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:

• 

  Love My Tahoe! - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Canary - December 11 - 12:44 pm

  Tahoe raised 2 grandchildren and chauffeured many. Two more gchildren live 13.5 hrs from home Tahoe is great for traveling. Awesome Front/Rear climate controls and media ports. Jan. 08, woman ran light going 65 mph hit driver door crushed left front wheel and damaged front cap. Entire impact below passenger level air bags not deployed. Had bump on head and small cut on hand. Two passengers in other vehicle critically injured. Police officer behind me said if I hadnt hesitated shed have been hit and theyd be cutting what was left of her out of her cruiser. Did have problem w/leaking head gasket @ 80K. Tahoe has 104,000K, is safe, reliable & my V-8 got 19.94 mpg last wk.

• 

  Ford Fan - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Motorhan - December 11 - 11:11 am

  I have been a Ford fan all of my life... until now. I have had several muscle cars ( new and old) and this car blows them away in every aspect. Power to the ground is unbelievable and handling exceeds all expectations. Nice work Chevy!

• 

  Best Purchase I ever made - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jerry - December 11 - 10:56 am

  Never have I had such a great car! Every other auto I have owned Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Toyota.. None have come close to the dependability and quality of my Impala. Ill drive this one til the wheels fall off! Its had its share of incidents. Less than a month old the rear end was crushed (Drunk Driver hit us). It has hit two deer. Yet it keeps on chugging. Power/handling are just as good today as when we drove it off the lot 8yrs ago. Not to mention 151000 miles and still average over 30mpg! Id buy another - but why!

• 

  I LOVE THIS CAR !! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Scott L. - December 10 - 5:13 pm

  I have the LT-2 with 2.4 litre, in Daytona blue,fully loaded.I have owned many cars ,high end and low end and I love this car. [I hate cookie cutter cars]. This car is quiet smooth,fast and fun to drive. Best part is....ITS CHEAP! Please note there will be some cheap plastic and design flaws you might not like. My window controls and cup holders work just fine, thats really picky.This is a small car that drives like a big car. At least 30 mph, with a big gas tank, it goes forever! These cars are great in SNOW if you put the correct tires on it. I put on Blizzach, she drives through any snow storm. You cant beat this car for the money! You can spend more $$$ if you want better quality. GET ONE TODAY!

• 

  great car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By william71 - December 10 - 3:13 pm

  i love this car it is awsome , i must admit this a fun car in everyway and the 2.2 ecotec is so QUIET and fast . its a little corvette as chevy said in the ads

• 

  Best Trcuk - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Auton - December 10 - 2:43 pm

  This is the best truck I have ever had. I am getting far better gas mileage than is listed on the specs here. I have 4 drive options 2wd, AWD, 4WD and 4wd low. I keep it in 2WD most of the time and I am getting 26-29 MPH. I could not be happier. I am even getting 17-19 MPH towing my boat. It doesnt even drive like a tippy truck. Rock solid!

• 

  Great Vehicle A real buy. - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By ReelLove - December 10 - 2:31 pm

  LT2 & Z-71. This truck goes everywhere, anytime, in all conditions. 19+ mpg highway/13.5 mpg city. Will tow or haul most anything in style. Quiet ride, lots of luxury everywhere, auto everything, great stereo, easy to drive. This is my 2nd Avalanche. I am about to buy #3 (2009) Had only minor problems when new (1x in shop). Since new, just oil changes, rotate tires, and gas. I love the look too. Get a lot of compliments, even from high dollar car owners. If you find a clean low mileage Avalanche, buy it. Do not buy expecting great gas mileage. This is a big truck that is 4 wheel drive designed for work & hauling. Buy knowing that this is a 6700 lb truck with a big V8.

• 

  What about deep snow? - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Rondog - December 10 - 12:56 pm

  I bought a 2009 Traverse AWD LTZ in July. I have been loving this new vehicle until yesterday. We had 14" of snow fall overnight. I cleared my driveway and backed into the street. A couple of 4 wheel drive vehicles had gone through but the plows had not. I was stuck immediately. I turned off the traction control and could not move the vehicle. My neighbors had to push me back into my driveway. I had a 4WD S-10 Blazer and was never stuck once in 10 years! I am so frustrated with this vehicle. I live in WI and we have some winters with numerous heavy snow falls. I think it is ground clearance and tire design. My other vehicles were dedicated 4WD and not AWD.

• 

  Reliably Rapid - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dave - December 10 - 1:03 am

  My car was a rental for its first 20k miles. After 1 year and 17k more miles, all Ive done is keep the oil changed. The cylinder deactivation gives highway economy of 27mpg with the cruise set on 70. It drops to about 17 in town. A friend with a Bentley Arnage commented on how nice the interior is! All that and outstanding acceleration to boot. The look of despair and surprise on a Honda "tuner" face in the rearview when the light turns green is priceless :) This car is a keeper.

• 

  Impressed with "The General" - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jeff49783 - December 9 - 3:46 pm

  I am pleasantly surprised with this fleet vehicle. The efficiency, space, practicality, and good features really work well. An all-day interstate blitz immediately after delivery was a real pleasure. The visibility to the front is great and satisfactory elsewhere. I enjoyed operating the speed control from the steering wheel, and the speedometer is dead accurate according to my GPS. At great velocity, engine and wind noise are nearly non- existent and mileage is respectable. There are door pockets in each door, a glove box, console storage, a map pocket in the passenger seat, and a cargo net in the trunk. This vehicle is a great value.