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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  One year review - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By cooker - March 24 - 9:42 am

  So far the truck has proven a very versatile and capable vehicle. I use my truck for home improvement projects, hunting, fishing and camping trips. With some off roading during trips to Michigans UP. It is also a daily commuter with fuel economy in the 16- 18mpg range (66 miles daily roundtrip) much better than the competition. No durability/reliability issues to date.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By VicR - March 24 - 1:47 am

  I have owned my Malibu LT for over a year. The engine is not as peppy as my former car (1999 Mustang), but the fuel mileage more than makes up for that. Like some other reviewers, I had a steering column issue when the car was 6 months old. The dealer fixed it and I have had no other problems. Im short and this is most comfortable car I have ever driven due the adjusting steering wheel and pedals. My husband is over 6 feet tall and he has plenty of headroom. Great car!

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  Is this car for you? - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By samuel - March 23 - 3:50 am

  The new Malibu is a bargain with the GM discounts and rebates. You get a 200 hp V6, 6 disc CD, sunroof, power seats, and premium wheels for about $18,000. The cars run well on the highways. A recent trip where I averaged 68mph (260 mile drive) I got 36+mpg. WOW. Road noise is fair, acceleration is fun, the car has a lot of jump.

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  Good Car - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By funrun25 - March 23 - 1:02 am

  This was my first brand new car. I did a lot of research on a lot of different cars. I test drove this car and loved it. Its quite, great get up and go. I love the interior, it feels like a luxury car. I got the connectivity package and I use every part of it daily. The car averages about 29mpg combined fuel economy. Minor issue, there was a huge rain storm that lasted a week and the trunk of my car was leaking. Issue was fixed and so far no other problems. Ive had the car for 2 months.

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  HHR-SS - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Ed - March 22 - 10:16 pm

  Its an awesome little car. Very fast, great handling, steering very quick and predictable. Tires are good in all weather. I drive it hard and am getting 23.5mpg. But I think 1st gear is a bit low, lots of torque steer at full throttle. It is a handfull if driven very hard. Using the launch control and all I get is wheel spin.

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  I loved my friends Tahoe...I bought one - 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Michelle - March 22 - 8:13 pm

  I cant say enough good things about our Tahoe. It is sturdy, safe, reliable, beautiful, roomy, handsome (male drivers or female), great in Ohio snowy weather, easy to drive (& I am a petite woman), classy and sporty all in one. My husband and I enjoyed our friends Tahoe so much, we vowed that we would also get one for our family. We are a family of 7...tired of driving the "mom mobile van" for many years, I now feel young and sporty in this SUV. It seats 8 people comfortably. A good buy if you are looking for an SUV.

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  Very Reliable Car - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By AZALIA31 - March 22 - 7:38 pm

  I bought my Malibu new and have had it for two and a half years now. A very reliable car. Very nice factory stereo. I already have 30,000 miles on it, and its taking everything I give it. It has very good pick up. Makes it easy to get on the highway quickly. Overall Im very happy with my car and have no plans of replacing it any time soon.

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  Nice on the outside, but ... - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By njEquinox - March 22 - 6:06 pm

  We have had our Equinox for about 3 months now. We bought it because it had a great look, great safety ratings, and decent "advertised" fuel economy. All of our expectations have been met except for the fuel economy, which has been very poor. For the first 3000 miles (mostly suburban driving), we have averaged 17.6 miles per gallon. We have a GM mini-van with the same engine that averages 21 mpg in the same driving conditions. The advertised EPA fuel economy for the Equinox was 19 city and 25 highway. Other than that issue, it is a beautiful vehicle that drives well. The overall quality seems to be good. The interior (the dashboard and seats), though, is a bit bland.

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  Its a good buy - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Nick Atyia - March 22 - 5:13 pm

  I feel like it meets all my needs. I dont drive to far places and I dont take lots of people around town with me. It runs good, not fast, but good. it is comfortable and sporty. I like it.

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  Why I Bought an Uplander - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Jackie Annis - March 22 - 3:50 pm

  The Uplander was my first minivan. I was not sure I was going to like it. But less than a year later I am telling everyone to go and buy one. I have four kids and was thinking about buying an SUV. Now with gas prices where they are, I am soo happy I didnt. My Uplander is fun to drive, the kids love having their own space with plenty of arm room, and I love the design on the outside and inside. I would definately buy another one. It is the best car buying decision that I have made. Thanks to GM for building such an awesome vehicle and such a reasonable price!