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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  Fabulous Volt - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By farmedb2 - April 3 - 2:42 pm

  Definitely the best car I have ever owned.

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  2006, HHR LT - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By jake1995 - April 2 - 11:32 am

  I just bought my HHR in March of 2012, and I love it! I get great gas mileage! A full tank will last me a month! Im 17, and will be going off to college, soon- and this will be GREAT. It had 90,000 miles on it when I bought it- and expect it to last long! They are great cars, and very reliable!

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  MPG not expected - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By heresmyopinion - April 1 - 11:54 pm

  We bought this car thinking GM was building better more fuel efficient automobiles. Had the car for a year now and all I can say is I should have bought the subaru, its a proven car where the Equinox hasnt proven anything yet. Love the design inside and out, quality is ok but for power and gas milage its a HUGE dissapointment. With 21,000 miles we havent seen better than 23mpg (thats all highway) and average around 21mpg. My wife test drove the car so I never felt the power until we brought it home, feels underpowered to say the least. And theres alot of rattling going on in the back. This car is however very quiet and comfortable, a fun little suv to drive. If ur buying for mpg, dont.

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  AVOID IF ALL ELSE POSSIBLE - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By roger721 - April 1 - 9:48 am

  I purchased my 1998 Chevy Blazer LS as a lease return fall of 1999 to replace my trusty 1986 Chevy Caprice sedan w 240K (bought in 1988 W/12K) and a unbelievable reliable 70 Impala before that since 1972! Week after at the the Blazer purchase, I smelled burning oil and checked underneath and oil was dripping everywhere. Bad oil sending unit, replaced at dealer with deductible I had to pay. Within 2 weeks later oil leak again, this time oil cooler lines. 4 months later, gear selector,odometer lights go out and then wheel bearing. Last straw, going through car wash, windshield started pouring in water. Cut my losses,got rid of it. Bought a Honda CRV w/20k and 120K later not 1 problem!

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  Best car ever owned. - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By 100inchhammer - March 31 - 9:50 pm

  From the moment I picked up my car to now, it has reliably exceeded my expectations. The quality of the design, workmanship and assembly is beyond expectations. The car has no squeaks or rattles, it performs better than any expectations.

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  You cant have just have one ... - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By flyguy15 - March 31 - 8:50 pm

  Our firrst Volt, a 2011, was my car for about a month. My wife - not a real car person - fell in love with it and took it over, leaving her Cadillac parked in the garage. I had to go out and buy a 2012 to repace it. I have owned over 50 new cars (Im really old) and the Volt is among the top. Im not in it for the economy - which is amazing - but for the "fun to drive" factor. In the 6 months of ownership of the 2012 I have only put gas in it once for a 400 mile weekend road trip, the rest is all electric. GM has done an awsome job with the Volt, hats off to the team that developed it!

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  Disapointing gas mileage - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By bob483 - March 31 - 8:26 pm

  Have had my cruise for about five months. It seems like a pretty decent car. It has great power with the turbo in it, and it rides quite nice. My biggest complaint however without a doubt is the gas mileage. The claims that GM makes of high 30s to 42 mpg are completely false. The best I have ever done with the car is about 32 mpg. Very poor for a car this size, and I have an eco model with an automatic. If your after a high mpg car this isnt it.

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  My 2012 Chevy Equinox is Awesome! - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lovinmechevy - March 31 - 12:33 pm

  Just switched from a porsche to Equinox. Wow, what a value in this vehicle compared to what I was driving. Okay, no more pep but thats a given. But everything else about this vehicle I love. The look, aero design, interior space (I do mean more great space), comfort and overall fun to drive. The value for what you are getting is wonderful. There is more technology in this SUV than I can ask for in relative to the price. Its so practical and I have more money in the bank too. Two thumbs up!

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  Dissatisfied 2001 S10 Blazer owner. - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By zeroid - March 31 - 10:06 am

  I bought a new top-of-the-line 2001 S10 Blazer LT in September 2001. Here it is, March 2012 and I still have it with just turning 100K gently driven miles, always garaged and properly serviced as needed. Owning this vehicle has convinced me not to ever again purchase a new General Motors vehicle. Why? Poor value. I could list the many headaches this vehicle has provided but the main one is the Dex-Cool coolant problem that destroyed the engine gaskets, clogged the heater core, stopped up the radiator and leaked coolant all over ground at a mere 69K miles. Many other premature failures on this vehicle help to explain why so many once loyal U.S. car buyers have switched to buying foreign cars.

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  ok i suppose - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chaddd - March 30 - 10:49 pm

  just got from relative in houston, has engine issues=fuel, trans, did wires, service trans,fuel filter, still runs crappy no power, just learned =code=lean all banks=mass airflow sensor= kindy expensive part= current mileage 189,000 also has rear wiper issues not worky right.