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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  A Great Domestic Automobile - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By polarbear - September 5 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car! We traded a 2001 Saturn L200 for the Impala and it makes the Saturn seem like it was a piece of junk. The car works well, gets great highway mileage and is so comfortable. Test drove an Accord, Outback, Mazda 6, Saturn Ion, Grand Prix, Vibe, Vue and a Rendezvous and the Impala was not only the best riding car we got a fantastic deal on it. Had the car on a decent sized road trip and got 30mpg+.

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  LLY ENGINE IN MY SILVERADO GIVES EXTREME - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Mytwodoxies - September 5 - 10:00 am

  MY SILVERADO HAS THE NEW LLY ENGINE THAT GM BEGAN INSTALLING IN JANUARY 2004. IT TRULY IS AN AWESOME VEHICLE TO SAY THE LEAST. I PULL A 32 FOOT SUNNYBROOK 2004 5TH WHEEL LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING BEING TOWED WHEN THE TRUCK IS PUT TO THE TEST. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO STRAIN WHEN TOWING THIS RATHER 10-15000 LOADED RV. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS TRUCK AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL THAT IS INVOLVED WITH TOWING RVS ESPECIALLY. I HAD LINE-X SPRAYED INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO PROTECT THE BED AND IT ALSO MAKES THE TRUCK LOOK EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE. THE GAS MILEAGE IS ABOUT 14-15 WHICH IS REALLY GOOD AS WELL.

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  My New Nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jacmax69 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  For the price, this is an SUV anyone can love. It provides the room and height needed to get around today. I have averaged 18-19 mpg and for me this is a good value for an SUV.

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  Chevy 3500 Crew - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Kenneth - September 5 - 1:30 am

  Very comfortable truck - could enjoy better mileage in this pricing climate. Will PULL ANYTHING and still get decent mileage.

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  My 2011 Silverado Extended Cab - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jayvas - September 3 - 10:55 am

  I do love my truck but I have to warn everyone - dont be fooled by fuel economy on the sticker. Tried my best to get high MPG and most Ive got so far is 16.1 MPG and this is a brand new 2011 truck. There also was some defect in the paint on the roof but the dealer fixed that right away. I really do love the truck but I hate the fuel economy since I expected more and I need to get a storage box for the bed since there is very little room under the back seat. I have the Allstar and the Z71 packages and wouldnt get the truck without those options. Motor has a lot of power. Truck drives smooth and quiet (with windows closed). I have the 6.6 foot bed but it didnt show up in options.

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  Pengwens HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pengwen - September 3 - 7:50 am

  I love my new HHR. I cant tell you how many "looks" it gets on the road. Mine is red and really catches the eye. Also, have had several people to stop and ask me "What kind of car is this?" I had two PT Crusiers prior to my HHR. The speed regulated steering is great for me as I am disabled and have limited use of my arms and the extra room in the back is great for hauling my mobility scooter. The power seat on the drivers side is what made the sale. I now have more room to get in and out and still able to reach the steering wheel and pedals. I highly recommend the HHR for style and accessibility.

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  Like a Rock - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By woltech - September 3 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 2002 Avlanche Z71 for 2 months. Its smoother and produces less noise on the highway than my girlfriends Acura MDX. Thats very impressive considering the Avalanche Z71 comes with 17" GoodYear Wrangler tires. I really enjoy visiting my parents on their farm so I can do a some off roading. This truck can go almost anywhere.

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  Trail Blazer LTZ - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Halfons - September 3 - 2:00 am

  I am so happy with this car

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  Best Value - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Roger Waggoner - September 2 - 5:30 pm

  We considered Chrysler, Caddillac, and Acura. For the thousands we saved the Impala fit our needs the best. With sporty styling and comfortable interior as is its selling points not to mention its much quieter than the Acura. Buy American GM does build a great car with great mileage.

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  Very happy with my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By kevin - August 31 - 4:23 am

  I bought my HHR to replace a Ford Focus. The HHR is much more comfortable and quiet. The car acctually accelerates and rides much better then i had expected. I am averaging 28 mpg and very happy whith my decision to purchase this car.