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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  SSR fun - 2003 Chevrolet SSR
  By SSR FUN - September 15 - 3:02 pm

  I first saw the concept car in a newspaper write-up in early 2002. After attending 3 car shows across the US, I knew I wanted one. I ordered Yellow. Took delivery in November 2003 and have been loving the truck ever since. Folks around still ask questions about it as there are not too many on the road. A certain kick to drive and be seen in!

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  Great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By fens - September 15 - 1:37 pm

  We are so happy we purchased this SUV. We have always been Honda/Toyota buyers. We previously owned a Honda Odyssey and had some safety concerns with our children in the third row, heads up against the back glass, not to mention lack of storage in the minivan once you use the third row. We also needed 4WD for our winters. We looked at Toyota Sequoia, but heard great things from other families about the suburban. For the price, it was a no brainer. We absolutely love it. Repairs are very inexpensive and we have been amazed at the reliablility and the luxurious interior. For the size of the car, gas mileage has not been as bad as we thought - we didnt get much better with our minivan.

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  2007 Malibu - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TOM CRAWFORD - September 15 - 1:33 pm

  I purchased this vehicle for a daily commute of fifty miles. I had been driving a Mitsubishi Galant with 120000 miles on it. My Malibu had 27,800 miles when I bought it off lease. So far I have driven over 1000 miles and have discovered that my mileage at 45mph is 43 mpg, at 55 mph its 39mpg and at 70 mph it is 35 mpg. I am overly pleased with the mpg as well as the ride. I am 63 and 280 pounds and I have tons of leg room in the front drivers area. It is a lot of fun to drive and will probably purchase another one

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  Good value - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Dave - September 15 - 9:16 am

  2.2 ecotec is best 4 cyl GM has ever made. Its quiet, has decent power and low maint with 28mpg. Suspension had some squeaking, but some graphite powder on the bushings has taken care of that. Thats the only problem Ive had in 6000 miles. Audio system stinks and I replaced with Alpine deck, Infinitys in the front doors and Pioneers in the rear deck. Ive mainly owned Hondas and Toyotas but this was such a value I couldnt pass it up and so far Im happy with it.

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  Great Basic Transportation - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By SC Driver - September 15 - 5:01 am

  This is a very good car for a fair price. Fuel economy is great on the highway in the winter averaging over 32 MPG, but the AC decreases this to 28.5 MPG. Fit and finish is good and the car is holding up well fairly well even when driving it 13,000 miles/month. In short, the cost per mile calculation for this car has been better than any vehicle I have ever had. Where and tear is beginning to show at 3 years, but I will be getting another Impala next month.

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  Fun, Small, Defects - 1999 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Tomcat2010 - September 14 - 9:03 pm

  This is my first car. Im 16 and I love this car. Good things are the get up and go it has despite it being a V6. It is comfortable too. Ive only had it two weeks but the guy I got it from had it since 99 and has never replaced the AC, which works great. It does creak if I turn the wheel all the way one direction and start moving. The worst part is the K-mart cheap plastic on the inside. Some pieces were already broken when I got it. For a 9 year old car with 113,000 miles it, it is in great condition and works great. I love it.

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  Great Vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Justin - September 13 - 10:55 pm

  I have owned my HHR for about a year and a half and have been very satisfied with the purchase. The HHR is a car that turns a few heads, carries me through my daily routine, and doesnt burn too much gas while doing so. There are things I like about this vehicle and things I dont.

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  Good, solid car - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By John - September 12 - 11:15 pm

  The drivers seat is very comfortable, the car drives good, rides good, and wind and road noise is minimal. The fuel economy is very good. The right rear speaker is defective, a new one has been ordered. One negative design flaw is that the arm-rest between the driver and front passenger seats has to be raised up in order to set or release the parking brake. A telescoping steering wheel would be greatly appreciated by long legged drivers such as myselg.

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  Poor Persons Suburban - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By John - September 12 - 9:30 pm

  The Trailblazer EXT is a nice cut and paste effort from the General. The exterior styling is decent, yet the interior looks cheap and somewhat tossed together with little care or concern for fit and finish. It drives relatively well although it seems a little dis-connected from the road in the steering department. The brakes are mushy. It feels like the truck is stumbling over itself especially if you need to stop quickly. Dont get me wrong, even with all my criticism, I really do love the truck. Its roomy, the family loves it, its cooler than a minivan, it has 4X4 for our Canadian winters, towing capability and lastly it is a smooth and comfortable ride. A poor mans Suburban.

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  Excellent fuel economy, value - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By newb - September 11 - 10:46 am

  Bought used with 60,000 miles over a month ago. Agree with previous reviewers about head gasket problems. Car has excellent fuel economy for its size - I average 25 mpg in the city, but then I try not to hit the gas too hard. Very spacious but outdated interior design. Good insurance rates compared to similar models. Yet to find out handling in snow with winter tires. Engine noise is pronounced, not as quiet as Taurus but not too bad either. Car feels stable and safe, in fact has very good safity ratings. Steering a bit funny though. Definitely excellent used-car buy even with todays gas prices - highly recommend if OKd by the mechanic you know well.