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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  2.4LT - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Matthew - November 4 - 7:06 pm

  I would say I am generally happy with the car. The gas mileage is fine (mid 20s), the power is fine (the gear ratios need to be adjusted), the options are very good (I opted for all options) and the ergonomics is good. It is very weasy to get my daughter in and out of the center rear seat, the rear volume is better than I orig thought and the styling is unique.The two things I would change would be the location of the power window controls and the number of cup holders available. The only complaint is the the roof liner glue does not hold with sunroof models and the dealer does not have a clue as to how to fix the issue. I would recommend this car to a friend or family member.

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  Happy with my Impala - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By mx_286 - November 4 - 2:46 am

  I bought my Impala about six months ago with 22000 on it. I have loved the car ever since with decent power and gas mileage for its size. I also like the trunk space. Only real complaint is I had to mount my XM radio obove the mirror as there arent really any flat spots on the dash.

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  Great SUV - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Happy with it. - November 4 - 12:00 am

  In 2005 I purchased an Equinox LT AWD that gave me great service. I purchased a 2010 LT2 with some add ons. Since I have some mountains to drive in I chose the V6. It has great power and excellent fuel economy. After about 400 miles I took it on a trip of approx. 475 miles. Driving interstate at 70 MPH it averaged 27.3 MPG. It is a great improvement over the older ones. We like the entry level and are very satisfied with it. The 6 speed automatic works great. The driver info center is great. Great sound system. I feel it is a much better buy than the Asian imports.

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  My little baby... - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By KttotheZ - November 3 - 10:00 am

  Frankly its a little petal pusher but all in all it is a great little car! The gas mileage is awsome..everytime I fill my gas tank suprisingly it is less than $20. Also the fear of parallel parking is swept away because all I have to do is just pull into the spot! But my favorite characteristic about the aveo would have to be its look its just soo adorable! Go get one.

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  My Awesone NEW Car!!! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ZseReca Humphries - November 3 - 10:00 am

  My experience with this vehicle is that it is pretty darn awesome. My parents resently purchased one for me and so far I am still being amazed by this car.

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  Z51 6spd - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By MGO - November 3 - 10:00 am

  The car is amazing, worth every penny. 100 times better than the C5.

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  @004 Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mcarlson - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this SUV and so far I really love it. I would like to see added space to carry your purse or other items while driving, other than that I cant think of a thing I would change about this vehicle.

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  equinox review - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bernard lewis - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This is a very nice vehicle, fun to drive, and looks very good. every were i drive im asked about the vehicle. some people even think its a high end luxury import.(the attention is good) The only problem so far is the 6 disk cd changer which has started to give problems. i returned it to the dealer to check.

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  Need another one - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Miss My Chevy 2500HD - November 3 - 4:40 am

  Best truck or car I ever owned. I miss it. I traded it in on a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee...mistake! If you never owned a Chevy truck, do yourself a favor and get one. The strongest, hardest working truck/car out there.I had the HD and Im going to get another even if gas goes out of site price wise. I had Corvettes, Z-28 (1994), Mustangs, Dodge Ram (2001) and many other cars (Jeeps..etc.) and the only one I miss is the Chevy Silverado 2500HD. 12-15 miles per gal. Wish that was a little better, but my weak Jeep only gets 16 - 18 miles per gal, and the Jeep already has a transmission leak! Get a Chevy.

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  good - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Candi - November 3 - 2:00 am

  A Really Nice Car! The Best Car I have Ever Owned.