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:

• 

  Amazing - 2009 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By wallen - May 29 - 12:14 am

  I have had my tb SS for about 4 months now and am loving every moment. I was a little skeptical at first b/c the SS has been out for almost 4 years now and hasnt had all the new GM updates, but the engine makes it well worth it. The symphonic sound of the engine when the car is floored is just amazing. Fuel economy stinks, but hey, dont buy the car if that is what you are looking for. Also great because you get all the power, and the space. And not to mention, its an eye catcher. 20" really make the car. They really pop on the dark red. If you want the vehicle, find one and buy it b/c they are discontinued after this year

• 

  Great car - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By George Palm - May 28 - 5:27 pm

  The Equinox fits my lifestyle perfectly right now. Its very easy to drive and park. It has plenty of room for people or gear. Tows my boat or trailer. Has great traction with the AWD. I love it.

• 

  Nice Car - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Mike Spohn - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Looks good Rides nice Handles very well good performance

• 

  Great Ride! - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By dcsevigne - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Trailblazer for 2 years now and put 20K miles on it. The ride has always been superior even to the Lexus RX300 that I left at the dealer. I guess the sport suspension is a must! So far Ive had the battery replaced and a rear pinion seal replaced under warranty. Good vehicle for the price $25K new.

• 

  2005 Cobolt - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Will Freese - May 28 - 5:23 am

  I recently purchased a 2005 Chevy Cobalt and love driving it. It handles very well around turns and has a deceptive suspension. What I mean by that is that you feel like you are doing 45 mph but really going 70mph. I am usually stuck in rush hour traffic and have the A/C on all the time, but I am getting over 30mpg which is great. The Cobalt has great seats that support your back and lumbar region, which is great if you have a bad back. My only complaint is the large coupe doors are hard to keep open, they want to close even before you are out of the car. Overall it has been a great car, with lots of features for the price.

• 

  Very happy with my new Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Sportyndm - May 27 - 6:50 pm

  I got the LTZ V6. I got it for college and life after. So far I love everything about it! Its fun to drive and handles very well in any situation. Even with the V6 i get great MPG.... on the Highway i was getting 31.7!!! and its rated at 26. In town about 19, rated at 16, I believe. You cant go wrong with the malibu. I was comparing the altima, impala, and the malibu. This car feels so solid and responsive compared to the others.

• 

  Great Commuter Car and Fun To Drive - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Freddie - May 27 - 5:33 pm

  For the past two months I have been happy to get into my 2009 Chevy Cobalt and drive. There are three things that have impressed me about this car the most, and they are the quietness of the cabin, the strength of the engine at 155 HP and the transmission, being how smooth it is and quiet. There is little to no wind noise at 80 MPH, the engine really responds well and has great passing power when you need it. And the transmission is so smooth whether you are going up or down hills or just cruising on the freeway. The base sound system is great and the steering wheel radio controls make it easy to control when driving. There is plenty of cabins space for a two door.

• 

  Great value and great car. - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By A New Yorker - May 26 - 12:35 am

  I just purchased a 2008 Impala LT with 33,000 miles on it and its one of the best cars I ever owned. The car runs great. I needed a dependable roomy car for my daily 75 mile round trip to work and after doing a lot of research focused on the Impala. After finding a great deal I jumped on it. Its a great value compared to other cars in its class. I would by another one without hesitation. Every time I drive it confirms that I made an excellent choice. The performance could be a little better when accelerating from a complete stop and the side view mirrors could have been a little bigger but over all I am thrilled with my purchase. I would recommend the car highly.

• 

  New C6 beats them all - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Doc Robbins - May 26 - 12:00 am

  I picked up my beautiful magnetic red C6 right after it came off the truck. It has every available option on it, from the satellite rradio to the navigation system. At first I thought I would miss having the 6 CD changer; but with the XM satellite radio, who needs CDs? Ive had navigation systems before. I think theyre a necessity to reduce stress if youre traveling any sort of distance to a place unknown. Directions are even shown on the heads up display, and that is a first for me. Its awesome. The car has much more torque than the C5, and the Corvette window noise has finally been eliminated .Corvette is once again the premier sports car in the world!

• 

  Tahoe LTZ 6.2L - 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Oblidoblido - May 25 - 10:06 pm

  Traded in a 2005 Suburban 3/4 ton 6.0L 4WD for a 2009 Tahoe LTZ 6.2L 4WD fully loaded, black with black leather. Wow! What a difference in the ride. This Tahoe is very smooth, especially with the 6-speed. I have owned a 2002 Tahoe Z71 and the 2009 LTZ is almost like driving a different truck. The 6.2L has fantastic performance. My gas mileage around town is 13-14 mpg and on the highway about 17-18 mpg however, my driving style does not place much priority on gas mileage.