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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  15 years, still going. - 1995 Chevrolet Caprice
  By OKCEngineer - February 1 - 7:21 pm

  I bought my 9C1 Caprice at an auction for $3000, and its been the best $3000 Ive ever spent. This car is fun, fast, and cool!

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  Great Puller or commuter - 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mike of Mille Lacs - February 1 - 4:10 pm

  Purchased 01 Tahoe ls 4wd in may of 2009, had 110k mi on it then, has roughly 136k on it now (2/2010) have gotten 18.5 mpg w/out load going 65 mph during the summer on the highway with no stops. I love the truck. Love the tow haul, stopping w/out elec. Brakes is hard with a 3,000 lb boat/trailer behind you, wish Chevy would have put a little bigger rotors in. Mechanically since I have owned I have replaced washer fluid pump, and power steering pump went out (quite rare I hear). Wheels are corroding a little but hey its Minnesota they use salt. If someone asked my opinion about getting this vehicle, I would 100% without question tell them to go for it.

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  18 hours and counting... - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By RedDragon - February 1 - 3:09 pm

  Still in my first 24 hours of ownership. Amazingly slick car for the price! Planning on adding the RS rims to this LS to at least partially capture the looks of the $30K+ RS models. The below-sticker price, with a few incentives added in, made this Camaro cheaper than a Malibu 4cyl! Still to early to rank most of these categories accurately, but so far so good! Ill consider this my unborn sons high school graduation gift...never hurts to shop early!

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  Love my Car! - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Brittany Gray - February 1 - 12:19 pm

  I absolutely 110% love every bit of my car! I bought it 2 years ago and it was pretty much completely stock and I havent had any problems with it. I think it is the most beautiful car and they did amazing on this specific year range!

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  Just the Car I Needed - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Clay - February 1 - 9:12 am

  I needed something reliable, got good gas mileage, and could carry a bunch of stuff. My 2008 HHR does all that! I average ~26 to ~27 MPG and have been amazed at all the stuff I can carry in the back with the seats folded down. Extra storage UNDER the floor is nice also when you want to keep handtools hidden. I could use a little more leg room for my left leg when driving though [the wheel well kinda sticks up there] and the center window controls take some getting used to. Heat/A/C work wonderfully and sound system is nice also. Lots of headroom is nice and yeah, that cargo capacity =)

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  My Burb - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Boomer - February 1 - 1:25 am

  I love my truck. Last of the big ones and I will put it up to an Excursion any day. Interestingly enough, this truck has a 7.4 (454 Big Block) and pulls much better mileage than those I have spoken to with the smaller Ford V-10. I pull 16 mpg on the hwy, they pull 10-12. This truck is my dream truck. I would not have ordered new any other way. I have been a suburban fan for years and probably have owned 20 in my lifetime, but this one is special. There is nothing this truck cant pull. This is my baby and I hope to have many years of enjoyment with it.

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  Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ed - January 31 - 4:51 pm

  This car is very solid. You can tell chevy put a lot of attention redesigning the new malibu inside and out. Nice quiet comfortable ride. I opt for the v6..it has plenty of power but not the fastest v6 on the road. But it does fine. Gas mileage is above average. I wasnt sold on the six speed trans at first,(seems like its always changing gears) but very fun with the paddle shifters and now Im use to it. The interior is nicely laid out, and the radio features are easy to use. Being 61 it is a little tight getting in, for whatever reason the floor board sill is raised about 2 inches, not sure really why. The only other complaint torque steer..under heavy acceleration the car sways a little.

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  Super fun to drive - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By scooter - January 31 - 1:17 pm

  This little car has definitely impressed me, its performance form acceleration to cornering to brake is incredible especially considering the rear axle is only a semi independent solid axle.I work on cars for a living and have done so for 20 years,the amount of power this engine produces for its size is amazing. Also amazing is the fuel economy, combined driving around 25mpg. I do not baby this car by any means and it still amazes me too get 33 mpg at 70mph on the highway. I highly recommend it,its not real cheap to own since tires are ultra hi performance and around $150 each and up.Its well worth it tho.

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  2004 Venture - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By Bob - January 30 - 10:55 pm

  Great reliability over the last 5 years. Handling is good for a minivan. Road noise is minimal.

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  Love my Cobalt - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Walt L - January 30 - 6:45 pm

  I bought it new and have 50,000 miles. I went from a Sierra Pickup to a Cobalt. Its not a truck but great gas mileage and no problems other than a noisy fan at low speed.