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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  This thing has 95k on it? - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Wingnutt - April 2 - 10:56 am

  I have had my "new" truck for almost a month now, and can find very little to complain about. Seeing as how Im a quality manager and my job it to pick nits, this says volumes about the vehicle. The 5.3 has great power for its size (but could use a tad more low end torque), espicially in a vehicle this heavy. The tranny does what its supposed to do when its supposed to, and the tow/haul mode makes life much easier on the transmission when hauling my boat. The gearing is right on for this application and provides good torque multiplication in the lower gears while maintaining a reasonable RPM for highway crusing.

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  Sexy, but the colors are drab - 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By J. Mayeux - April 1 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this car mostly for its looks, but found the gas mileage was very good (at 75 mph got 29.7 mpg). Engine performance has been satisfactory for the most part. No rattles or squeaks, but I find the ride could be a little less firm. Paint job is pretty, but surprisingly easy to scratch. Its not as durable as paints in the past.

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  My deam truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jason Manus - April 1 - 1:53 am

  This is the sixth Z71 I have owned since I was 16 years old, and there is no doubt that it is the best as far as quality and features goes. I have always been a part of the Chevy family and I love my truck. It has a 4.10 rear end that has allowed me to pull trailers in excess of 10,000 #s with regularity ( although the tow rating is 9200#s). I spend all day in my truck, as it is my office. And even though I drive it real hard and torture it, it keeps on ticking.

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  Great Mini SUV with Style - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Billy - April 1 - 12:20 am

  I love my new HHR 2LT. I have just about all the options available. Ive only been driving it for about 2 weeks at the time of this review. I only have 2 real complaints about the HHR. I do not like the power windows located in the center console. I am not used to them, and they seem awkward. They may be good placement in the winter months, so snow doesnt get in them. The other thing I dont like is the ability to flip one switch to turn on all the car dome lights from the drivers seat. Ive never seen a car without this option. I love the sporty suspension and styling.

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  Great choice - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By J Burns - March 31 - 2:10 am

  Ive had my HHR LT2 since July, and its been great. I got the loaded version with every option offered, and Ive been very pleased. It was relatively inexpensive, its comfortable and versatile. Im coming from a Ford Expedition, so it was a bit of an adjustment, but it works. My wife and kids had to warm up to the styling, but I love it. Im over 6 foot and I found both the front and back seats roomy and comfortable. The engine is plenty peppy for a little 4 banger, which provides a much appreciated fuel efficiency. And the leather package is pretty nice. The stereo / CD player sounds great and I love the ipod jack.

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  HHR 2LT 2.4 - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wayne - March 30 - 1:16 pm

  We purchase our HHR to replace a Chevy Tahoe. The vechicle has proformed nicely and we enjoy the ride. Only problem we had with our purchase was the floor mats were not with the vehicle and after about 7 weeks we got a set of mats, but they were the wrong ones. Also the drivers mat is not designed properly to protect the carpet.

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  20 year Toyota/Lexus buyer converted by the VOLT. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Ben Alexander - March 30 - 1:34 am

  This car is the future, and the future is pretty great.

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  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Nick - March 30 - 1:33 am

  Looks great. Handles very well around corners. Good size engine, and a nice radio upgrade from the 06 to the 07 model. Only suggestion is to have better quality speakers. Other than that, a great car for a good price.

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  Love my MAXX - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Barb - March 29 - 8:10 pm

  Great car. Turns heads. People ask me what kind of car it is! I get 32 mpg on the highway, including in that figure is stop and go around Chicago. Car has a ton of room. I would recommend the car to anyone! Great fun!

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  Impressed - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Russo2 - March 27 - 12:00 am

  The purchase of this truck was not something I had really planned out. Curiosity driving past a dealership led me to a test drive. I fell in love with it in the first 3 miles of driving it. Chevy has hit the nail on the head with this truck, interior layout, looks and power to spare.