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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  Great Truck - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Ed cat - May 10 - 10:00 am

  My Av has been great, I love to drive it because it is so comfortable. The 5.3L motor is great, and is fuel efficient for the size and weight of this vehicle. If 20mpg is not to your liking, get a 4cyl. S-10 or Tacoma. I have no engine knock that some people experience with GM engines. I also got a great deal for mine, right now is the time to scoop one up if you want one. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fullsize truck who does not use it for work. If you need it for work, get a Silverado. The perfect truck for a family. P.S. Guys, your wives will love it too!

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  Great but needs forgiveness - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By molsen2064 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Overall I love this vehicle... except for the build quality... I had to have the engine replaced at 9500 miles... dealer said there was a gouge in the 5th piston sleeve... plus there have been some other smaller things... "other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" it has run great since the replacement though...

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  Hooray! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Zumboot - May 9 - 6:43 pm

  I decided on the HHR after 6 weeks of research and trying lots of small and tiny wagons. I loved the look of the HHR as soon as I saw it and knew it was the right car within minutes of my test drive. The editor reviews seem to care a lot about how fast (or slowly) the HHR can take off and its engine power, but hey, I wasnt looking for a hot- rod! Im perfectly happy with its power, and love the handling. Its not "mushy" - I know Im driving, but the road isnt abusing me. This is a terrific family wagon that looks so, so very cool! We were concerned about it being a new model - track record, so bought an extended warranty that refunds our money if we never use it! Im happy!

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  LTZ is great but not a buick! - 2016 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dr. Roy - May 9 - 4:38 am

  We miss these three accessories the most on our top of the Equinox line SUV. (1) the CD player (2) the glove box light and... (3) the heated steering wheel. A very poor decision on the part of GM management to eliminate these items.

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  My 1SS 2010 Camaro - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 20Camaro10 - May 8 - 3:10 am

  Perfect. 426 horsies for plenty o power. 8 airbags and tough roll cage for safety. Leather or cloth both are beautiful. Sunroof, power everything at your control. Sound..... oh that sound. Got yours yet?

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  Not bad for a truck poor in quality - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By smokey - May 8 - 3:00 am

  Plastic, plastic, plastic. Have a quarter mile dirt drive not always in great shape. We try to drive over any bumps and lumps slow. Over $3000 worth of front end work needed just after the 3 year warranty ran out. Has needed two major tune ups both costing over $400 a pop. Has operated well in snow. Happy with 4 wheel. Pull a two place horse trailer seldomly. Even with the bigger engine, truck is a bit under powered for towing under its own ratings. Would not purchase again.

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  Reliable??? your kidding right? - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Anton - May 7 - 4:30 pm

  Here are my thoughts. I have nearly 67k on my 5.3. the "leather interior" is a complete joke. first of all, the seats are leather, but the arm rests are not. have had to replace the driverside once and it needs to be replaced again because the material is cracked again. my best guess is they replaced with with a vinyl instead of leather because it was cheaper. $250+ labor if i want it fixed again. also, the dash. i know a few otehr people here have said it looked cheap. how right you are. the orignal color of the dash is black plastic, that is painted to match the interior of your truck. i know this because the pain stated peeling off resulting in $200 worth of repair work.

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  C 6 - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By FMark - May 7 - 5:20 am

  400 HP-FAST! I have 3200 miles on the car used 2 quarts of oil. Is that normal?

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  Chevy Tech./Owner point of view - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By NJBLUESS - May 6 - 10:36 pm

  Very suprised by the cars capabilaties from the first test drive. Power is consistant (no dead spots/lag), but really loves rpms in the 4k+ range. Handling, this car will corner with confidence, there is very little understeer,if any. Response is crisp and accurate to quick manuavers. The G85/performance package is a must for the spirited driver.The LSD pulles the car through corners under accelleration.The Racero seats are snug fitting and keep you in position in turns,so larger people have complained of discomfort.I have driven all the styles of Cobalts and can say there is no comparison to the SS/SC w/G85. For reliability, Ive seen very few problems at my shop. Nothing unusual.

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  2007 Chevrolet HHR LS - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By ROPER - May 6 - 8:53 pm

  I truly enjoy it. Its pretty quiet and spacious. Fuel economy. The A/C cools pretty quick. I used to have a Honda Civic and it would take forever to get the cool air out.