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:

• 

  Proud of my S10 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Nebby58 - September 6 - 11:27 am

  I purchased this S10 recently. This is my first car and I am very pleased so far. I was one of those teenagers that thought they wanted a really exotic car like a Mitsubishi eclipse. If you are shopping for a first car definitely look at these. There are tons of them around and you can get a great deal on them.

• 

  Great Gas mileage, Nice Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Persephone - September 6 - 8:46 am

  I have owned this car for 2 years. It is very reliable, great on gas. I drive both a lot of city and Highway miles. I avg. 34-35 mpg on the hwy @ 55-60 mph. 32-33 mpg @ 65-75 mph. City avg 28-29 mpg. I noticed a prior owner complained of the steering shake. Mine had that too until someone mentioned that is loose bearings. I had it serviced (not too expensive) problem solved. I had to replace the shocks and struts (warranty covered) but then I do a lot of driving in bad road conditions (Lots of potholes and uneven pavement). Always liked this car - my husband just found the same model and year with 23,000 miles for $10,900 and is buying it this week.

• 

  Truly in Love - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CVega - September 5 - 8:11 pm

  I have a Black 2011 2SS with the RS package with the Inferno Orange interior. This car nails the WOW factor to the max. I see younger kids taking pictures with their cellphones, older ladies pull their husbands shirts to look at my Camaro. I am truly in love, I cannot wait to get out of work just do drive it. The ride is really smooth, has a solid feel like a BMW 750 which I owned. It is very very fast, however because of the smooth ride it doesnt feel as fast. The HUD came in handy for that problem. The only reason I am not driving this instant is because I have a horrible cold. I recommend it to all. Great alternative to Viagra.

• 

  Good maintenance, Great car - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By John - September 5 - 11:28 am

  I bought this car just one year ago. I put 35,000 miles on it. It did not give me any problem. I am totally pleased with this car. engine runs very smooth. the only expenditure I made on this car are oil changes. I am chancing oil per 5000 miles. to sum up great car for the price.

• 

  Rust issue only - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Cashmere - September 4 - 11:20 pm

  This SUV is amazingly strong and reliable. I bought it with a 100k on it and it now has 149k. The 350 does not leak or burn any oil at all. The transmission is tight as a drum. Problems only with rust. Rust underneath, rust in the body panels. Shame. I dont know where it was in its prior life but whatever it was it caused a lot of rusting problems. I have repaired most of the underside rust and now am going about replacing the body panels. Used parts are plentiful and cheap. Love this monster. Had it in for an oil change during the last snow storm and the service station placed it out front waiting for me to pick up and 6 people tried to buy it. Goes in the snow like there is none.

• 

  Great car - value and comfort - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By TCD - September 4 - 10:54 pm

  Ive always been a Toyota guy (celicas and camry) but this car changed my mind. As soon as I drove it, I loved it. The front bench seat is so comfy and roomy. No bucket seats that usually restrict my legs and you feel closer to the passenger with no divider (I guess that only matters if you like the passenger). The ride is smooth - soft without being too "floaty" like the big chevy boats of the past. I love the steering on this car, very responsive. The 3.4 base engine has enough power when you need it and gets surprisingly good mileage for a big car. You can see how safe the car is when you look under the hood. Major bracing and crumple features. I got the black with spoiler and sunroof

• 

  The Best Of All My Rides - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By shepardj22000 - September 4 - 8:08 pm

  I love my 2005 Cobalt. It rides like a sports car, looks like a sports car, feels like a sports car, but doesnt cost as much as a high performance sports car. Mine is the Rally Yellow with cloth interior, but has the interior color as the outside body. I love my Cobalt so much, I even gave it a name, Bad Betty! With the price, handling, reliability, and style, the Cobalt is an excellent choice for and everyday vehicle. I cant wait to wake up in the morning, and drive mine everyday!

• 

  Base Model plus $4,000 Rebate = Bargain - 2010 Chevrolet Impala
  By LS4ME - September 4 - 5:44 pm

  You get a lot with the base "LS" model Has: cruise, tilt, air, tire monitor, onstar with built in phone service 1 year free, XM CD radio, electric seat 3.5 V6, remote door & trunk, electric windows, traction control, 17" tires. Wanted to go for a Hyundai Sonata but after test drive of the Sonata found it to be a dog off the line until about 20 mph, interior was nosier compared to the Impala and its trunk was very small. Can get 33 mpg at 65 mph with a v6.

• 

  Belated 6 Year Suburban Review - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mike A. - September 4 - 4:37 pm

  Well, I leased this vehicle back in Dec.04. This one had all the options. If I had to do it again NO WAY would I have leased. If you are going to BUY a vehicle and hold for a long time you should BUY as you will save $$. This vehicle has been nearly perfect. 3k miles between oil changes with NO oil loss! AC, Tranny, Drive Train all PEFECT. I have done all maintenance before the mileage required. I have NOT particularly babied this vehicle. I LOVE the auto 4WD and this should be mandatory for a truck this size. In wet conditions this baby STICKS to the road! Snow is FUN! OK at 58,500 what is broke - NOTHING! Even power fold mirrors WORK. OK - 2 buttons on the DVD/NAV are worn-cant read info!

• 

  Reliable Unique Econo-Box - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By KDW - September 4 - 3:41 pm

  I purchased this car used in 2008 with 29,000 miles. It has been a reliable, comfortable commuter that gets good gas mileage, 26.5 City/Hwy average. I travel 60 miles round trip to work 1/2 city 1/2 high way and when I hyper- mile it I can average 28 mpg but what fun is that! The car is laid out well and hauls an amazing amount of stuff for such a little car. The interior is laid out thoughtfully but the window buttons are annoying. My biggest complaints are performance and visibility. This car is just NOT fun to drive and its VERY hard to see out of. I added small peep mirrors and that helped but the overall visibility is appalling. Re: steering, it doesnt inspire confidence in turns