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:

• 

  Dont buy if you need reliability - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By GJez - May 3 - 2:00 am

  5000 miles, power steering pump failure, 9000 air conditioner failed, 13000 miles rear interior fans shorted out, 30000 started squealing but they dont know why.....35000 dumped!

• 

  EXT Northface Edition V8 Loaded! - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By KnifeNut - May 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle with every option available. Very nice vehicle overall with alot of toys to keep everyone busy. Reasonable comfort & space. Good ride on the highway & decently quiet. V8 is smooth & actually not that bad on gas. Definately a nice step up for Chevy, though they are still needing BIG improvements in quality.

• 

  I Love My New Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By FRANNYWITCH - May 2 - 6:23 pm

  I love my new Aveo. It’s comfortable, large, rides good, is quite, and the gas mileage is great.

• 

  Great American Car - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By nutsovernascar - May 2 - 5:13 pm

  A very well built, solid car. Great ride. Excellent fuel mileage. Comfort and features you would expect in a $30K car at $22K. It has a large trunk space, and the feel of a full size car with sports car handling.

• 

  my first new car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By paraplocephalus - May 2 - 10:00 am

  This is my first new car. It has great gas mileage and plenty of cargo space for when I go to college or to drill. It also has the torque that all chevys have to blow away those imports.

• 

  AV in Shelby Twp., MI - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Mark Loehr - May 2 - 10:00 am

  My 2WD Av have leather seats, sunroof,rack, & every option with MSRP of $ 39047, love it ! I used my GM card rebate and local rebate to purchased it. My wife end up stealing it for a drive for every errands. Darn it !!!

• 

  Had To Have One - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BigBobBl - May 2 - 10:00 am

  WOW!!! Saw one yesterday in a mall parking lot....HAD to buy one TODAY. AWESOME AWD. Looked at the standard Lightning...was impressed, but just couldnt buy. Drove the Harley- Davidson model too...didnt like the sound of the supercharger at full tilt. Too noisy. It shrieked like it was coming apart. Plus I didnt like the bucket seats out back. Ths styling is controversal....having owned many Fords over the years, I loved the clean styling of the Chevy. I also liked the Hemi from Dodge, but the Chevy SS won out overall. Hope it holds up to all the hype. I think the gas mileage is the best of all 3. Fords are always THIRSTY, and Premium is required.

• 

  Best car ever owned - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Sully - May 2 - 7:43 am

  Ive owned 30 cars including 6 Hondas and 3 Toyotas. This is the best car Ive ever owned. 31500 miles and zero problems. Fit and finish are tops. Zero rattles, wind noise, leaks, buzzes, hums. 2.4 engine is a must. Pioneer sub woofer makes for great sound system. As a photographer I get tons of equipment with fold down seats that fold down evenly. Plus some great hiding bins. Window switches a little funky and horn is wimpy. Im a fog light freak and these are the best Ive ever had. This car was $5000 under Camry with similar equipment. Ya Id go for a 200 mph rig, but if gas goes over $3.00 a gallon again, maybe not. A fuel cell powered HHR would be totally awesome.

• 

  NiCe~! - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By MiC - May 2 - 2:00 am

  I like how it runs. Esp the fuel econ. is great

• 

  01 Lumina - 2000 Chevrolet Lumina
  By ethos97503 - May 2 - 2:00 am

  Simple, reliable ride. No fancy extras, but no irritating lack in features or performance, either. Its a grocery- getter.