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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  Replaced PT - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By bobalpena - November 24 - 7:36 am

  Just picked up our new HHR LT2 to replace the PT. The PT was nice but this car has more room, is quieter, handles better on highway and turns on a dime. Wanted white but due to color ordering on first units ordered light grey. Cars looks very rich!Way to go GM! Now we need a new truck!

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  See The USA - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By B. Frank - November 23 - 10:33 pm

  Foreign car lovers are in for a surprize if they are truly looking for the cake and eat it too package. Quiet,great ride, smooth comfortable feel even in gusty crosswinds. A sophisticated manner that has immediately brought compliments from passengers. Experienced drivers only! This car will keep you very busy if you ask for all the ponies at once, and it delivers like a true SS. This car is an excellent value, something Chevrolet is known for and serves it up in style with American pride. "See The USA"

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  `perfomance - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Katiebug - November 22 - 10:00 am

  ery good performance and is good on gas and the color is just right, and I enjoy driving it.

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  Good car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By raji - November 22 - 10:00 am

  Malibu Maxx is very reliable and fun to drive. Pick up is good and reasonably priced compared to Honda or Toyota. With DVD option my kids love it that makes me to drive comfortably.

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  Great Car for the Buck - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By tiramisu - November 22 - 10:00 am

  I Just purchased a Impala LS.Great engine power,rides very smooth with leather seats,comfort seats,moonroof,all the good stuff for a great price,why spend more..

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  2k05 nox A+++ - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jawha116 - November 22 - 10:00 am

  It has been a pleasure to drive with very easy features to use. The only negative is the wiper set up on the column and the storage bin takes up to much space in the rear

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  Best in its class - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bowtiefan - November 21 - 3:10 pm

  We just traded the van in for an 08 LTZ, Spring Package Malibu. For its class, this is one nice ride. The mating of the Spring Package 4 cylinder to the 6 speed tranny gives the light car plenty of pep and almost as much MPG as one of those compact jobies. If you have to have 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds, then go pay for it in a class that costs a lot more. Beating the guy beside you away from the toll plaza is fun, but over rated. We could have purchased a vehicle in the class above the Malibu, but for what my family finds appealing, it wasnt worth the 20k plus difference. In this class, this car has the nicest exterior lines, smooth acceleration, and very appealing interior luster.

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  What a car - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By hubbard - November 21 - 2:00 pm

  For the price that I paid, this car was a bargain. I know its for transportation, but this car is incredibly fun to drive. Ive put over 8000 mi on it so far and Ive found it to be very comfortable even for 8 hour drives. It also has been averaging 32mpg on my way from Boston to DC so Ive also been saving up to 80 dollars round trip, which is incredible. All in all, it has lots of space, room for 5 (reasonably comfortable), its great on gas, and it gets you place to place with a 100000mi warranty for 11,000. Money well spent.

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  Great Commuter Car! - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Aveo Mike - November 21 - 11:15 am

  This car does what you expect it to do - save money at the pump for a reasonably priced car. I owned it for 31,500 miles (almost 2 years-before I crashed it). My only complaint was that the front tires wore down after 22,000 miles, and the seats could be more comfortable. Other than that, the car pays for itself by laughing at gas pumps. Bought it as a commuter car going 60 miles a day, and never got less than 26 mpg city. Highway got 32~33 mpg easy. I crashed it recently, and the front collapsed well like an accordian- and I walked away without a scratch.I am 63 tall and fit well inside. Solid car for the price. Trunk is big,"hold" traction button puts car into lower gear for torque traction

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  Nice change - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Benz2Chevy - November 21 - 2:13 am

  Traded in my overpriced, problematic Mercedes. The warranty was running out and it was time to get a car that didnt need psychotherapy. I was really happy with the change. Its so much quieter than my CLK which was almost twice the price. Features include tire pressure monitor and pedal adjust that I couldnt get in the Benz. Plus an Onstar System that wont go obsolete on me. Fun to be driving a Chevy again.