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 Vehicle - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By SS-ZULU - August 3 - 12:41 pm

  I am a 56 youthful year old male, living in New Jersey and who regularly travels to North Carolina with the comfort and reliability of my 1997 Tahoe. Also, I own a 1986 & 1987 Mercedes Benz 560 SEL, but when I leave to go to work or travel, its my 1997 Tahoe that receives the assignment. Did I mention that I stand @ 6 1/2 feet tall and enjoy full comfort of leg and height room. Power is good and fuel economy presents no discouragement for a daily driver. Clean and sleek body lines on my midnight blue Tahoe, demands road and curb appeal and evening relooks upon entering my home at days end. If you own one, my comments are understandable, if you do not, its an experience at your lost. BYE BYE !

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  Best car I ever had - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Z28west - August 2 - 10:47 pm

  This one one great car. Probably the best performance bargains out there. This thing is scary fast. Turns heads and is very reliable. I love the Ttops. I am 64" and this car is even more comfy for me then my Cadillac cts. Some people complain about the interior, but I dont mind it. The only problem is this thing is hard to work on because 1/3 of the engine is covered up and everything is crammed inside. Definitely would recommend to anyone who likes style and performance at a bargain price!

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  Lots of problems in a short time - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mike - August 2 - 9:27 pm

  I have had this vehicle for over a year now. When I got it, it had 85,000 miles on it. I love the way it drives and handles, tows great as well, and is comfortable. When I first got it, I had to replace the fuel pump $300. Next, the number 5 cylinder= $3300. Now at 94,000 miles I have a transmission leak on the line, transmission shifts hard and may need to be replaced.

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  love my car - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Diana - August 2 - 4:53 pm

  I love my car the ride is great i have over 145,000 miles on my car and this week is the first time i have to replace axles this car has been good & would buy another. Its like anything if you take care of it, it will take care of you. do your maintenance, it make a difference.

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  Great census ride - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By dowannabe - August 2 - 1:14 pm

  It has been exactly 1 year with my ride, hate the name hhr but love the ride, this baby took me down some dirt and Grass roads to find deer camps and other nonexistent buildings, it handled every situation with control including some deep mud, and deep ruts, my husband has pointed out a few scratches from driving through bushes, car was great, onstar phone was also a blessing to know it was there with cell phone not having coverage. 2 months with 8 hour a day driving I got to know this car, the last week I noticed it a little sluggish at accelerating. may have dust in air cleaner, gotta get it checked out, no other problems, great back area for my big dog and for hauling auction goodies.

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  Best for My Money - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bigbassdrum60 - August 1 - 3:25 pm

  I bought this Malibu in 2005 right off the lot new. It has never ever failed me. Great on mileage and I am averaging over 28 mpg with it. It owes me nothing. Comfortable, built well and except for the brakes, Disc in front and Drums in rear getting hard spots and will need to be turned)I have no issues with this car. Best car I bought for the money. Last year it got me through the snow when my wifes Volvo S-80 wouldnt. Great traction with the tires I am using in snow. I suggest using Bridgestone Blizack tires on this car for added snow performance.

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  Paint chipping very easily - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Sunnygirl1122 - August 1 - 3:25 pm

  Wow, I love this car! We have never owned anything that is as wonderful as our Camaro. Unfortunately, the paint is not a great quality. We have more chips on this car then we do on the 2005 Kia that we own. We have only put 1600 miles on it since February and there is paint chipping all over the doors, fenders and front end. I am very disappointed about this. We are actually going to have to have the car repainted. It would be one thing if we live out in the boondocks.. but we dont. Highway miles only. Come on Chevy help us out here. :) Love the car, hate the paint.

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  First Good GM Car - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By AndyA - August 1 - 5:05 am

  My wife and I finally bought a GM NOX - and I have say its a nice car. We looked at the Rav4 and Nissan Rogue and this car for its class and features was the best. So far highway miles have been about 28.3 and City is of course lower. The interior of the Cabin is quite nice and I love a lot of the features. The drive is good, although this car does NOT have the pickup of our old V6 Altima, its not bad for a car of this size. My wife and I have always bought either Japanese or German, and I can now say that GM has come a long way at least with this vehicle. We are happy.

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  Nice Ride! - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Bob Dibble - August 1 - 3:50 am

  After my first initial test drive, I was hooked! Great performance from the 2.4 172 horsepower. Drove to Reno and back with 3 adults, 2 golf sets, 7 bowling balls and 2 pieces of luggage. The ride exceeded any other vehicle I owned and the gas mileage very nice. I cruised any where from 70 to 80 miles per hour with great ease and comfort. I know some complain about the breaks, however, most cars I ride in have the "squeaky" noise about them. My brakes work just fine. Oil changes are a snap and no problems so far with anything on the vehicle. I am 5,4" and this car fits me perfect. I would hope team Chevy would add a 6 cyl. In the near future. I rate it a 9 out of 10 for over all!

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  Decent Vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By zippywafflehead - July 31 - 8:22 pm

  We purchased the van 5 years ago new. We have had problems with the auto sliding door, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt. You can disable this feature though and use it manually. The vehicle has been extremely reliable though. We have never had any major problems with it. We have replaced the tires and brakes, but then again, we have owned the car for 5 years. The kids have enjoyed the DVD player and we have gone on long trips in it with no problem. I do wish that the second row seats had arm rests to make the ride more comfortable. The material on the seats could be a little nicer as well for the price I paid. Other than that, no real interior room complaints.