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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  Love - Hate Relationship - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Tigger - November 5 - 1:41 am

  Love my HHR and I wont give it up, but I hate that it has been in the shop so much. It is a blast to drive - especially since mine has the 2.2 with a 5-speed transmission. Great fuel mileage - average 27 mpg daily driving and 33 mpg on highway. Items replaced thus far, upper and lower steering shafts, front brake rotors and brake pads, radio (three times), front sway bar bushings, and body control module (related to radio issues). Running boards and Splash guards are a must if you experience winter driving conditions (protects paint on rear doors). Changed tires to Goodyear TripleTreads (Original Firestone Affinity tires were junk) and I now have better control, handling, and traction.

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  2001 Cavalier - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By angela - November 4 - 10:08 am

  I havent had any problems with it yet, besides the cruise control not working and the A/C doesnt work so it gets really hot in the summer with the dark interiors. But not using the A/C gives me even better gas mileage.

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  Love it but hate it - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By britt - November 3 - 10:03 pm

  I love my Cobalt. It gets great gas mileage. However I hate it. I have had my steering column replaced twice along with the control arms on both sides. These problems also created more issues for me with my brakes and needing to replace my tires because the dealership refused to fix them when I took my car in. But finally with persistence the issues were resolved. But its a month later and the noise is back. I was told this was not a problem that is heard of with my car but lately I hear that the cobalt is known for their front end issues. But other than the front end issue and overall when my car is fixed I do honestly enjoy it.

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  Great gas mileage! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Sassycat - November 3 - 4:49 pm

  I was driving our SUV to work everyday and got the Cavalier to save on gas. I love this car. Its cute, reliable and definitely performs in the mileage-saving area. On the open road Ive gotten 40-mpg! Ive driven this car solo across the country a number of times and have had no problems. It has about 80,000 miles on it but the interior and exterior still look new after a wash & wax. Had a clogged fuel line that caused problems last year but that has been fixed. A strut bearing needs attention, apparently thats a typical problem, annoying but not critical.

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  Chevy Cobalts. Good Gas Mileage. Reliable - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mike - November 2 - 11:16 am

  I own a 2005 Chevy Cobalt LT 4 Door sedan, and I must say that this car has been extremely reliable. I average about 800 - 1000 miles a week driving on this car for work, and it has held up well. It currently has 166,000 miles on it and no major work needed. I dont care what people say about Chevy and GM, they do make wonderful cars. We also own a 2001 Malibu with 232,000 miles on it. An 2006 Equinox with only 19,000 miles on it and a new 2009 Cadillac CTS. All have required only minor work and maintenance done to them. If you keep up with the maintenance they will be reliable cars. We have twins that will be driving soon, and they will be getting the ever reliable Malibu and Cobalt

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  Good Truck made Better - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Roger Murvin - November 2 - 9:16 am

  I owned a 1999 Silverado LT ext. cab, and found it to be comfortable and dependable. The 2005 has several improvements, mainly dual AC controls, On Star, satelite radio, redundant radio controls, 4th door,but basically the same truck. Turning radius is improved also. Mileage has averaged 17, good for a full sized truck. I drove a Dodge and liked the way it handled, but afraid of the mileage as Ive never known anyone with a Hemi that was satisfied with aspect. New truck is quieter, more solid body. Received favorable comments on color (Sport Red Metallic) and lt. gray leather combination.

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  Love This Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By GrandMaxx - November 1 - 8:00 pm

  Am a "mature" woman & love the sporty look. People are always asking "what car is that?" Handles well and have taken several short trips (300miles) and me & a passenger have been comfortable. Love the hatchback-lots of room and easy to load & unload. Headrests are a bother-rearview obstructed-will try switching with back ones as someone has suggested. Fold down rear & passenger seat a plus. My son & daughter even enjoy driving it!

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  I love this car! - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Mnshine77 - November 1 - 2:09 pm

  I have owned this car for almost 8 years and have never had a more reliable car. I wish I could buy another one and keep it in storage for when this one goes! Seats can get somewhat uncomfortable on long rides and without any cruise control, but this car was built for reliability, not comfort. And my checkbook appreciates that! Words simply cant express how great this car has been for me.

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  Pretty Happy - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By strawboss - October 30 - 4:29 pm

  I did my research on the vehicle before I bought it. Gas mileage I thought was pretty good for a small block V-8. I average about 20-21 miles gallon. Had relatively small problems out of it so far, door lock and mirror switch went bad, typical electrical. Handling is stiff, acceleration is great. Opted for the no bose gonna switch out system for aftermarket. Pretty happy with vehicle so far

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  Good Bang For The Buck - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By SAM - October 30 - 12:51 pm

  This car not only was darned cheap to buy, it also has proven to be dependable. Its also surprisingly roomy and pretty quiet. For basic transportation, this about as good as it gets. I used to be very wary of Korean-built cars, but I"m sold on this one.