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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  Fun Car - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Dave Palmer - January 20 - 2:26 pm

  I have owned my HHR for about 5 months and about 6,000 miles. The car has been fun and economical to own. The 2.2 litre engine will not win any races but it moves the car with enough acceleration to make it fun to drive. The engine is quite noisey under heavy acceleration. Rock solid on the road with plenty of room for people and things. The interior is roomy and very versatile, and I love the fold flat rear seats. Overall has been a great car.

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  Love My Equinox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Amy L. - January 20 - 6:56 am

  Great vehicle for the price, sporty and fun, seatbelts are added safety not found in most cars of this price, with lap/shoulder combo in all seats! Its very comfortable and roomy. I love the adjustable tray in the rear cargo area, and it converts to a table for tailgating. Radio controls are confusing for me, but I am in the over 30 group.

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  The perfect cost/performace balance - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mcward316 - January 20 - 2:00 am

  For anyone who likes muscle cars, but needs something with better economy and is more affordable, this is the car for you. Its full of torque. Get the manual shift version! The exhaust rumbles and the engine sounds great. The cool-air-intake looks cool from inside the vehicle. Mine has been great, so far. Easy to work on. Great economy for a V6. No rust. Torque-steer is bad, so put good tires on it. ABS is garbage. If you need to stop in the snow, better shut the engine off(Im not kidding).

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  Great Car - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Atmospheres - January 20 - 2:00 am

  My car has given me very little trouble in 8.5 yrs. Its easy to maintain with very little mechanical experience. I have done most of it myself with a pretty basic tool set. Ex.:Ignition switch and light switch in the steering column, batteries, fan motor, hoses, radiator, cooling tank, thermostat, plugs, wires, light replacement, water pump, oil, air, and fuel filter changes. (Keep in mind, Im a girl...)I paid $3000.00 for the car and have put another 115,000 miles on it since I bought it. Mine has over 230,000 miles on it! My car has towed more than its share of vehicles. (I never said I pampered it.)

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  just okay - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By done with GM - January 20 - 2:00 am

  It runs most of the time the mileage isnt bad and its appearance is acceptable. I feel the performance is poor even for a 4 cylinder. I have had problems with the plug wires when it is raining and the wires get wet. It refuses to start if the temp. is below 10 degrees. The wipers only work sometimes. The lumbar support broke the day I bought it and of course the seat adjustment handle broke shortly thereafter. I dont think Ill buy GM again mostly due to GMs fairly consistent failure to acknowledge common design flaws and fix them at a resonable cost to the consumer.

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  Ultimate Rental Car - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dispencer - January 20 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this Malibu from Hertz with 28k miles. Car was like new inside and out. Ive taken it on several all day trips and am impressed with ride, generally quiet cabin, seat comfort, and storage capability with folding rear seats. Engine power could be improved and has been on 04 models. Good visibility and good handling. No squeaks or rattles after 60k miles. An excellent all around car.

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  madeamistake - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By madeamistake - January 20 - 2:00 am

  i bought a used 2003 chevy malibu w/19000 miles on it and i think i made a mistake i read all the reviews and they all seemed to agree it was a very good car but after owning it for 2 months i am not happy it dosent handle well it always feel like the suspension or the wheel alignment is out of wack it dosent have very good gas mileage (i might get 30 highway miles to 1/4 tank of gas. dosent this dealer preach 23-32 miles a gallon? no way!!!) anybody ever heard of ergonomics?? guess gm didnt the gearshift is too long and its in the way of the ashtray and the radio believe me im ready to take it back

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  Excellent Ride - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By elgantis - January 20 - 2:00 am

  The 2002 Tahoe rides much smoother than I expected any SUV to handle. It is a pleasure to drive.

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  The best Tahoe i have ever had. - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By John - January 19 - 7:07 pm

  I have owned my 08 hybrid Tahoe for about 8 years and has been a great suv for my family it drives great and is highly recommended mine has just hit 200000 miles and never has had problems just a few minor recalls you can fit 8 perfectly please get one it is the best.

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  A fabulous 3-ton truck - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mgrabo - January 19 - 4:13 pm

  After years of avoiding an SUV thru station wagon ownership, I gave in and got my wife the Tahoe. Im theortetically getting a fishing boat out of the deal this spring which will make me like it even more. Weve clocked ~6,5k miles to date and just returned from a ski trip to Lake Placid. The truck was fabulous on the 5+hr drive to upstate NY on I-87. We averaged 17mph on the highway with 6 people, 1 black lab and all our gear in the roofbox. The village we stayed in still had about 6" of snow on the roads from the 2/14 storm. The Tahoe never faltered in any of the ice or snow. Its a big lumbering vehicle, but surprisingly easy to park and drive in close quarters.