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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  So far, well, pretty good - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Logan - June 10 - 7:30 am

  I have a 1999 1500 LS with auto trans., 4.8 L, 2WD Xcab with 47000 miles on it now. I dont have any major complaints, however, I have recently had to replace the rear brake rotors and pads, the front brakes look OK. Four minor recalls for brake lines, seat belts and a sticking gas pedal, but this is the first year for the new model. I haul firewood and pull a bass boat ~30x/year and the truck handles it well. Gas mileage on the highway is ~20.5 miles/gallon (without a load), not bad for a V8.

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  2007 LT2 Coupe/Automatic Trans. - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JasonC - June 10 - 4:33 am

  I bought this about a month ago and have around 1150 miles. Car drives smooth with little outside noise. Very quiet engine! Electric power steering seems to working well with no problems. The interior is nice, however a bit nicer door panels couldnt hurt. Sunroof is quiet and a pleasant option to have. Seating in the front is very comfortable. Drivers side lumbar support is a nice feature, however it doesnt really make a huge difference. Instrument gauges are cleanly arranged, and the stock stereo is very nice! I love the features, and the XM that came with it! I have the 16" tires (instead of the stock 15") and I think it gives it a cleaner beefier look. Gas mileage is best at 65 mph.

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  Nice car - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By joe - June 10 - 4:23 am

  This car is the best car that Ive had from Chevrolet. I owned a Hummer and got rid of it because all of my kids drive now, so I dont need all the space. This car caught my eye right away and Ive have the same feeling everytime I look at it. The V8 rumble is never over exhilirating and the DOD works awesome. Off the line torque steer is a little bit overwhelming sometimes but it quickly gets back on track.

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  My Equinox - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chevylvr - June 10 - 4:20 am

  This is a great car with good mileage. The cargo area is spacious and the children love the reclining seats.

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  Love it! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By mekiess - June 10 - 1:50 am

  We loved it the minute we drove it. The only complaints we have are the location of the cup holders and the shortness of the arm rests. We particulary like the shape of the door handles. Anybody with a hand problem can easily open this door. Also, be careful closing the hatch with your hip, my husband did this and it left of dent! We have to have bodywork on our HHR with only 1000 miles on it!

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  My Blazer - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kelley - June 9 - 10:33 pm

  I love my truck. Its 4wd so I can go off road. The miles that I have put on it are from driving from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC before and after my two deployments to Iraq. So I do a lot of freeway driving. And it pulls my trailer with no problem at all. The only thing that I have ever had go wrong with my truck was my mom ran over a stump one time in a field and dented the gas tank but that wasnt that much to fix. All in all I love my truck. and I realy dont want to get rid of it but I want a newer vehicle just like everyone on this earth does.

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  Favorite car, ever. - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By B. Lennon - June 9 - 8:21 pm

  I bought this car used off dealer lot with 36,006 miles on it. I have experienced no significant problems with it other then routine maintenance. In fact I went to change the brake pads at 50K miles and could find almost no wear! The vehicle is solid and well built, no sqeaks rattles or annoyances. The IP is well laid out and convenient, not fanciful just functional. I especially appreciate the handling of the car, well balanced and fairly light driving for a truck, very similar to rear wheel drive cars from sixties and seventies, if you go back that far! It handles exceptionally well in ice and snow (Michigan), and I only engage the 4wd to keep the transaxle lubed! All in all a great car!

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  Best little green machine - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By s-10 chick - June 9 - 4:43 pm

  This was the first new auto I ever purchased and I have never regreted that. It was in two major wrecks and still no problems, regular maintance has been all that it needed (alternator, batteries, brakes, etc.) I have loved this truck. It has lots of get up and go with 2.8 v6 and 5 speed. It has never let me down. Hauls what I need it to and never complains. It has been a dream truck. I like the Chevrolet look of the truck and cannot believe how reliable it is.

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  I love my Aveo! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mills - June 9 - 2:52 pm

  Ive been driving this car for about two years now, it never let me down. I love the way it rides, its zippy! The back seats are extremely roomy, my two large dogs feel comfortable back there. Trunk is big enough to hold a weeks worth of grocheries.

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  Chevy 2500 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Steve79 - June 9 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot of research before I bought this truck. Im very pleased.