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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  Good Bang for the Buck - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By andrecan - January 19 - 2:21 pm

  Coming off a 2004 Z06 lease I wanted to keep some "Vette" in my life w/2 kids and frequent trips to snow country demand AWD. While no Vette, it does instill confidence leaving tolls or kicking down to pass at any speed. Ride is nice and handling is good for this size vehicle. Seats are comfortable. Window doesnt close properly properly at high speed. I have to slow down, then close to get proper fit wout wind noise. Also transmission wants to slow this car down when you try to coast at about 68 mph. which makes it challenging to keep a steady foot in traffic at that speed. I like my wifes FX45 2x better but after comparing stickers Im happy.

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  Great Car - 1995 Chevrolet Beretta
  By floridacats - January 19 - 7:25 am

  I bought my Beretta slightly used. Have had it for 12 years now and have 213,000 miles on it. Yes it needs a new engine but It has given me little trouble and I wish too Chevy would make them again. It has good space inside for tall drivers. Ill be sad to see her go.

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  Good Value, Minor Improvements needed - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tracy - January 18 - 10:10 am

  This is my company car so Im in it a lot. It has great looks and value for the price. It is very comfortable and powerful enough. It has been very reliable so far with no major repairs. Only exception is the windshield. I think the angle makes it prone to chipping, or the glass is not good enough. Im on my 3RD one! Overall, this is a good car for the money. Blind spots and big turning radius are the only complaints.

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  2006 Super Sport - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Remy-Z - January 17 - 3:26 pm

  I traded in a 2001 Buick Regal GS for the SS. I had high hopes after owning the Regal for four years, and without question Im not disappointed by the Monte. The shape of the outside is handsome without being obnoxious. The interior is spacious, especially for a coupe, seats my 65" frame nicely, and the interior is a nice improvement from the Regal, which was already nice. Of course, the focal point of owning a Super Sport is the performance, and this one does not disappoint. Just from the feel, it blows the memory of my 87 Monte SS out of the water.

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  HHR Problems - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By KElly - January 16 - 6:29 am

  I have now had my car for almost a year and I really enjoy it. I have had to have it in the shop three times for the same thing, something in the front end makes a rattleing noise, they replaced the steering column and some other bar but the problem comes right back. I drive on asphault all of the time, my driveway is gravel and that is when you can really tell that something isnt right in the front end of the car. Also the brakes have overheated and had my rotors turned three times, didnt fix the problem. These are really the only problems that I have been experiencing with my HHR.

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  My first Chevy - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Lance T - January 16 - 2:00 am

  Truck is two months old. Appears to be well build, and is very fun to drive. Engine and drive train are very smooth and have plenty of power (although a bit noisy when you get on it). Rear seat backs severly limit visability. Seats need to be more supportive and less firm. Other than those issues, I love it so far. Great curb appeal too!

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  SOLID S.U.V - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By dearborn21 - January 16 - 2:00 am

  one thing i do know it is better than a ford explorer. smooth ride and build quality is good. im very happy with my purchase. i got the ls 4wd loaded up.

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  2003 Silverado, is the Truck to Buy - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ChevyDriver - January 14 - 2:00 am

  5.3 V8 is a great engine. Powerful and quick, even for a truck. The ride is very smooth, not too much bounce. Its a great looking truck.

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  Hoping For More - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By pricezright - January 13 - 8:15 pm

  I talked myself into buying this Chevy because I didnt want to pay an extra 4K for the Tacoma. I tried to look past the Consumer Report ratings, but they are pretty much dead on. The gas mileage is not bad, but not great either for a 5 cyl. I average 18.5 MPG in the summer with a mix of hilly and flat driving. Winter (with warming the car up) it averages 15.5 MPG. Towing a small trailer isnt too bad, except going up hills. Handling is good. Extended cab access is good. I like the size of the truck. Interior is cheap, seats are cheap. Ive had it to the dealer 3 or 4 times in less than a year, luckily the warranty covered it all. Bed feels like its made of tin. Wont buy again.

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  Two Transmissions in 150K - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Heather Thurs - January 13 - 12:25 pm

  Overall, I love the Venture. No problems with entertainment system, power doors, or comfort etc. Dissappointed to replace transmission at 104,000 miles. Extremely disappointed to have replaced again at 150,000. Proper maintainance schedules have been followed.