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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  HHR 2LT 2.4 - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wayne - March 30 - 1:16 pm

  We purchase our HHR to replace a Chevy Tahoe. The vechicle has proformed nicely and we enjoy the ride. Only problem we had with our purchase was the floor mats were not with the vehicle and after about 7 weeks we got a set of mats, but they were the wrong ones. Also the drivers mat is not designed properly to protect the carpet.

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  Stick shift sticks it to you - 2017 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bill - March 30 - 10:40 am

  The manual transmission forces the driver to shift from first to fourth a great deal of the time. The owners manual dictates it and states that if you dont follow the instruction to do so your transmission can be damaged. This negates the primary reason I bought a stick shift to begin with. If you want a stick, beware of this dictated shift pattern. I assume it is to help meet government milage standards, but it ruins the purpose of the stick.

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  Dependible Chevy - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Rayfelins - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Ive Had 46,000 trouible free miles. Just changed brake pads. I go to work in a foot of unplowed snow without worry. Leather, CD, Sunroof. Great value for the money.

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  20 year Toyota/Lexus buyer converted by the VOLT. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By Ben Alexander - March 30 - 1:34 am

  This car is the future, and the future is pretty great.

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  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Nick - March 30 - 1:33 am

  Looks great. Handles very well around corners. Good size engine, and a nice radio upgrade from the 06 to the 07 model. Only suggestion is to have better quality speakers. Other than that, a great car for a good price.

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  Love my MAXX - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Barb - March 29 - 8:10 pm

  Great car. Turns heads. People ask me what kind of car it is! I get 32 mpg on the highway, including in that figure is stop and go around Chicago. Car has a ton of room. I would recommend the car to anyone! Great fun!

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  6 liter gas - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Gary Nichols - March 27 - 1:13 pm

  Very poor gas mileage, average 11 mpg, transmission constantly shifting into passing gear to catch up on a very low incline or small head wind

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  Impressed - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Russo2 - March 27 - 12:00 am

  The purchase of this truck was not something I had really planned out. Curiosity driving past a dealership led me to a test drive. I fell in love with it in the first 3 miles of driving it. Chevy has hit the nail on the head with this truck, interior layout, looks and power to spare.

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  Love It! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Queenie - March 26 - 7:13 pm

  Just bought this in June. I love it! I bought a fully loaded demo model and its great. Super comfy, very roomy, lots of extra features. Would definitely recommend.

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  Avalanche 1500 2WD is truck luxury! - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By lizzieann - March 26 - 7:33 am

  Finally, automakers took heed to consumers. No more borrowing hubbys F150. Went from a Celica to the Avi & eased my road rage. 13K miles & were still happy. A few quirks that need to mentioned. Midgate gasket can leak if not installed correctly. Leaking only visible when back seats down, check for deformities. (Not covered by warranty, but dealer should work with you soon after purchase.) Side exterior body moulding held on by expanded, plastic clips & adhesive. Watch for loosening (Body moulding only covered 12K miles). Unreliable tailgate latch. Gate falls while driving after locking & pulling the handle. Even with the quirks, probably the best vehicle I have driven & owned.