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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  Brings back the 60s - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By garyanders - June 8 - 4:17 pm

  Chevy has done a wonderful job with this car. It is so retro and fun to drive with its big bold look. I have the 2ss with automatic and you are always in the right gear. You really punch it and it will set you back in your seat. Love to go cruising and listen to xm 60s on 6 station and I feel like I am back in the 60s. Great build quality, performance and handling. I have had mine for approx 1 yr now and could not be more pleased. Getting around 17 mph in town which is great for a 400hp V-8.

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  LT replaces Beast - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By nodrama - June 8 - 12:33 am

  Have a 2001 base impala with 180K miles, I call it the Beast, best car I ever had cept for the leaky aluminum rims. Looking to replace I considered the LTZ, but I drive slow and dont need the power, do need gas mileage and cant afford to replace the 18" $200 tires every 2-3 years. So I got a 1 year old (rental) LT with the luxury package (spoiler, sunroof, heated leather, power passenger seat, Bose) with 24K miles, silver, 17" rims (can buy 740AB Michelins or Goodyears) with better MPG on the 3.5L. Very good looking car, very quiet and smooth. Im short and I like how high up the power seats go. I call this one the Beauty.

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  Great gas sipper for the price - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By carnut59 - June 6 - 9:53 pm

  I have an S Class Mercedes and Infiniti SUV...when gas hit $4 a gallon, I bought this used 2005 Aveo with 16,000 miles as a gas sipper for the 20,000 miles or so I drive a year for business reasons. I really like it for the price, and consistently get better than the EPA ratings, I get 30 city and 40 highway with the automatic. I have gotten 43.8 before. I do all my own maintenance and its all cheap and easy on this car. Its crude and flimsy in many ways as you would expect for the price, but its great in congested traffic and tight parking lots.

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  Only 17 - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By 3800beast - June 6 - 12:42 pm

  I bought my Impala from my fathers friend last summer after I received my permit. He was selling this car for $1,500 and i talked him down to $300 in the end. The car had a blown intake manifold (Of course) but thats why it was so cheap. I fixed the problem for only a $75. The car runs great and just added K&N CAI on it and these engines LOVE air. The car has 2 new front quarter panels, needs new resonator and manifold (Has exhaust leak), and resonantly the power steering pump is squealing. Im only 17 but once i get the money to fix it all she will be great. The car is in 100% great condition and looks new. Illegally I took it down my street, it burns tires real good. Has originally 195k.

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  Outstanding MPG!!! - 2011 Chevrolet Volt
  By sonata3times - June 6 - 10:01 am

  I bought the Chevy volt for one reason only. Im a business man who drives around 300 miles almost everyday. Driving both city and highway averages 104mpg. Im glad I got this and not the Prius.

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  Impala LT - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By lovemycar11 - June 5 - 2:19 pm

  After driving several sedans and I do mean several I had said Im not driving and Impala. I decided to drive one to humor my husband. The dealer incentives were great. I drove the Impala and fell in love with it. The leather heated front seats are wonderful and comfortable. I drive the car several miles daily and have never felt uncomfortale. I average 29 MPG and somtimes 30 The car handles like a dream. The V-6 gives me the power I need. The sound of the Bose speakers are perfect. The technology in the car is simple to use and easily understood. Friends that have rode in the backseat have positive comments about comfort. The ability to see out the back is problematic. Edmonds got this wrong

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  Bought my 2011 Equinox March 2011 - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By triciag1 - June 4 - 9:27 pm

  The first day I got my car it had to be put in the shop for a week to change out a module for the on-star/Bluetooth. A couple weeks later had it in the shop for 16 days due to transmission problems. Dealer put a whole new transmission. Im not very happy at all !!! Just not sure the quality is what it should be in the equinox. I love the look of the car and the way it handles. Im just very concerned about the dependability. If I had to do it again Im not sure I would buy the Equinox !!

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  Love It - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By scubaskm - June 4 - 7:32 pm

  We have only had this car a week, but I can honestly say, that I have never been more impressed with a car that has been out for less than a year. We are averaging about 27.5 MPG, and with having a lead foot and a car with a Turbo that would be pretty good in my book.

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  2000 V6 Automatic with T-Tops - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By camarogrl00 - June 3 - 3:02 pm

  I had my wonderful Camaro for 8 years, over 98000 miles. Although I went through 4 sets of tires and breaks on normal driving, which I feel was WAY too many replacements. I still loved her. No matter how old this car gets the body style is still something so appealing. Unfortunately she needed too much done to it for me to keep driving, antoher set of tires and other stuff, I had to get rid of her. Anyone who has had a chance to own this fun and awesome car knows what a gem it is, regardless of any issues. I miss her everyday still and it has been 3 years since she was traded in.

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  Car looks great, but drives horribly - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By videomanfx - June 2 - 3:01 pm

  I should have listened to Car and Driver Magazine. The article talked about the Equinox being "faster" for Zero to 60 mph, but the Kia Sorento rides better. Well, thinking like a "man", I chose the Equinox because guys like speed. I did a test drive and did not notice anything odd. But, I later found out that it was because all of the roads around the dealership are smooth! You cannot tell how a car really handles until you take it off the lot. I have only owned my vehicle for 2 months, but every single day, I feel EVERY crack and bump in the road. I complained to the dealer and they stated that it was normal. The car looks good buy rides horribly. The suspension is horrible.