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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  HHR Is All I hoped It would Be - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jim Kerbow - November 6 - 1:13 pm

  I have been very inpressed and delighted with my HHR 1LT. I knew that I had to have it since I first saw one on TV last fall. I had had a 1995 Suburban for the past 10 years and loved it, but the gas mileage and size got to be a problem. The only problem that I will be addressing with the service department is a very loud pop in the speakers sometimes when I start it, and sometimes the remote starter system doesnt work. I feel sure that these can be resolved. The vehicle is everyting I thought it would be.

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  Great American Car - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Russ - November 6 - 1:26 am

  This is a great car, I would buy another in a heartbeat. The power of the 3.4L V-6 is great and it still gets great gas mileage. The ride is extremely smooth and quiet, like a luxury car. The interior is very comfortable and has held up well. The trunk is larger than any other car I have ever seen.

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  Chevy hits it big with Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jimmy - November 5 - 7:06 pm

  We bought the AWD Equinox in June 2004. It is a solid vehicle and a joy to drive. My wife needed a vehicle that she could depend on as she drives across a mountain to work. The Equinox has met and surpassed our expectations, expecially in snow and bad weather. I was driving a 4 wheel drive Chevy Tracker behind my wife in the Equinox and I was sliding more than she. Now we find out the Equinox has a 5 star impact rating for front and side collions. We are very happy with the SUV!

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  My Monte carlo - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Monte96 - November 4 - 3:53 am

  I bought this car from a private seller when it had 100,000 miles on it. That was 8 years ago. I bought this car in November and made a trip to from North Carolina to Wisconsin with it in December. Then we also drove it to Florida twice. I have had intake manifold gaskets replaced twice, but luckily my husband did that himself. I had a problem once with an ignition wire broke and we had to tow it to the dealership to get the "code" to know what was wrong, after trying everything we could think of. Overall, I LOVE my Monte Carlo. It has 213,000 miles on it right now. It is also in the body shop because someone hit me. It is a very sturdy car, withstands damage well.

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  Chevy Cavalier LS Coupe is Great! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By cUTIEpIE - November 4 - 2:00 am

  While everyone is running around touting the latest in foreign cars, my personal pick is the Chevy LS Sport Coupe. Its priced right, has wonderful fuel economy (havent yall cringed at pump prices lately?) This car handles like a sporty dream, it has a no nonsense interior without ninety- nine gizmos and gagets to fiddle with..has great pick up and cant be beat in city traffic for maneuvering. Its a terrific second car!

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  cavalier - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By OBPIP - November 4 - 2:00 am

  It is a great vehicle, I dont understand how you can say it is outdated. Look at the difference from the very first cavalier, even the 96s. It has saved me so much money on gas. Smooth ride, good pick-up.

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  Great Car for the Price! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JML1953 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  For the price, I dont think you can do better. Got mine when the $4000 rebate was on - great buy!

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  Best low end car Ive ever bought - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By GM Guy - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I got the Z24 model, it has a 2.4L engine, larger 16 " wheels and 5 speed transmission. This car is very responsive, I like 3rd gear the best! I bought it to go to/from work... but Ive taken it on long road trips and was very surprised at the great ride!

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  Love my Yellow Cav - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By pammypooh01 - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I love my Cavalier. I wouldnt change a thing about it!!!! Its fast and it looks great too!!

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  Well done!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Christopher Bradley - November 4 - 2:00 am

  I think that the car is a work of art. It has great ergonomics, exterior design, and drive feel. I got a $4,000 rebate which helped alot with the down payment. I am very satisfied that I purchased a reliable, fun to drive car.