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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  My HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By jo - January 7 - 10:26 pm

  I wanted to get rid of my gas guzzling SUV, but needed the room of a station wagon and this was it! I am 6 tall and found this to have the perfect legroom and headroom I was looking for. Plus it had all the features I wanted at a very reasonable price. I wasnt looking to be the first one off the line at the light (you wont win any races) but the HHR runs, travels, and handles well. Ive been in the automotive business (mechanical and body shop) for 26 years and I am quite pleased with my purchase of the High Roof.

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  Siverado the sierra slayer - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Top Dawg Silverado - January 7 - 4:43 pm

  I Love my Silverado. It drives like a dream , excellent power, nice cornering. Also the fuel economy is a lot better than I had expected.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By T Aodd - January 7 - 3:43 pm

  After a year and a half of driving this car, I have mostly good things to say about this car. GM seems to have improved their build quality over the past few years of Monte Carlos. I have had no mechanical problems whatsoever. I love the strong pulling V6, decent gas mileage, and the 8 speaker audio system.

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  Good Replacement Choice - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By BobH - January 5 - 2:50 pm

  I never rate anything a 10! Only had this car for 7 weeks - 1600 miles but so far am well pleased. Fully loaded. Imperial blue/gray interior. 20 - 22 mpg with very little highway driving. Leased 3yr/36000mi. Selected for style and features to replace a 99 300M. Great trunk space for 4 golf bags. Quiet riding. Suspension seems a little rough on minor road bumps and seems to hesitate a bit when going from 3cyl to 6 cyl mode in city driving but overall driving is a pleasure. Im a large sedan type of a guy and this was a good choice especially with the lease incentive and rate and my GM Mastercard rebate.

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  Honest Truth - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Nathan - January 5 - 8:26 am

  This is the 2nd Silverado I have had. The new one is merely a lower mileage upgrade with more warranty. It is a great truck with no real huge problems except... the linkage in the tranny doesnt drop all of the time when you come to a complete stop from about 60mph. Also, the stock tires throw rocks like crazy!! I am a die-hard chevrolet guy though and this is the price that you pay for being brand loyal. I think overall, the truck is a good buy but just make sure you purchase the extended warranty if you are planning on keeping the truck. You wont regret it when something fails on you.

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  Great Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Scott - January 4 - 1:53 am

  I highly recommend this truck. I love it, and my wife steals it when she can. Very solid, very comfortable and smooth ride even with the off road suspension. It is a small truck, I have never towed, and if I did, Id have gotten an F150. Also, no problem with the power, gets up and goes. Check the 0-60 times as tested. It is not as slow as it they make it out to be.

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  Best Sports Sedan Currently Available - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By priggly - January 3 - 2:36 pm

  The 2006 Chevy Impala SS is simply the best sports sedan currently available on the market. It combines the best features of a sporty ride and a long distance highway cruiser. It has a quiet cabin with extremely little road and essentially no wind noise. The engine power is exhilarating. The throaty exhaust note is just prominent enough to sound good without being overly intrusive. The car handles extremely well and yet is not overly harsh or rough riding. The BOSE audio system and XM radio are awesome. The engine shifts seamlessly, imperceptibly between 4 and 8 cylinders. The 4-speed automatic transmission is extremely smooth with seamless shifts and is a superb match for the motor.

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  Awesome Vehical - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By lhinson - January 3 - 10:00 am

  No ride compares. Smooth steering, excellent power package, many creature comforts.

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  Great Value - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jimmy O - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car for one year and put 30K miles on it. I am getting 27 mpg (mostly highway driving). The car is loaded with options and is a great value. The ride is smooth and the power is sufficient. My only problem is that I lose radio reception when the rear defogger is on. If you are looking for a sporty family car with more bang for your buck, you need to consider the Impala LS.

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  Be the first on your block - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Long Island HHR - January 2 - 8:16 am

  We got the LT1, 2.4, auto, XM radio, moonroof, chrome package, in red about a week ago. When I saw my fiances grin on the test drive (after test driving a PT turbo, by the way), I knew we would get it. After a week and 500 miles, we are in love with our HHR. We look for reasons to drive it (we commute in my company vehicle - darn). The car is a blast to drive, the visibility is great, were both comfortable (Im 6- foot, 240), and I cant believe the storage space for a small car. If you like to blend in, dont get an HHR. If you like to have fun, get good gas mileage, haul stuff (mountain bike, musical equipment, photography equipment, etc.), and turn a few heads, go check this car out.