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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  Owned a short time so far so good - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By richard - April 20 - 5:32 am

  I had just bought this car this year 2010. My old car had taken a crap on me. I went to a dealer ship. With all my bad credit i was lucky to get this car. It had 67,000 miles on it. The car was taken very good care of. No dents or damage to the body. The interior was still in good shape. The car drive nice. It have a lot of room inside. Like the trunk size. I did notice that the front end was squeaking allot. But nothing else to complain about yet.

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  One of the Best Vehicles Ive Ever Owned - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By VictorySpeedway - April 18 - 7:17 am

  I ordered a 2010 HHR SS with the AA5 (no rear quarter windows), sound system, performance package. I am blown away by the performance. Itll do 150 mph. Ive had it up to 118, and it wasnt even breathing hard. It handles "as if on rails." Seats are very comfortable, even on long trips, and I make many of those. It has enough space for all my equipment. Sound system is good, not great. I would install a custom stereo system on my next vehicle. The factory tires are wearing like iron. But the best feature of all is the mileage - Im averaging 28.5 mpg. All in all, it is almost the perfect vehicle.

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  Best theyve ever been - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Vette4Life - April 17 - 8:56 pm

  This car is absolutely breathtaking. The performance so far outclasses any other domestic performance car. Mustangs, SRT8s, Trans Ams, big block Olds 442s and Buick Gran Sport 455s, Ive owned them all and NONE come close to a new Corvette. 0-60 in 4.1 seconds, quarter mile in 12.1 and a top speed of 190 mph prove what a super car this is. Mine is stripped down for lighter weight, only a 1LT, F55, NPP car but I love it. I will always have a Corvette going forward. Im only sorry that i waited until I was 50 to get it!

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  Will Miss My Tahoe - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By SR Cordell - April 17 - 2:06 pm

  Purchased new in 02 and just gave to my son with 180k miles on it. Maintenance items were normal wear items with very little in major repairs. I Normally trade my cars at 100K miles but liked the Tahoe so much I held onto it for 180k miles. Miles were road miles not around town. 18 MPG highway when new, and just checked at 180K and still gets 18 MPG highway. Turning radius is incredible, comfort is excellent, ride is "car-like", still looks like a new car. Best all-around vehicle I have owned. Will purchase another when GM doesnt stand for "Government Motors".

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  "No replacement for displacement" - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By JS - April 16 - 9:10 pm

  I now know why the 6.0 L engine was dropped on the LTZ from the option sheet. I read all the reviews posted here and no one ordered the optional engine. I drove from NYC to Florida, and from Savana GA, to West Palm beach Fla. I recorded 18 MPG with the cruise set at 77 MPH. My avalanche now has 75,000 Mi and runs very strong. It has a 4.10 rear axle and I use a K&N air filter. There is a noticeable difference in acceleration when using 87 Octane compared to 91 or higher. At speeds over 70 the engine will run in 4 cyl mode for long periods on level ground. I drive from Queens to Manhattan daily and average 13+ mpg. When driving up in the mountains of NY state I avg around 16. Bigger is better.

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  Going to miss him! - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Lynnann - April 16 - 9:00 pm

  I got him in 1998 its now 2010. I never had any big problems with him until this past year. One thing after another is going wrong. But hes old and has 98,000 miles on him and he is starting to rust. The one thing I didnt like about him is getting at the battery. But he was a purchase I am glad I made.

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  Big Blue - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By henry hopkins - April 16 - 9:03 am

  I am having a great time driving my Uplander. It rides well and has great gas mileage. I take my daughter to school everyday and she loves it. Her favorite feature are the dual temperature vents in the back of the van. She enjoys sitting on the back bench of the van. The van feels great on the road. It is heavy and handles well. I love the visibility aspect. The engine is very smooth. I also like the manual sliding door. I would tell anyone, dont believe the negative talk about this vehicle. This is an excellent family vehicle that is great to drive! I cant wait to go on road trips!!

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  Awesomeness - 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
  By aecmew - April 15 - 6:27 pm

  This car is astounding. Im amazed by its performance. As a daily driver it feels like a regular car. On the track. It feels like a rocket. Out of the many sports cars Ive driven. This is the most sublime. The track is its home but youd never know it when driving it to work. Nav works good, sound system is good, overall ergo. Good.

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  GM Hit a home run - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By jshaf - April 14 - 9:47 pm

  This was my first rear wheel drive sports car, have been wanting one since my teens and I think I picked the best year to buy in my life time. This I think is an instant classic. as another person said this might be the best car GM has ever built and I have owned many. I get many complements daily, it never stops and like someone mentioned earlier it almost gets annoying, but you feel good knowing you own such a cool car.

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  A diamond in the rough - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By stuart - April 14 - 4:18 pm

  Ive had a lot of SUVs before but my 2007 Equinox is by far the best Ive owned. My mileage is quite good on the highway around 27-28 mpg. On a long trip I took, on a level road, with Cruise Control on 60, I was averaging 30 MPG. The ride is comfortable, smooth and effortless to drive. The AWD is awesome in Snow, especially going up hills. Brakes are superb and quiet. The best feature is the back seat that is adjustable and has a flat floor (no hump). I have my own business and transport a lot of boxes. Out of all my previous SUVs this one hold the most.