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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  Great Car for the Money! - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By louise - June 20 - 1:09 pm

  Okay so there are not many vehicles out there that you can buy new for the price that you pay for the Aveo.If you want a nicer vehicle for the same price tag then you better look in the pre-owned section and chance purchasing a car that someone else might of dogged.The Aveos interior was a surprise to me, it was way more comfortable than I thought it would be. yes I purchased a 2LT so obviously trim level will have some type of factor but I test drove an LS and the interior wasnt bad either.My boyfriend weighs about 270LBs and is tall and he stated himself that he sits in comfort.The Aveo I purchased did come with armrests without extra cost to me, and lastly I feel secure when driving it.

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  I miss my Equinox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Vic - June 19 - 11:01 pm

  I guess Im in the minority here, but I wanted to spread some "good news". I had my Equinox until today when I traded it in on a mini-van because I just have too much "stuff" with my kids. I bought the LT model and I never had one problem with this truck. The back seats are amazingly comfortable and leg-roomy. The gas mileage was between 22 and 23 mpg on the highway. This SUV has been one of the most reliable vehicles Ive ever owned in 25 yrs. Never stranded me. Always started. Drove great in varying weather conditions like snow and rain. I had 65K miles on mine and only changed the oil ever 3K miles.

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  Great mid-size sedan - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu2010 - June 19 - 10:53 pm

  I bought this 2010 Malibu 1LT Diamond Edition in May 2010. Before buying this car, I test-drove Ford Fusion, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, etc. Malibu had best performance and comfort when driving for the price. After owning it for a month, I got over 27 MPG with combined high way and local driving. I am very satisfied with the 2010 Malibu.

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  A true GT Sports Car! - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ray Davidson - June 19 - 8:08 pm

  One of the best sports cars Ive owned. This is a true GT sports car. It has great performance and engineering, handle with any exotic, very good gas mileage, and yet you can daily commute with a smile on your face with each drive. GM has done a great job with the reliability of the Corvette. Become a student of Corvette history it is an American world class icon in automotive and racing history. A Corvette is not a car for everyone with this much power and handling comes "responsibility". With that said, those who have the wallet, and driving maturity to own a car like the Corvette will experience extreme driving pleasure. Always wave to other Corvette owners youre in a great club.

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  Great Little Car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Eric - June 19 - 12:36 pm

  Ok, first off, this is a car. Its a cheap car. Its not going to be perfect. Most cars arent, especially ones this cheap. Now, for the price, I feel that its great! Ive loved these cars since they came out, and wanted one since. Beings that I was only 16 at the time, I couldnt afford one. Anyways, the only issues Ive had were the front end clunking (sway bar links, struts, and steering column replaced under warranty to fix it) and the sunroof and headliner rattle quite a bit. Crank the radio (on the Pioneer that I have and love!) and you wont notice it! Even took the car on a road trip to Florida from Michigan this spring, and it was fantastic with 3 people and luggage all over

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  A very nice car - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By S&N - June 19 - 4:50 am

  This car is just a tight & quiet as any larger passenger vehicle I could find. The fuel economy is excellent on the highway with the 4 speed automatic. The stereo is very good & has the bluetooth option. The value for the money is terrific. I would recommend this car to anyone in the market for a smaller fuel efficient car.

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  Built to last* - 1990 Chevrolet Camaro
  By yoyoNvegas - June 19 - 12:21 am

  Rs v8 5.0 L 5 speed manual trans. 177k miles Ive had this car for 4 years. Its a very durable car! Its stuck with me through thick and thin ! Car runs at high temp at times. But nothing to bad. Always make sure to keep an eye on your front tires! The engine is very heavy! Wish the trunk didnt have a motor. And would lock manually.

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  Great value From Gm - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ricky Powell - June 19 - 12:10 am

  I have found car to be solid air and road noise minimal good pick up for 3.5 v-6 and in my opinion Chevy has definitely closed any gap in quality there was and mine is 2006. I cant wait until the next generation Impalas hit the road look for it!

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  Impala is impressive - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By TD - June 18 - 10:48 pm

  I would recommend the Impala to anyone. It has a really cushy ride without being too soft and floaty. The steering is effortless. The seats are extremely comfortable and I love the bench seat. Its much more comfortable than a bucket that is restricting if you have longer legs. The stereo with factory pre-amp is delightful. Gas mileage is impressive for such a big car, Im getting an average of over 27 MPG with about 1/2 city driving. 4-wheel ABS disc brakes are smooth as silk. Engine seems solid and purrs. I have been a Toyota celica/camry guy for decades now but this car won me over. Congratulations to Chevy for making a car worthy of American label. I love this car.

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  Love this truck - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By barron - June 18 - 5:10 pm

  I bought this sport model when it had 125,000 on it for $6000.00. The only items I have replaced was the fuel pump, alternator, water pump, and transfer case. And it has had a regular tune up. I replaced most of the Items when it had over 150,000 miles on it. It now has over 162,000 on it now and is still going strong. The only thing I dont like is how the rear door opens. On mine you open the window and the door folds down like a tail gate on a pickup truck. It goes great in the snow and does everything I ask of it. The body on mine is excellent. Mine has the 5.7 vortec in it. All of the parts replaced were original factory parts. Love this truck