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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  best EVER! - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By all black - September 13 - 2:00 am

  i have an 2001 chevrolet s-10 5 speed with a 4.3 that i wouldnt give for the world. the only thing i have done to it was rebuild the transmisson and keep up on the tune ups. i have had 5 vehicles and my s10 has been the best so far. highly recommended for anybody in the market to buy one.

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  The Batmobile? - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Paul Wernich - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Its now been 6 months and 11,000 miles since I purchased my silver Camaro. I still get loads of stares and complements, I feel like a celebrity. Still getting about 24 mpg with a mix of city/highway driving. Handling/ride is pleasant over smooth surfaces but becomes unsettled and even jarring on rough surfaces (it feels as though the rear axle is breaking in two). The windshield began cracking for no apparent reason and the dealer replaced it at no charge under warranty. The paint continues to chip/nick very easily especially on the front end (an aftermarket bodyshop told me automakers are using a less durable/more environmental friendly paint. Radio plate sometimes fogs up from humidity.

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  Good Car - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By craig455 - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Premier Edition with 35K on it and put another 25k on it. Overall I like the car a lot. It is comfortable and well equipped. The car has plenty of power and gets upper 20s for gas mileage. Interior room is what you should expect for a compact SUV. To everyone complaining about noise, the issue is the sway bar end links. Replaced mine with aftermarket links for $50 and the problem is gone. Also, the bumper does not need to be removed to change a headlight. It does require removal of the wheel liner (a few screws & plastic fasteners). My only other complaint is the poor quality (de- laminating) Chevy emblem on the back, but this is not limited to the HHR.

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  Love my Cobalt - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By special edition - September 12 - 2:00 am

  this is my 2nd cobalt[1st 2005 and loved it till it got t-boned repaired then got rear ended and totaled]. My 08 cobalt was an improvement over the 05, as it has more pickup and highway mileage is 33miles/gal and it is an automatic. Inside is very comfortable and with the wood grain dash board and side panels it has a great look. Since my 05 cobalt kept me with miner injuries 1st accident and kept me from being really hurt when reared by an SUV at 47miles/hr in my 2nd accident, I am very happy with the cobalt!

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  You wont want another truck... - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By georgeb - September 12 - 2:00 am

  The truck is fantastic. If you love the outdoors, and dont need to climb mountains this is your truck. Off the start power leaves abit to be desired. But once it gets moving, it moves. I modified this truck with camping stuff, water system like an RV, second battery for my radios, and other gear, my own lighting system, took out the rear seats, dont need them. I got the truck with the large 20" tires, forget about the nav system, onstar and the radio is great...Leather is too uncomfortable, cloth, with neoprene custom covers much better.

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  Very Poor MPG - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Joel - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Went to dealer looking at AWD SUVs and 4x4 trucks. Chose this as it seated 8 and in AWD ofered 23 MPG Highway as well as 16 MPG City. On a 1000+ mile trip I got 17-18 MPG highway. During the trip I drove to the beach and on flat sandy terrain the AWD system would only engage all wheels at very very low speed. I drive an AWD escape at work and it engages all wheels with no issues, my brothers Jeep also engages all wheels with no issues. I was so disappointed with this vehicle that I traded it in for a new Silverado a month later. I get the same MPG, but have a truck that is capable of much more, however I am now upside down on the trade. Wish GM was more honest with MPG claims.

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  Good vehicle but flawed. - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Turgon - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy the ride quality and the impressive performance of the 4 cyl. Fuel economy is good for this class of vehicle, but certainly not the advertised EPA mpgs unless you consciously baby it and coast in eco mode. Comfort and passenger room are impressive, but at the expense of the rear cargo space. I have concerns regarding the build quality and reliability. The interior plastics are of low quality and scratch easily! I had to bring the vehicle back to the dealer to fix a problem with "frozen" climate and radio controls. I have to return to the dealer again to fix a broken clip in the rear hatch and a problem with the driver lumbar support (makes clicking sound).

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  A Legend That Isnt Fully Justified - 1995 Chevrolet Impala
  By OneOwner - September 11 - 2:00 am

  My car was the show car at the Philadelphia Intl Auto Show in 1995. I tried to get a discount, but the dealer insisted on the MSRP, which I paid. At the time, I thought it was the best looking 4-door car for sale. In many ways, it still is. And it does turn heads, even today. Since is from the Generals stable, getting parts is easy, and generally cheap. At first, the Comp T/A tires were hard to find, but now you can get MUCH better Kumho tires for less than $80 each. One thing that is unfortunate is that, my car being the "rarest, a 1995 DGGM", you cannot get the paint from the dealer or AutoColor anymore to fill chips. Rear seat room is poor, as are the quality of the interior.

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  4.3 Motor is Strong and Thats about It - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By KC - September 11 - 2:00 am

  this small unattractive suv is suppose to be more fuel efficient then the suburban, but this is not the case...its certainly not more reliable. transmission replaced at 120k, fuel pump at 150k, ac compressor at 160k, but thats it, so reliability isnt too bad. today the mileage is 215,000. though the paint is fading and the windows leak when it rains, the motor ignites and runs as it did at 90k miles, not too shabby!

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  COMFORTABLE UNIQUE VEHICLE - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Al Packard - September 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought this HHR used with 16000 miles on it (46000 miles now). First the repairs - front stablizer bars, steering column, heater fan motor and front tie rod busings all under warranty. Front brake rotors and shoes on me. New tires. I love this car even with the repairs. If the repairs wernt under warranty I probably wouldnt love it as much. Very comfortable ride, handling for me is just fine (somewhat of an aggressive driver), love the design. This one is a 5 speed manual 2.2 liter engine and its fun to drive. When I first saw the HHR I wanted one and not disappointed with my choice. Plenty of room for cargo and seating for 4. 3 in rear seat wouldnt be comfortable.