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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  Good Vehicle, Paint Issue - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By waterboy1979 - February 22 - 5:30 am

  I loved this vehicle until I washed it the other day. I have put 1600 miles on the vehicle and loved every mile. I noticed when I washed it the other day there were small rust spots everywhere. I looked at another white one and it has the same problem. Taken it in to the dealership tomorrow.

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  Don t buy Malibu Maxx -warranty problem - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By bljeaux - February 21 - 9:23 am

  I dont recommend buying GM products. They will not approve fixing a rattle in the steering column under the warranty. Very annoying noise. Dealer advises GM states it is a common problem with Malibu Maxx and will therefore not fix. I change cars every 3 years and no more GM cars for me. When they talk about a warranty...GM does not honor its warranty commitments.

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  A breath of fresh air - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ad Man in Texas - February 21 - 2:00 am

  After months of searching for the right mid-size sedan, I found out about the Malibu through research on Edmunds.com. I fell in love with its conservative styling, outstanding performance and competitive pricing. Perfect for daily commutes and longer road trips. Plenty of standard features on the 4-dr. Sedan model made stepping up to another trim package unnecessary. An all-around fantastic car.

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  HHR - Better than PT Cruiser - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By GEORGE - February 20 - 12:40 am

  I have driven both the 2006 PT Cruiser and the HHR. I am not a Chevy Man by any means. Nor am I a Chryler Man either. I must truly say that the HHR fits my needs and is an all-around better car than the PT Cruiser. The Cruiser seems outdated now. There is hardly any improvements from previous models. Yet, the price keeps climbing. I am over 6 foot tall and I am very comfortable in the HHR. There are more options available on the HHR too. However, In Chrysler defense, I must admit I would like to have a turbo on my HHR. But Im sure theres a supplier working on that as we speak. I really felt cramped in the PT Cruiser in comparison to the HHR. I just think that the HHR is a better deal.

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  Should have bought a Ford - 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By blue1966 - February 19 - 10:20 pm

  This is the first time i have ever disliked a Chevy. This truck has no pulling power it strains pulling a empty trailer. It has a hard time pulling a hill with no trailer. It only gets around 14mpg on the rd and about 11 in the city. It want even spin tires on dirt. there is slack in the driveline that you can hear and feel. I bought this truck brand new i was told the mileage and the power would get better, well it has 26k on it and nothing has changed. The next truck i get will def be a Ford. I have never owned or wanted one until now.

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  Love My New Car! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Joseph Knoll - February 19 - 7:43 pm

  I have always had a convertible, because I like my car to be fun! When I saw and drove this car I saw it was a really fun car! I bought it and love it!

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  Almost drives itself. - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By steve johnson - February 19 - 12:29 pm

  I got all options and it almost requires a co-pilot to learn and operate all functions. Technology is off the charts. Plug in a USB drive loaded with music and the sound is amazing. Say "play Sounds of Silence"... the song plays. Say " play Leon Bedbone" .... all Redbone songs que-up and begin playing. Say call Joe... car asks "cell or home?" Then dials your choice from your cell phone, no monthly charge. The 8 inch navigation also works without subscription. Set cruise control, car slows as you approach car in front of you and resumes as he speeds up, keeping you at a chosen distance without touching controls. Car in front slams on breaks.... Impala breaks automatically. Warning lights on side view mirror if someone in the blind spot. Lane departure warning. The list goes on and on. The only negative I found is: 1.) no aux input for radio anymore but I guess everything is Bluetooth now. 2.) No SD card slot. but for $10 you can but a USB drive with a SD card slot and there are at least 2 USB ports. I would also say the ride noise level is a touch higher than say a Lexus or Mercedes but with the radio on and an extra $10,000 in my pocket to absorb sound, I dont hear a thing. The fuel economy is better than EPA rating and the 305 HP v-6 gets to 60 mph in about 6 seconds!!!

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  2500 HD - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By J. Robertson - February 19 - 10:36 am

  Great truck and value for the money.

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  Lovin My Cav - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By gabagooo - February 15 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased a 2003 LS two door. I have racked up 1700 trouble free miles. So far the gas milage has been excellent. I love the sunroof and sound system. The car is easy to drive and park.

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  Fixer Up - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By PaulL - February 15 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle in December 2002. I have 8000 miles on it. It is April now. I have had it in the shop 3 times. Once for an emission control and twice for the A/C. Decent gas mileage but thats all I can say. Over all Im not impressed.