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 suv - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By hef - April 10 - 2:00 am

  drives and handles excelent.alot less body roll than older suvs much less road and wind noise.rides very smooth.engine performs quite well however at lower speeds has a dead spot on acceleration.interior quality is fair.seats are comfortable,could be a little softer.exterior quality is good.only thing noticable to me rubber around doors do not all fit properly.overall the trailblazer is a real good suv.im happy and enjoy it very much.

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  Nice Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By rhymas - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Overall a very nice truck. It does what I need it too, it is very comfortable and the ride is excellent. Even the fuel economy is good.

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  Wouldnt Drive Anything Else - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jay Vara - April 9 - 10:00 am

  Truck is awesome, Power and Looks blow the competition away! No problems after 23,000 miles. At 3k miles replaced the stock Firestones with BFG KOs, handles exceptionally well, superior in snow, looks great and still 18mpg on highway. Doesnt use a drop of oil, change it every 5k using Mobil 1 Synthetic and K&N high flow filter. Only the best for this motor.

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  Drivers view - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By sailor3 - April 9 - 7:21 am

  I have been extremely happy with this vehicle. I have made two trips from Frederick Maryland to Florida. On one trip I drove across Interstate 75 at 75 mph on that trip I averaged 35 mpg. I drove to North Carolina and averaged 32 mpg. These are actual driving figures not EPA fudged figures. In city driving my average mile is 25 mpg. My only complaint is with the Cruise Control set up. Having the button under the switch that must be pressed to use the on off switch on the top of the steering wheel is a stupid design.

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  Love it - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cobalt_Angel - April 9 - 6:43 am

  What can I say..I LOVE IT. The gas mileage is wonderful and its very reliable as far as dependibilty. Ive always been a Chevrolet girl and with gas prices going up here in northern California it helps to have something that last longer on gas

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  What a Bargain. - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Bob - April 7 - 6:47 pm

  I have been considering an HHR for a couple of years because of the bang for the buck, its versatility, and its great fuel mileage. This year, I took the plunge, and sold a Lexus IS 250 AWD for the HHR. Its a great vehicle, and for the money it cant be beat. The ride is smooth, the cabin quiet, and the build quality superb. I took it on a 3 hour trip and found it to be every bit as comfortable as the Lexus. I also have a business, and the HHRs cargo capacity is what I was really searching for. It is a shame more people havent discovered the great value the HHR is. I still cant believe I got this car on the road, after rebates, for under $15,000.

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  Chev avalanche - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By austin petzke - April 7 - 6:26 pm

  this truck has been used to transport furniture, tow a boat and move people, it has done all exceptionally well. It is comfortable to ride in and drive, in fact it rides very well for a truck.

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  great car - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By john mccall - April 7 - 1:00 pm

  We turned in a Cadillac DTS and got the Impala. It has as large a trunk as the caddy and the rear seats fold as well. The seats could be improved and the a/c controls are silly but the ride and comfort approach the best. Looked at all the rivals and this was the beat for the money. Have had GM products for thirty years and the reliability has been tremendous. For the money this is the best buy.

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  Cry HAVOC....... - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Nitehawk - April 7 - 12:31 pm

  .....and let loose the dogs of war. Purchased used, certified, 17k, still under warranty. Beautiful jewel tintcoat. Traded in my 06 Cobalt SS. Needed something a little roomier. Ive never owned a 4 dr sedan, so was hesitant. Didnt want a dowdy land barge. Impala SS fits the bill. Dangerously fast and powerful. Im lovin it. Drive 200 miles round trip to work each week, and its 50% city, 50% highway - 21.1 mpg.....not bad. But its the Raw Power, itll make you smile, and then some. Go test drive one, its a life altering experience....go buy, now. Youll never look back.

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  Great car - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ken - April 7 - 9:29 am

  So far I am highly impressed with this car. Its very smooth and quiet, handles nicely for this size car. I took a trip with 75% highway and 25% city driving and got over 32mph. Local driving has been around 26 mph.