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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  2005 Colbalt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By lynette - October 8 - 8:50 pm

  The clutch failed on this vehicle at 2,850 miles. Found that cruise control did not work after picking up from clutch repair and the transmission seemed to "clunk" into place after each gear change after repair. Returned to dealership and after "bleeding the lines" the car will shift gears although not smoothly. The plastic pieces on the interior of the car are warping and the "door" to the trunk button has been replaced twice. After the cruise control was replaced the plastic panel in the passenger leg area "popped off" and will need to be replaced. Fun to drive when running, but I cannot afford to be at dealership every week for repairs.

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  Better my Equinox than a Suburban - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By David - October 8 - 5:13 pm

  Its a great looking vehicle for the price. It looks better than a Lexus 330.Fun to drive. Good on long drives. I drive a lot of miles and this a perfect SUV for it. Save me gas over that huge gas guzzler Suburban.

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  Love my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wayne - October 8 - 4:03 pm

  We put 2000 miles on our HHR the frist week we had it. It is a great road car to travel in. Comfortable seating up front and a lot of luggage room in back. Solid little car. Lots of miles between gas stations. Cruised the mountains at 75-80 mile per hour without a problem. All in all, a best buy for me. I generally but a new vehicle every two years but think that this one will get out of that rotation. It is a keeper.

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  My first Vette Ever!!! - 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  By viceroy2019 - October 7 - 9:15 pm

  Never wanted a Corvette in my whole life until this one. Always liked them a little, but never loved them enough to buy one----always seemed made for guys in their 60s. This is the FIRST Corvette clearly made for my generation!! I was hunting for a used 911 Turbo or GT-R last Spring when I saw the first reveal of the new Stingray. WOW!! I knew then the Porsche and Nissan were history for me.

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  "The Big Black Hoe" 2003 Black Suburban Z71 4x4 - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By André Brocato - October 7 - 3:59 pm

  I bought my Z71 new. Has been an excellent SUV, has 155k miles on it now. Friends say you ought to trade it in. I say WHY, its loaded, leathers seats, sun roof, etc. Im fixing to purchase another set of tires for it. I love my Z71. I drive it on long trips, I take to the country. I love the 33 gallon gas tank. I just fill it up at half of a tank ,so it will already to take a trip if need to. The Z71 has a stiffer ride, but everyone that rides in it loves it. I just wish it had a back up camera, thinking about having one installed. It seats 7. I have bucket seats for front and second row, then third row seat. My next one will have 2nd roll bench seat. But that will be a long time from now. Just bought a new SUV for son, he said dont you want it? I said no way, I love my "Big Black Hoe". By the way the name came from a previous SUV , a Tahoe, which I hated, it wasnt big enough. So my Z71 is black and its larger than the Tahoe. When I first got it I wanted to be the one to put the first scratch on it, so I took it hunting. Hey I didnt get a Z71 to drive on the road only. My Z71 been places that most people wouldnt take their truck. I drive in country during week and weekends take it on road trips, Just take it to local Car wash, and it comes out brand new. The black color exterior color shines so well. My wife has a nicer and newer SUV, but we always take mine on trips. I feel so much safer in my "Big Black Hoe". One negative thing that I havent figured out yet, is that I have 17 inch wheels and the spare is a 16 inch wheel. You never put a smaller wheel on a 4 wheel drive vehicle. All wheels have to be the same. But I have never had to use that spare yet. I had my first flat tire last weekend, I noticed the tire was lowFriday, but I forgot about it and by Sunday it was flat. I just took my air tank out and filled it up with air and drove to tire place. I buy the best tires, Michelin. For my vehicle. According to my mechanic he said that the 2003 model is a great year. He is right. ( he just changes oil, etc.) As far as MPG, goes I drive different some times I floor it from stop lights, mostly I drive it slow in town, on the highway I drive fast. So I dont care about the MPG. With my 33 gallon tank. I go on a long trip.

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  Not Too Bad!? - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By mattchoo - October 7 - 10:00 am

  We have had a couple problems we have had to replace the wiper switch, all the rubber window moldings, and now the temp gauge is stuck on cold and the electric fan runs all the time. We traded in a 2000 volkswagen jetta that was a lemon i hope this is not going to be the same thing.?

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  Good Domestic Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kurupt - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is solidly built. It wont pass for a beamer but its a nice attractive car. The interior is comfortable and the 3.5 L V6 is smooth and quiet. Overall a solid car.

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  Great Ride! Great Truck! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Wizzard90 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had this truck for a week, but I can tell already that its a winner. It rides and handles awesome. Ive got the I-5 and it has plenty of power and is smooth at all speeds. My previous vehicle was a 2001 Blazer LS and this truck is much more comfortable and fun to drive (with better gas milage!).

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  52k silverado - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By peteparts - October 7 - 10:00 am

  leather interior has the worst seats in the world, most uncomfortable to sit in. The rest of the truck is great. Not impressed with onstar and let it go. Fades in and out of service.

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  C5 Corvette Convertible - 2004 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Ponty - October 7 - 10:00 am

  This car is great at everything that it does. It is fun, it is quick, it is dependable and it is economical.