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:

• 

  My Most Favorite Car! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By tishpalm - March 19 - 10:10 am

  We have enjoyed our car very much. It handles well & we love driving it. We get a lot of compliments! The quality is not so great. Weve had this car a little over 2 years, and several things have not held up. We did prefer mag wheels, but did not have that choice.

• 

  I love it - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Robert - March 19 - 9:58 am

  We travel a lot and it is roomy and very comfortable. I will buy another when this one is 5 yrs old (we did same) Has all features one could want in this type of vehicle.

• 

  Awesome! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By JAMES/ROSLYNN EATON - March 19 - 3:03 am

  As you can tell, this was just purchased 3 days ago, but the more I drive it, the better I like it. We are dyed in the wool GM fans (my husband has a 1967 Camaro original) but regardless, this is fantastic. We had a 2000 Tahoe which we traded in, it was great also, but this surpasses all I expected of it. Handles great, easy to drive, very comfortable for the size, as my husband is 63", but head room and leg room for him is great. I, on the other hand am 51", so the extremes are quite a challenge for any vehicle. It has much more power than I imagined it would for a 4 cyl. All in all, we love it.

• 

  Still going strong - 1991 Chevrolet S-10
  By wjhm - March 19 - 2:05 am

  Ive loved this truck, currently at 160,000 miles and running strong still. Have had only very minor problems that came with age. I expect itll keep going for a while longer. Great for hauling things (from furniture, rocks, dirt, etc.) and passing other cars on the road.

• 

  Michigan Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Ed - March 18 - 11:25 pm

  This is our familys second Suburban. We love it. We recently had to rent a smaller SUV and there really is no comparison. The ride and the handling of the larger SUV is superior

• 

  Bad Choice - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By sweets - March 18 - 9:53 pm

  The Suburban has very poor inteior, every electronic component breaks. Dealer does not know why preset functions fail, mirrors do not work. Definitly buy Toyota for the price, unless you pay 21K like I did its not worth it. I guess they say you get what you pay for. No wonder GM is struggling.

• 

  Lots of Fun - 2004 Chevrolet SSR
  By Dave - March 18 - 7:46 pm

  The SSR is fun to drive and gets lots of attention. It fits our need for going to the beach as well as hauling golf clubs.

• 

  Multi-purpose Monster - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Marty - March 18 - 3:01 pm

  I love my new avalanche. I upgraded from a 2WD Sierra w/bare essentials to the Z-71 with every option except the DVD player($1200 not worth it). What a difference. This truck is suprisingly nimble, and the turning radius is less than that of extended cab trucks(ie-easier for my wife to park). Towing capacity is solid. We towed our Grand Prix on a car trailer(total lbs= 6900) from FLA to WA state, only stopping for 9 hours and driving for 66. There were times I forgot I was even towing. What a beast! The midgate is awesome. Ive halled everything from drywall(full sheets) with the tailgate closed to 3 backhoe scoops of bark.

• 

  Petes Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Pete Yevich - March 18 - 2:50 pm

  It is a good looking small SUV. It is comfortable and easy to drive. The tracking is excellent. Power is adequate and gas mileage is fair. Many people think Im driving a Luxus. The side view is nicer than the Lexus and costs about $11 thousand less. I would recommend the Equinox to anyone.

• 

  Love our HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Don - March 18 - 12:00 pm

  Great ride & handling with the 2LT sport suspension, plenty of get up & go for a 4 cylinder. Good fuel econemy. No complaints, Like everything about the HHR.