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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  Awesome Vehical - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By lhinson - January 3 - 10:00 am

  No ride compares. Smooth steering, excellent power package, many creature comforts.

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  Great Value - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jimmy O - January 3 - 10:00 am

  I have had the car for one year and put 30K miles on it. I am getting 27 mpg (mostly highway driving). The car is loaded with options and is a great value. The ride is smooth and the power is sufficient. My only problem is that I lose radio reception when the rear defogger is on. If you are looking for a sporty family car with more bang for your buck, you need to consider the Impala LS.

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  Close to a lemon - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Devante Schartzbaum - January 3 - 10:00 am

  Since buying my TB last Jan 03, Ive had to take it in 4 times for service: door latches making funny noises, wiper motor burned out, engine problems, A/C stopped working. Taking it back again because there are rust spots all over the paint on all sides of the vehicle. This vehicle may just be cursed, if it werent for the problems, I wouldve rated the TB with 9s across the board.

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  Chevy Silverado - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By AK#18 - January 3 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle has stranded me three times in less than two years and was about to fail another time. It has been the same problem with the distributer rotor getting corroded each time. The first time it failed, the GM repair shop burned out the starter motor thinking that it was just low on gas. Then they claimed that I had been driving through deep water. At another GM repair shop, the next two times it was blaimed on the AC dripping on the distributor rotor and the final time was due to it being somewhat rainy. So apparently the Silverado is like a rock as long as it is not too warm or rainy.

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  Be the first on your block - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Long Island HHR - January 2 - 8:16 am

  We got the LT1, 2.4, auto, XM radio, moonroof, chrome package, in red about a week ago. When I saw my fiances grin on the test drive (after test driving a PT turbo, by the way), I knew we would get it. After a week and 500 miles, we are in love with our HHR. We look for reasons to drive it (we commute in my company vehicle - darn). The car is a blast to drive, the visibility is great, were both comfortable (Im 6- foot, 240), and I cant believe the storage space for a small car. If you like to blend in, dont get an HHR. If you like to have fun, get good gas mileage, haul stuff (mountain bike, musical equipment, photography equipment, etc.), and turn a few heads, go check this car out.

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  Avalanche...An Ace! - 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By adjusterr - January 1 - 3:16 am

  The Avalanche is a sharp looking multi- purpose vehicle combining the plush ride of a Suburban with the utility features of an off-road pickup. The ride and handling is excellent and extremely quiet. It is loaded with neat features, several of which I have yet to figure out. Although it pulls a 12 foot box trailer full of antique motorcycles quite well, it seems to shift quite a lot, even in the trailer mode. This is my second new Chevy truck, the first was less than desireable. Quite honestly I bought the Avalanche because I could not get a decent price from a competitor. I am very pleased with the Avalanche and will probably purchase another.

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  If you have it, sell it, and dont ever purchase - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kyle Phernetton - December 30 - 9:22 pm

  What a mistake this piece of junk is. There are countless recalls and they are all on insignificant things. Do yourself a favor and google "2011 Chevy Malibu Engine Power Decreased" and read the reviews about this POS. There is no recall for a problem that costs not only $2,000 TO FIX, but can be deadly. Long story short, there is a faulty sensor that goes out somewhere between 50,000-120,000 miles (roll of the dice) that is going to without warning make your car shake and reduce your engine power. There are stories about people on the freeway that had this happen while driving and their car dropped to 25 miles per hour. Go in to get it fixed, $2,000 to replace the damage this stupid sensor has caused. Dont buy this car. Ever. For any reason. Until there is a full recall dont touch it.

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  Surprised - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jim - December 30 - 3:26 pm

  I bought this car to get out from under a Chevy truck. It was the best deal I could get at the time. I not a big fan of American cars, but the Malibu has surprised me. I get very good gas mpg, around 25 city and 33hy. Very quiet for a car under 21K. It has all the things you see in Toyoya, Honda, Nissan, etc. Its a mid size car but gets Honda cCvic gas mpg and is very quiet unlike the Honda. Toys are a different matter. I think they are a little better but this is subjective. I ride in both models (Malibu/Camry). Car fan is loud when set on 3 or higher. AC is OK, not great but gets the job done. Ive had better. It takes a litte time to get use to but overall a good value for the money.

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  Still going strong after 90k miles - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rbeach - December 29 - 8:59 pm

  I purchased my 2012 Cruze brand new and sold it at 38,000 miles because I needed a minivan. Im in touch with the new owner, who has been cross country a few times with it. The car has been very good to both of us, with no major issues other than routine maintenance.

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  Quality Vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Chuck C - December 29 - 7:50 pm

  We have recveived a lot of casual inquiries about this car. The style is creative, the interior is very functional, and overall the car is funto drive. The powertrain is well suited for suburban driving, and provides good gas mileage. This is an excellent choice for someone seeking to downsize their SUV.