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:

• 

  Nice little SUV - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By mrwilson99 - April 10 - 2:19 pm

  I really enjoy driving this SUV. Its small and should be better on gas since its lighter than most SUVs. Having less leg room is a challenge but overall, a nice ride.

• 

  Dang You, Detroit! - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By impalaintampa - April 9 - 2:09 pm

  Yes, Detroit, I let you talk me into buying a 2011 Impala LT. What I got was a smooth, powerful, ultra-quiet, very comfortable sedan that pulls 30.5 MPG highway. I wish I had listened to Edmunds and Consumer Reports. That way, I could have spent thousands more for a smaller, less comfortable, less attractive car. Instead, I am stuck with a beautiful American car. With the Bose and luxury package, its like sitting on my nice leather sofa at home listening to a quality stereo. Who needs that, when I could have been folded into an Azera or Camry and listening to the engine buzz. Got a LOADED car for $19,400 after all incentives and rebates.

• 

  Watch the wheel - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By retzoid - April 9 - 7:36 am

  I purchased a Cruze in Feb.2011..Was very satisfied at first now totally dissastisfied. The transmission down shifts very hard . Huge air leaks( wind noise) around front driver and passenger doors. The worst problem is that the dealership has had it for two weeks now. There is a problem with steering column drooping and comming undone for no reason...was told it was a bad column, been replaced 2 times now andwas told it is worse now than at first. No one will tell mewhat is really going on...find it hard that it takes 2 weeks to get a bolt. A representative from Detroit tried contacting me today...Not sure what about...will update when I find out what is going on......Car has less 1000

• 

  DONT RELY ON EXPERT REVIEWS - 2011 Chevrolet Colorado
  By dchronister - April 8 - 3:59 pm

  DONT RELY ON EXPERT REVIEWS,LIKE CONSUMER REPORTS,EDMUNDS,ECT.... LOOK AT CONSUMER REVIEWS, THOSE ARE REAL WORLD TESTS ON THE COLORADO. IF I WENT BY A PARTICULAR(SO CALLED EXPERT) I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK. THIS IS MY SECOND COLORADO IVE OWNED,A 04 COLORADO EXT, AND NOW A 2010 EXT. LOVE BOTH OF THEM! GOOD MPG,GOOD POWER,VERY NICE LOOKING TRUCK...AND DID NOT HAVE PROBLEMS WITH EITHER OF THEM, VERY RELIABLE! IF YOR IN THE MARKET? DONT SKIP THIS TRUCK, ITS A VERY GOOD TRUCK.

• 

  UGh - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By luvtoyota10 - April 8 - 1:57 pm

  This car is horrible. i only had 75k miles on it and it just started acting crazy and i had to fix it every month. I traded it in for a 2005 toyota highlander.

• 

  Disappointed reliability - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By golfer60 - April 8 - 12:41 pm

  Bought my Cruze last October. Always buy American so I gave GM a chance. Overall rate in most category is fine. Not too crazy about reliability. I have 5000 miles on it. At 2000 miles the thermostat stuck open. No inventory at dealer so I got a rental for three days. Yesterday, at 5000 miles, couldnt open the drivers door from outside. This took 1 hour to fix at dealer. Have to say the dealer is trying hard to please the consumer. Overall gas mileage is 31, highway mileage is 33, kind of disappointing. Will buy a Ford next time since my 06 Mercury Milan is running great with 75000 miles, still with original brakes.

• 

  11 malibu - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By saint69 - April 8 - 10:50 am

  Great looking car ,love to drive everyday!!

• 

  2011 Impala LT - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By superyouper - April 7 - 5:47 pm

  This car is one big disappointment. I have had several Impalas and traded in a 2006 for a 2011. I wish now that I had kept the old car. This Chevrolet model steers worse than my first car, a 1951 Studebaker. The steering is tight creating a stiff turning in town and on highway. My wife has arthritis and has a very difficult time turning a corner. The car has many blind spots including small mirrors,& rear headrests. I opted for bench seats and find them only fair for comfort. In my 2006 Impala I averaged 30 mpg on the highway. On this 2011 i get only 23 mpg. It seems to lack an overdrive. Unfortunately, I was naive enough to think that the steering was only temporary. Its not.

• 

  Stealth Value~! - 2011 Chevrolet HHR
  By smulvey - April 7 - 3:22 pm

  If you price out a car that does what this car does you will notice it is $ 4,000 cheaper than the typical offering in other lines , even including GM lines! It is a 4 cylinder motor. It is great for highway and city driving. It is not a torque monster. You do not want to buy this car to TOW a boat to Floirda from the hills of PA. I drive 25,000 miles a year. I have 80K on my HHR. I had it into the dealer once ( last month ) for a door lock / key FOB / RFID issue. The dealer could not figure it out. Everything else for this car was done in my Driveway or at Sears at the mall.

• 

  shafted by gm - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By noxsucksthegas - April 6 - 8:41 pm

  like most everyone here iam going to talk about the piss poor mpg . like some i have talked with gm @ 1-800-790-5700 for the past mounth 1/2 . just to find out that my nox is in the avg. est. fuel rateing at normaly 23.5 on the hiway which i disagree because thats just above city avg. on hwy. driving . my opinion gm has a problem with that 4cly. or maybe they shouldnt put that 4 cly. in the equinox. anyway they wont admitt they are wrong. the new redesigned gm that runs deep SUCKS. the old gm whould at least listen and try to help you. out with the old in with the new.