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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  Love our new volt! - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By bchidester - September 10 - 9:30 pm

  The 2013 volt is fun to drive, accelerates quickly, very quiet, fun new technology, low maintenance. We have used less than 1 gallon of gas in the last two weeks while driving it daily. Two carseats fit in the back seat and the trunk has room for our double stroller plus more.

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  My first new car since 2000 and I really like it! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jemof2 - September 10 - 10:36 am

  I have read some post about the throttle response and I do agree. When starting from a complete stop, it seems to take forever to get going - I may try to put it in manual mode and see if it does the same thing. Also, when stopped on an uphill incline, I get a big jerk when I hit the gas to get out in traffic. Otherwise, this car is great! I traded in a 99 Caddy Seville for it because of all the problems it had. All I have done to this car so far is oil changes and I am at 21K miles. I am so happy to have a reliable car again!! I have children and the Caddy was constantly leaving us stranded on the interstate.

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  love my Volt - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By utgotacoma - September 8 - 5:22 pm

  after 3 months, this car has won me over gas power car or hybrid like Prius. If your average driving a day is 45 miles or less than probably dont need gas for a long time. Plug-in is convenient, clean and fun to drive. I did went over 45 miles trip few times but gas kick in is quiet and still drive like EV car not like Prius. This is the best car plus zero interest on loan. loved it.

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  People need to learn how to drive! - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By cobrabas1983 - September 8 - 2:19 am

  My dad and i have owned a 1998 Chevy Blazer since 2003, bought it with just over 60,000 miles on it. It has been the best truck we have ever owned, other than wear and tear items we have not had to replace anything major. It currently has 142000 + miles and it is running like a champ with many years to go. If people would take care of their cars they wouldnt have much to bitch about, i just had to change the ORIGIONAL ball joints and some other bushings at 140000! Brakes, tires and other wear items are not the cars fault its the way people drive! I have towed cars, boats, and my landscape trailer with my blazer with out fail for 9 years.

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  Looks great but could sound a little meaner for a muscle car - 2012 Chevrolet Camaro
  By adm77450 - September 7 - 8:40 am

  Bought a dark grey SS/RS convertible 6 mos ago with auto transmission. The engine sound and exhaust are pretty weak for an american muscle car. Mustang 5.0 sounds much better but I really wanted a Camaro. I have modified it with American Racing Headers, Cold Air intake and MagnaFlow exhaust. It now is quicker and sounds so much better. The 2013 iSS will take care of my comments about sound etc.. Overall, really enjoy the car and get lots of compliments.

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  LOVE MY HHR!!!! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By lyrics4mama - September 7 - 3:52 am

  Bought my used HHR in 2012, with 14k miles on it. Love the head room, and cargo space. Great on gas. Love the look. My husband is 6ft 3 in and has plenty of room. This is a wonderful car for travel, both in comfort and riding. It is awesome, and fun to drive. Its not a "powerhouse", but will get up and go. Love the fold down seats in the back. Took a while to get use to the window controls on the console, but like it now. My one and only complaint is the cup holders are located in an awkward place. Love the functionality of all the gadgets (radio, climate control, cruise control, etc...), very accessable, and easy to operate. Great for a family with children, from infant to older teens.

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  This Trailblazer just keeps on trailing! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By chevyvortecs - September 6 - 11:48 pm

  Ive had this Trailblazer for as is old now, with 140,000 miles on it. It has only ever been towed once, for a clogged catalytic converter at about 60,000 miles. Also at about 120,000 miles the exhaust manafold cracked and needed to be replaced. But hey all cars break... Besides the short list of problems, this car has been wonderful, its been used hard and still pulls the fishing boat in the hills on weekends with ease. Great family car. Great cargo hauler. Number one choice for family trips. Loaded. Third row seat model (EXT). It has it all. This is the best Chevy Ive ever had! If you need a good utility or person hauler. This is a comfortable, reliable choice you can be happy with.

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  Poor fuel economy - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By newsonicowner - September 6 - 12:44 pm

  While Edmunds reviews of the 2012 Sonic sedan state an estimated 26 MPG for city driving, my experience is only 20 MPG with my new Sonic. Huge difference. I would have never purchased the vehicle had I known it would perform so poorly. I depended on Edmonds for accurate data as I shopped for a new car. I am extremely disapointed in both Edmunds and the Sonic.

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  A rough life Blazer gets a second chance. - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chevyvortecs - September 5 - 11:56 pm

  I have a Black Chevrolet Blazer LT 4x4 that has been in my family for as is old. Im the third person to hold it, and its had a rough life before I held it. It went from being hardly used sitting half its life, to being used rough and not being taken care of, as a result it blew a motor and was expensive to get replaced. Since its been with me its been a neat project car and daily driver. The physical condition is excellent, and the new motor has been plenty reliable, with a few ticks every now and then in the cold. Probably some piston slap. Note the second engine in it is used w/ 100k+ miles. With minor additions to the engine Ive done, runs and drives like new. Its a great car for me.

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  Good and bad points - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By chrisco716 - September 5 - 2:28 pm

  Have owned 2011 LT2 Equinox for about a year and a half. Bought it new. The Good - Nice looking and drives pretty well. Comfortable for passengers. Good options like heated seats, power everything including automatic opening tailgate. AWD. Nice computer. The Bad - Does not achieve expected mileage. We consistently average a little over 19 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Only about 24 mpg highway. Drivers seat uncomfortable... I have to put a rolled up towel in the bottom back to keep from getting back pains. The Ugly - Its a dog driving in the mountains or even getting up to highway speeds. The automatic transmission also seems a bit rough when accelerating hard.