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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  What a great car!! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jenni Lynne - January 19 - 10:03 am

  I love this car. I have had my eye on this car since the autoshow. I finally got it. I told myself i wouldnt settle... and i didnt .. its fully loaded... if its offered i have it. The radio is outstanding... the sound amazing. I love that i can store fm, am, and xm channels in the same category in the presets. The drive is amazing. The speed sensitive steering really makes a difference... who knew? It has good power for the size of the engine. The exterior color (golden teal) really turns heads. The remote start is great especially considering that its october and already snowing. Wow the room it has... its the best !!

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  Bought it new - 1990 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Dr.Wyman of Woburn - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Was my dream car then and still is today. Famos quote "You can own fastest car in the world but you can always build and/or find a Chevy that can beat it."

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  1998 C2500 w/7.4 - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By fellows - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought this used and have been happy with the vehicle for 8 months. I got new pads for the brakes and installed a K&N Filter Kit. On a trip to Idaho/Montana I got 14mpg/65mph, 13mpg/70mph, and 11.9/78mph. Three kids, dog, trailer.. no problems. This vehicle is great around town, it has a very sharp turning radius and can get with it when necessary. With gasoline nearing $1.75, it costs ~ $65 or so to fill. I feel very safe within in the vehicle.

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  bring it back - 1993 Chevrolet Camaro
  By josh bardin - January 19 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Z28 for almost 4 years and have 183,000 miles on it. The LT1 is so reliable. It still has original plugs,fuel filter,serp belt and hoses. I take care of the car but dont baby it-5000 rpm is pretty common. Burns no oil,but does leak a little-big deal- still beats almost any import on the road and still gets over 23 mpg at 75+mph. Toyota-like reliability.

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  exceptional - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By MommaOf2 - January 19 - 2:00 am

  perfect car for the first time driver! Highly recommended, would not buy anything else for any of my children

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  General Review - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By khkrol - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Bought for my daughter. She has put over 15,000 miles. Have yet to bring it in for any warranty work.

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  We Texans Have Loved Suburbans For Years - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JMack - January 19 - 2:00 am

  My version is the Z71. If you have a family and need the space and want comfort and convenience and safety like a Volvo in a larger size, this vehicle is for you. As a native Texan, I have always liked the Suburbans and have been able to appreciate the durability toughness of Chevy trucks forever and this definitely falls into the same category. I upgraded from a Tahoe to the Suburban for the extra space excellent features and styling and could not be more pleased. Warning though,when you get a Suburban, everyone always wants you to drive since you have so much more room for passengers than anything else out there. Highly recommended.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Michael E. Urbanski - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Love the vehicle, gas milage is not good at all. I am ready to purchase another one, which will be my third Tahoe. Trade value is a lot lower that I expected on a one year old unit.

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  Front axle woes - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Concerned GM buyer - January 18 - 6:36 pm

  Any time I turn right,for example, turning right into a parking space, the steering mechanism groans. I got the car new! Theres not yet 5000 miles on the odometer. The engine seems OK, simply peppy, but the noise turning hopefully can be remedied under warranty. I wonder about new GM cars with Magnasteer and GMs more upscale cars with steering, ride and handling. My mileage mpg is 27.5 shy of 31 mpg EPA testing.

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  A winner for GM - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Teach - January 18 - 1:23 pm

  I have owned my 2010 Equinox for a month. I had the opportunity to take it on a 1400 mile trip which gave me excellent feedback performance wise in different driving conditions- interstate highway,city driving and driving in the mountains. In every case the 4 cyl was up to the challenge either in regular mode or Eco mode. I didnt really notice any difference in performance from one mode to the other- both have more than sufficient power for my needs. The gas mileage meets the expectations given for the 4 cyl. Both interior and exterior quality are big improvements over previous model years. Not only has the quality improved GM managed to lower the price across all Trim levels!