spend 3 or 4 grand on it to end up with one of the fastest rides on the street. I eat Corvettes, run with and usually away from Vipers, and put most of Europe to shame. Only the tuners with Japanese stuff can hang with me.