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:

• 

  I love my new Impala! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By mojo81572 - November 10 - 10:00 am

  I think my ratings say it all... car is very new so my reliability ratings arent based on lots of experience.

• 

  Duramax Crew Cab - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By 82Pioneer - November 10 - 10:00 am

  This truck has met or exceeded my expectations. When pulling a car hauler loaded with ATVs it is easy to forget that the trailer is back their. The tail does not wag the dog. The crew cab provides plenty of room for four adults on long drives. So far the best fuel mileage without a trailer is 18 mpg. I have heard it gets better after engine break in has occurred. The allison transmission lives up to the rave reviews. It shifts smoothly in standard and tow mode. I like the way it down shifts in the tow mode. I have had no problems with the truck.

• 

  A whole lotta car for under 30k - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ebrown50 - November 9 - 6:36 pm

  I just bought my 2008 Malibu LTZ in June of this year. I just hit 1500 miles on it. It has been an awesome car so far. I got it in black granite with the coco cashmere interior. This car looks so sleek. I test drove the Accord V6 and Camry XLE and SE. I had no intension of buying a Chevy but with my last car being a Camaro and it having been reliable for the 9 years I had it I figured I would give a Chevy a test drive at the least. The car certainly kills its competitors as far as appearance. It handled better than the accord and camry and the Malibu LTZ was over 4 grand cheaper than a similarly equipped Camry or Accord. Driving down the road I dont feel like Camry #9999

• 

  Best car ever - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By mendez - November 9 - 11:33 am

  Me and my wife love this car. If we had the money we would buy another one just like it. I like the way Im sitting high up with 18 inch rims. Driving the car is so smooth. My wife was scared to drive it at first because shes not used to driving a somewhat big ca,r but on the first drive she loved it, so now we switch between cars

• 

  2003 Chevy Silverado Timebomb - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Former Chevyman - November 9 - 10:00 am

  Camshaft and lifter failure at 71K! Pitted cam lobe evident once exposed along with a worn valve lifter. Was diligently maintained including oil changes, routine servicing, etc. Independent repair shop says defective parts were installed at manufacture. Took 70K miles to manifest itself hence the time bomb. GM says off warranty so no help or assistance possible with $4500 repair costs. Also a front shimmy since it was new has been troublesome and apparently is not fixable per Chevy, Les Schwab Tires, and independent repair shop. CD player failed at 45K miles, never bothered to repair. Third new Chevy truck I have owned and its definitely the last.

• 

  Good everyday car - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Hugopuck - November 9 - 1:10 am

  After 2,500 miles in my Equinox, the only problem to speak of is that I have to really slam the rear hatch or I get a "rear access open" light on the dashboard. Im averaging 26.7 mpg -- not as much as I hoped, but good. Wish I would have gotten the rearview camera, because backing up can be an adventure. Overall, this car is a great value for the money.

• 

  2006 crew cab 4.8l - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By charlie151 - November 8 - 1:48 am

  I bought my truck brand new in 2006 and has been my daily driver ever since. I tow a 6000lb trailer regularly and had a western 8 plow on it for 3 years and never had a problem except for 2 blown wheel hubs. I have just over 194,000 miles and never had a problem. Ive driven dodge and ford trucks and nothing compares to the comfort and reliability of this chevy.

• 

  Great Overall HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By kds hhr - November 7 - 5:40 am

  So far I have really enjoyed my HHR. I have had to get used to not having the power that I had in my previous vehicle but overall it is fun to drive. For a couple of hundred dollars you can change the suspension and gives a much overall better performance with lowering the springs. It has been overall great. We will see how it is for longterm dependability.

• 

  3 months on... - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cragman1 - November 7 - 4:26 am

  This is my second review, having owned it for three months. My first review was from the new ownership perspective. This one is from the "getting used to it" side. I can honestly say that the Cobalt LS automatic coupe with a rear raised spoiler just keeps getting better from several perspectives. It looks a lot more expensive than it was (based on public reaction). It feels more expensive than it was (based on my owning a Mitsubishi as well and riding in Toyotas I dont own). And it performs as though it was a lot more expensive.

• 

  Best sports sedan in its class! - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By priggly - November 7 - 3:00 am

  This is simply a superb automobile which combines the best in luxury cruising with a sporty ride. The acceleration is simply breathtaking and the handling very competent. The overall quality and fit and finish are easily the best in its class. The powertrain is smooth with an utterly seamless four-speed automatic transmission with nohesitation, unlike certain of the cars Japanese competitors. The Bose audio system is superb. The controls are highly intuitive and ergonomically excellent with large, visible gauges. The Chevy SS is easily the best buy in a sports sedan on the market today. Be sure you check it out before you needlessly spend more on the overpriced competition!