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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  Chevy Colorado - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Z. Smith - December 14 - 7:48 pm

  I like my Colorado because of a few features. Number one the rubber floors, number two standard A/C. Another reason is the amount I paid for it. I was very surprised when I got a notice that my pickup had been recalled.

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  Cinder Block Seats - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Disapointed In PA - December 14 - 4:53 am

  Took this on a family trip - we have taken this trip over 75 times in the last 24 years - all but three times was this trip taken in gm cars. THIS was the worst trip as far as comfort was concerned. The seats are like foam covered cinder blocks! I am calling the dealer in the morning to do a trade for an Astro Van.

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  Best For Price - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By bob - December 13 - 9:03 pm

  We rented this car on vacation! 3 days, 800 miles, we fell in love with all the options ,heated seats, XM radio, OnStar, dual air, great ride, smooth and quiet, great seats, I think Chevy. is on the way back with this car! I want to thank edmunds for all the information i found on this car and pricing to have an idea on what to expect, dealing with car salemen! We got a great price and good trade in value plus the rebate! Thank you, for helping make buying a new car feel good.

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  Best Car Ive owned so far - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chris William - December 13 - 6:25 pm

  Ive owned several cars, and I try to run them all until they give out. Ive owned Ford, Isuzu, Nissan and others, but this car has been the best. I drive 70 miles a day round trip and love the handling, acceleration and comfort. Even though others have gotten more MPG, I only get 26 on the highway. Also, if youre over 6ft tall like me, you will love the leg room in both the front and back. The only problem I have with the vehicle is the stereo system. I know people today are into a lot of bass, but I like my sound well rounded. This system puts a too much bass for me, and is difficult to adjust to just the right amount. Minor problem for a great car.

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  Been good to me - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Steve - December 13 - 1:29 pm

  Have enjoyed this vehicle so much Im going to put new tires on it and go for another 50K miles at least. Wish the mileage was better but it gets me where I want to be on and off road. Put my son in the 96, wife drives a 2002. Would like to get a new vehicle, but cant decide which one to go for. Lots of room and comfortable.

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  Great vehicle! - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike - December 13 - 8:57 am

  We got rid of my wifes "fun car" 05 Mustang and got the Equinox and we both actually like to drive the Equinox better. At its price point, it has to be one of the best small SUVs on the market!

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  Great redesign - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By so cal moto - December 12 - 10:16 pm

  We just turn 6,000 miles on our 07 2500HD crew cab with Duramax diesel and we love this truck. We traded in our 04 1500 extended cab for this truck. We looked at the 07 2500 classic trucks, but glad we waited. Vast improvement inside & out, higher bed sides on outside, completely new interior inside, no more cheap plastic pieces. Thicker leather on seats, great new dash with radio that can mix memory between FM, AM & XM for each "FAV" setting. Towing is incredible, beats any gas engine, any size. You can barely tell you are towing, very comfortable, able to tow our trailer up Mammoth upgrade on 395 with cruise control on, passing all the sad little gas engines on the side of the road!

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  Good New Car, Fun To Drive - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jason H. - December 12 - 7:06 pm

  I love everything about my car, from the design to the looks it gets while cruising down the road. It has a smooth ride like none other, taking all surfaces as if they were glass. From the lack of wind noise, you would barely notice that you are moving, except for the fact that if you lose sight of your speedometer for more than 5 seconds, you will be travelling towards meeting your new local officer. Overall, the HHR seems to be a very well designed car.

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  2006 Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Missdeefied - December 12 - 2:32 pm

  This van is pleasing to me and my family. It is comfortable, roomy, and entertains the entire family with no issues. Great van if you have kids!

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  Engine Trouble At Sixty Thousand Miles - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Switched to Honda - December 12 - 12:22 pm

  For three years the Malibu was a wonderful car to own. I liked the engine power and the extremely comfortable driver seat. However, the car started developing severe coolant- related engine problems at 60,000 miles. I did some research and discovered that this is a common occurance with Malibus. Last week I traded it off and bought a brand new Honda. If you buy a Malibu, you will eventually have coolant-related engine problems. I faithfully maintained mine and it still happened. The Malibu has a serious design flaw in its cooling system. Buy at your own risk.