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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  Love this car - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By uscfan - August 23 - 4:10 am

  I went from a 95 Silverado to this SUV. I love this car. The fit and finish is excellent along with the quality. It has plenty of power and the mileage is very good. I get a lot of comments about it. People like the style nad the inside layout. Some people thought it was a Lexus. Has great rear leg room. 5 star crash rating for front and side with side air bags was another reason to buy.

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  We all make mistakes - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By businessownr - August 22 - 4:46 pm

  I get poor gas MPG with the 6L VORTEC V8 which should be bore tech because between the crappy shifting in the 6 spd trans always shifting drives me nuts and the 9.5 Miles per Gallon, with only a work box on it. Plus the suspension in can not hole the work box, Max payload is 3800 lbs. and the box alone weights that. Bad choice by me, and listening to the salesperson get rid of an old truck and not paying a little extra for what I really need. Bad part is I would loose over $8,000 dollars to sell it, Plus what it would cost to get a new one! Upgraded suspension cost installed, $3875!

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  Great Family SUV - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By llh - August 21 - 3:56 pm

  My LS is Black with XM-radio and Pioneer stereo. Had to get it ordered cause we couldnt find any LS models at dealership. Great family SUV, enough room for our kids and cargo room as well. Great handling as well. Traded our Neon for this HHR and love it.

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  Malibu to the Maxx - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Jason - August 20 - 8:43 am

  This vehicle is great. I was surprised by the amount of space. I especially love the hatchback. This is a great family car for a medium income family.

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  Truly Surprised - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Josh - August 20 - 1:03 am

  I am a long term Honda/Acura ownner. Ive owned two Honda Accords and upgraded a few years ago to the Acura TL. I also had a Ford Explorer which I bought after Hurricane Katrina for obvious reasons. I never would have imagined my next vehicle might be a Chevrolet. I test drove Toyotas RAV4, the Toyota Highlander, the Honda CRV, and the Honda Element and researched several others before seeing very positive reviews of the Chevrolet Equinox and noticing its superior gas mileage. I went to the dealership and now own a Equinox LTZ. WOW Its even nicer than my 2006 Acura TL. Its awesome!

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  So far, the best car Ive owned. - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jim M - August 20 - 12:16 am

  Although Ive only had this car for about three months, I have really grown to like it very much. It is a fun car to drive. It handles very well, is comfortable to ride in, has a great sound system, and rides very well, with no rattles or squeaks. I bought this car to tow behind a motorhome, and it is equally well suited for that task as well. I was always a Ford man for years, but when I saw photos of this vehicle when it came out, I just had to have one, and when I took it for a test drive, I was convinced, for sure.

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  Over Priced for cheap electronics and a plastic - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dan Bethke - August 19 - 12:29 pm

  The plastic wood grain finish is cheesy, many cheap electronics in this car just to jack up the price. The engine and transmission are decent and the best thing about this car. The car is noisy at higher speeds. Did I mention the cheap electronics to jack up the price, ridiculous! A smart phone or a Garmin is a better option for navigation. Cheap electronics dont make the car safer GM. Its the person driving the car! The car has an excellent look from the outside. Very eye catching.

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  Best of the Old - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Linda Meredith - August 19 - 3:42 am

  I have had two Luminas and have been very pleased with both of them. Only a few minor repair issues. I think of this car as the Energizer Bunny---Keeps going and going and going . The sound system is great to compared to newer models. The car is roomy inside and has a very large trunk. Great gas mileage for an older car. I averaged 30 MPG on highway driving a little bit lower in stop and go city driving.

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  A Great Car from Chevrolet - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Sandman - August 18 - 10:00 pm

  I had a Trailblazer and was concerned about downsizing, especially in the power area. But to my surprise the HHR has all the power I need to move in and out of freeway traffic, climb steep grades and just cruise. This is a fun vehicle to drive, not to mention the looks and questions I get. Excellent gas mileage over 25 in the city and over 30 on the highway. No regrets. If the HHR is upgraded to AWD and turbo, I will be trading again!!

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  My favorite car ever! - 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By Kimberly - August 18 - 7:10 pm

  I have owned many sport cars and SUVs and this is the best one yet. The ride is smooth and powerful. I drove a Cadillac SRX for 3 years and I love having the V8 back with better gas mileage in the city than my SRX. I love how fully loaded the truck comes, but I wish the back door had an automatic control to help my old shoulders. My two teenage daughters think it is very cool and they love having all the room of a full SUV back over a crossover. The technology behind the hybrid system is great even though GM has not pulled up the gas mileage up as high as other hybrids. The autostop feature when the car is stopped at the traffic light or in the car pool light is awesome.