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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  Will this be what most people drive in the future? - 2012 Chevrolet Volt
  By masterofnone2 - November 30 - 8:41 am

  What a car! They did a marvelous job. I can only compare this to the Prius I previously owned. The Volt is far more comfortable and much smoother. I have to admit I got tired of the Prius shaking when the engine shut down and hessitating when the engine started. There is no shaking or shuddering or studdering when the volt engine starts and stops. In fact you cant hardly hear the engine. The prius was a little quieter inside than the volt. There is a little wind noise in the rear of the volt. Not much difference though. After federal tax credit, the Volt costs about the same as a Buick. Great car. Im proud to do my part in reducing the amount of foreign oil we use.

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  My HHR Ls - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By family0216 - November 29 - 4:29 pm

  I have read the other reviews, and I must disagree with a few of them. I purchased my daughters car a year ago, and so far so good. Excellent on gas, drives well, and very comfortable. She has not had one single issue with her car yet. So judging on by the perfomance and reliability of her car, I would definetly purchase another one but a higher model. I simply love this car! My daughter (Nera) is into big boy cars such as: Hummers, Chevys, etc so when I first got this car-she had 2 get use 2 it. But now I can say we both love the quality of the HHR LSs....

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  First month in SUV - 2012 Chevrolet Traverse
  By bigbro422 - November 29 - 11:53 am

  This is my first review and first SUV, The new Chevy Traverse is great, it is a family friendly and works for me being a disable driver. The lift gate is easy to use, cargo area great for my wheelchair. My children are growing so the adjustable seating on the second row is wonderful.

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  First And Only Car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By eschaefer1 - November 29 - 10:47 am

  Love this car, I got it as a 16th birthday gift from my mother, it had 150k miles on it and it now has 167k miles. put new battery, serpentine belt and all new pumps, plugs, and wires in it along with new intake manifold gaskets ($400-$600) and new Moda MD9 Rims. easily maintainable except for battery removal, which is a pain to get out. only major problem in whole car is small rust spot under gas cap, couple dents on fenders and rack and pinion needs replaced ($400-$800) depending on where you go. after 12 years thats amazing to me, even after i ditched it, which didnt seem to phase it internally. 100% recommended to anyone wanting a cheap, affordable gas sipping (21-32MPG) 4 door sedan.

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  Nice Hunting Vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mancheskia - November 29 - 9:53 am

  Ride is anything but smooth very ruff ride, ride is better off road than on road. Power is well just not there how is it that the 3.8 V6 GM also produced created 205 horse and 230 torque when the 4.3 V6 is only capable of 190 horse and 250 torque. Gas Mileage isnt the worst with the ZR2 package I have got 19.5 mpg as best and as low as 9.5 mpg while towing. Now mainly use for hunting as it is a small capable off road suv that can get down the small tight trails.

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  This is just a normal review. - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By dqdave - November 29 - 9:39 am

  1. The front seats have more leg room Ive ever had in any car. But, even with the seat up, the back seat cant really fit two willing adults in back. 2. Front visibility provides a great view of the road. But, the rear view mirror is small, along with the rear window. To help the rear visibility Ive removed the back seat headrests. 3. The outside of the car is.... well... boring.. I mean it looks nice, clean, and as good as you can get for a 4dr sedan. But, the inside is NOT BORING, very elegant, the high quality leather has wonderful feel. Dash has been well designed. Every feature you would want is on it. Though, I think it has to many buttons to push. Im glad I bought it.:)

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  Good Car Until it Burns Oil Like Crazy - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By greatambitions - November 29 - 1:17 am

  Let me start by saying this car has been reliable for most of its life. I bought it at 77,000 miles, and its still running at 191,000+. It is by no means a flashy vehicle, but when the engine ran at peak efficiency, it got close to 40 MPG and ran smoothly. But, at about the 130,000 mark, it started burning oil (1 quart every 1,000 miles or so). 60,000 miles later, it burns through about 1 quart every 50 miles. Further research via Google has shown that this is a common problem for the 2002 Prizms, and is related to narrow cylinders and bad seals. Keep this in mind if buying a Prizm from this final year of production. Youll be investing in lots of oil when it reaches a high mileage point.

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  Wish I hit reverse before buying Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By mom2x2 - November 28 - 10:12 pm

  I have been into the dealership 13 times in the past 2 months...nothing but issues with engine and powersteering. Was happy with car but this has thrown me over the edge. Do not feel comfortable driving my family of six in this vehicle. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. BEWARE

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  chevy knocked the cover off the ball - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By bayoubilly74 - November 25 - 11:41 pm

  Had an aging HHR that needed to be replaced. I wanted a car that got good gas mileage (drive 35 miles one way to work) but wouldnt be an embarrasment. Went into chevy to get a sonic but the cruze turned out to be a better deal. I got the base model with 6 speed manual. For the base model it has lots of equipment: power everything, keyless, on-star, satellite radio, etc. The only thing missing that I notice is cruise control. The interior is eye-catching and comfortable. Very smooth and fun to drive. 6 speed manual will get you up the road no problem. Satellite radio is the best--cant let that go. Huge trunk. Car wants to go and still has high fuel economy numbers.

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  Six month update - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By katydid1 - November 24 - 12:06 am

  I previously wrote a review on my Cruze Eco over 5 months ago after having it for two weeks. Well, its been six months now and I am still really happy with it and I am now averaging 34.5mpg between half highway and half city driving. I did drive over 500 miles each way to Ohio and it performed well and was very comfortable too. I am also very proud to own a Lordstown-made Cruze as I grew up very close to there and know that it was made well by good local UAW workers.