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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  This is why I always end up with a GM - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By CanadaEh? - May 8 - 3:13 am

  Ive owned since June 2006. I drive approx 40,000km a year in an almost equal mix of city/highway and average about 8.1L/100KM or 28.9MPG which is fantastic. On the highway, cruise set to 110km/hr I get about 34MPG and consistently over 840km to a tank. The most Ive seen is 890. My car is the top level 2LT with all available options except OnStar. The 2.4L is really smooth, dont feel any vibration at idle or at traffic lights. It has a great MP3 player with Pioneer sound thats loud and clear, and is so technologically advanced. The driver info center is all configurable and programmable to your language and tastes. Remote start is great! So are the very warm heated seats.

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  Love our Aveo - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Butler Hendrix - May 8 - 1:30 am

  Best car dollar for dollar I have everhad. A real value package, ours has automatic transmission and is getting 38 mpg hwy and 32 mpg city Thats fantastic without paying all those extra dollars for a hybrid.

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  Love my van. - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Lisa - May 7 - 6:51 pm

  It was a rental van.It"s fully loaded and so nice to drive.I drive alot for work and bought it just as a work van to haul things or to take groups to different meetings.

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  Big Improvement Over Old Tahoe - 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Ed May - May 6 - 1:23 pm

  I recently traded in a 1999 Chevy Tahoe LT for a new 2009 LTZ model. The much reduced pricing and 0% interest made this an easy decision. I am very happy with the new model and the significant improvement in ride quality and technical advances over the previous model I owned. The miles per gallon has improved by about 15% over the old model, 16 mpg is achieved now with a 50/50 mix of highway and city driving. The bluetooth cell option automatically turns down the radio and ventilation noises to permit an easy conversation. It is easy to store telephone numbers and make cell calls over bluetooth.

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  1st Corvette (my dream car) - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By wh - May 6 - 11:04 am

  Ive driven several corvettes in my quest to buy one. I am very pleased with the car.

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  A Great American Hoss - 1996 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ray - May 5 - 10:04 pm

  My 95 was still running strong at 265k, but my brother in law wanted to sell his 96. Since it had the Vortec with more horsepower, I sold the 95 and bought his 96. With over 200k it is in great condition. I replaced both barn door catches (NAPA..not dealer) and an elec door lock, and catches on back of middle seats, and thats all. About 16- 17 mpg on road, no oil use, comfort, and hauls a TON!! We deal in Antiques, and recently bought 6 pieces of furniture at an auction and loaded them all in it, plus our own luggage. Not quite enough power when pulling our travel trailer to suit me, and gas mileage drops to 8. Super versatile SUV. When its gone therell be another in its place.

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  Love my TrailBlazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By FFHEAP - May 5 - 4:57 pm

  After a long search, purchased the 2004 TrailBlazer for its carring capacity and its towing capacity. Very comfortable to drive on city streets and highway. It tends to be very noisy when driven fast. Very good value if maintenance is kept up.

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  I love my Uplander! - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Dawn Ilg - May 5 - 12:30 pm

  My van handles great in bad weather, all of the controls are right in my reach, easy for the kids to get in the back seat, and having the DVD keeps my kids quiet!! I would recomend the Uplander to anyone who is looking to buy a minivan!

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  03 Cavilier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By ajpa - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I recently took delivery of an 03 Cavilier coupe. I was pleasantly surprised by the excellent fit and finish of this car, both outside and in. It also has a peppy motor and a smooth shifting 5-speed manual transmission. The back seat is also very roomy for a compact car this size. I also got a great price on this car.

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  I want another one! - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By n8wrl - May 4 - 10:00 am

  We started looking for something to tow our horse trailer because the Astro van wasnt cutting it. My wife visited a local dealership and drove a Z66 while I was out of town. I was leaning toward a pickup of some type but was concerned about vehicle length since I used to have a 95 extended cab 8 bed. When I drove the Z66 I couldnt believe the ride and handling. Then, when we pulled the trailer it was like nothing was back there. Now I cant get the Av away from my wife to drive myself! I want another one...