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:

• 

  Grand Sport - 2017 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TJ - September 7 - 6:17 am

  A bit pricey but the 2LT does give you everything you need/want in a comfortable/capable race car. It is NOT a sports car like a miata or bmw z, this is a race car and it feels all of it.

• 

  Great car - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By TomVette - September 6 - 9:25 pm

  This is my third Vette. I had two prior C5s which were great, but just wasnt personally fond of the C6 styling (though its a great car). The C7 is the only Vette that my wife finds really comfortable to ride in. The seats are supportive, entry and exit is far better and the car feels very confident. The optional exhaust allows for the exhaust to be tamed down when that is appropriate and opened up when you are driving aggressively. Handling, traction and acceleration are inspiring. The 8 speed automatic is state of the art with almost no shift lag. The looks of any car is very personal. That said, I like this car. The fit and finish is excellent and the styling is fresh. Highly recommended.

• 

  Great replacement choice - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nox Lover - September 6 - 6:06 am

  I purchased my 2010 LT2nox in July to replace a fully loaded 05 Trailblazer. I find it a great value. Its nicely equipped, fun to drive and looks great. I recently took it on a 1,400 mile road trip that included 3 adults and 2 dogs and was pleasantly impressed. It handled beautifully, mileage was impressive with and without A/C, and we were comfortable. So far no problems and Im loving it. I do agree with everyone about the chrome on the dash storage compartment; when the sun or even a street light hits it you are momentarily blinded!

• 

  Fun, and stylish "family" car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By saskatooner - September 5 - 9:20 pm

  I was reluctant to get into a "sedan" since I gravitate toward the smaller, zippy foreign economy cars but I kept seeing these new Maxxs around and was struck by how cool they looked from the back. I decided on a whim to give it a test drive. It was so comfortable and felt so much more substantial than the other smaller cars I test drove. Ive had it for 6 months now and can say that Im loving this car. It also gets very decent gas mileage.. Not quite the 28 shown on the sticker..Im averaging about 26 on the highway, but Ill take that.

• 

  A Great Domestic Automobile - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By polarbear - September 5 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car! We traded a 2001 Saturn L200 for the Impala and it makes the Saturn seem like it was a piece of junk. The car works well, gets great highway mileage and is so comfortable. Test drove an Accord, Outback, Mazda 6, Saturn Ion, Grand Prix, Vibe, Vue and a Rendezvous and the Impala was not only the best riding car we got a fantastic deal on it. Had the car on a decent sized road trip and got 30mpg+.

• 

  LLY ENGINE IN MY SILVERADO GIVES EXTREME - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Mytwodoxies - September 5 - 10:00 am

  MY SILVERADO HAS THE NEW LLY ENGINE THAT GM BEGAN INSTALLING IN JANUARY 2004. IT TRULY IS AN AWESOME VEHICLE TO SAY THE LEAST. I PULL A 32 FOOT SUNNYBROOK 2004 5TH WHEEL LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING BEING TOWED WHEN THE TRUCK IS PUT TO THE TEST. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO STRAIN WHEN TOWING THIS RATHER 10-15000 LOADED RV. I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THIS TRUCK AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL THAT IS INVOLVED WITH TOWING RVS ESPECIALLY. I HAD LINE-X SPRAYED INTO THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO PROTECT THE BED AND IT ALSO MAKES THE TRUCK LOOK EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE. THE GAS MILEAGE IS ABOUT 14-15 WHICH IS REALLY GOOD AS WELL.

• 

  My New Nox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jacmax69 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  For the price, this is an SUV anyone can love. It provides the room and height needed to get around today. I have averaged 18-19 mpg and for me this is a good value for an SUV.

• 

  Chevy 3500 Crew - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Kenneth - September 5 - 1:30 am

  Very comfortable truck - could enjoy better mileage in this pricing climate. Will PULL ANYTHING and still get decent mileage.

• 

  My 2011 Silverado Extended Cab - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jayvas - September 3 - 10:55 am

  I do love my truck but I have to warn everyone - dont be fooled by fuel economy on the sticker. Tried my best to get high MPG and most Ive got so far is 16.1 MPG and this is a brand new 2011 truck. There also was some defect in the paint on the roof but the dealer fixed that right away. I really do love the truck but I hate the fuel economy since I expected more and I need to get a storage box for the bed since there is very little room under the back seat. I have the Allstar and the Z71 packages and wouldnt get the truck without those options. Motor has a lot of power. Truck drives smooth and quiet (with windows closed). I have the 6.6 foot bed but it didnt show up in options.

• 

  Pengwens HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pengwen - September 3 - 7:50 am

  I love my new HHR. I cant tell you how many "looks" it gets on the road. Mine is red and really catches the eye. Also, have had several people to stop and ask me "What kind of car is this?" I had two PT Crusiers prior to my HHR. The speed regulated steering is great for me as I am disabled and have limited use of my arms and the extra room in the back is great for hauling my mobility scooter. The power seat on the drivers side is what made the sale. I now have more room to get in and out and still able to reach the steering wheel and pedals. I highly recommend the HHR for style and accessibility.