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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  Malibu: Reliable Car Packed w/ Features - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By kevrupp - November 20 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable on long trips. You can pay several thousand more for less features and what some think is better quality (Camry or Accord), but I dont think they are worth it. The Malibu has proven to be reliable as far as ratings are concerned and for transportation for me over the 7 months that I have owned it. Another thing to consider when buying a car in this class is the price to repair it. The parts needed to repair a Camry or Accord can be very expensive compared to the Malibu, when something does go wrong.

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  Very Happy With Malibu LS - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By anotherhappycamper - November 20 - 2:00 am

  Have Maliby LS for 2 years. No problems at all, very reliable, comfortable. Great value.

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  Rating my HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Pat - November 19 - 6:30 am

  The 2006 was my first HHR My husband bought the 2007 and I traded mine in & bought a 2008. We love these cars they are comfortable fuel effecient and reliable. One thing we would like to see [as we live in the Poconos of PA] is all wheel drive, even though they are good in the snow.

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  I love my HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jessica - November 18 - 10:07 pm

  I love this car. Ill admit at first I was not excited about it because I dont think its the most attractive of vehicles on the outside, but once I stepped inside I fell in love. I got used to the outside, and the only thing Also, I dont know what everyones talking about with their car being in the shop. I travel everywhere with this car, almost had it for a year and driven over 10000 miles and its still going strong with no problems. Though, I did get in one accident and my car had the slightest dent/scratch on it while the other was nearly totaled. So its a pretty tough car.

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  11,000 miles and no complaints - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By DBT - November 18 - 6:16 pm

  Great truck. Have the 5.3L with 3.42 rear end and tow pkg. Window sticker said 21 mpg hwy, 16 mpg city and thats what Ive been getting. But thats if doing the speed limit. Averaging 18.6 mpg over the 11,000 miles. Worst mpg was 14.9 this winter. Got 16 mpg when towing tandem axle trailer (55 mph max speed) on a 400-mile round trip, loaded with upright piano, furniture, and empty trailer on the way back. Plenty of power for towing and normal driving.

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  Very happy - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dave Wny - November 18 - 2:25 pm

  So far I love this car. Fun to drive, sharp looking and excellent fuel economy. I purchased the LT 2 door coupe with the automatic. Plenty of power for regular driving and the interstates. Passing power is more then good enough. I am getting lots of compliments on the style of the car. I got a black one with the 16" rims and spoiler and chrome package. Lots of heads turn to take a look as I am driving. Rides and handles very nicely. It looks and drives great. I am very, very happy. No problems at all after the first 2 months. For the money its an excellent car to buy. I am more then pleased.

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  Now is the time to buy! - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Justin - November 18 - 11:42 am

  My wife and I have been wanting a new Tahoe for over a year. With the 0% and all we still couldnt afford much more than a base model LS. But we found a leftover 2008 LT with the LT2 package, plus second row bucket seats & third row vinyl seats. MSRP was over $42K, after Red tag and additional rebates we paid $31K. Even with paying 5% interest we were able to afford way more car than with the 0% sales. Go find a 2008 Tahoe now, you have the power to buy it for next to nothing!

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  Gets better with every mile - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By loopdriver - November 18 - 10:49 am

  I was drawn to the HHR by its combination small-ish size but generous cargo space. I read the reviews, pro and con, and took a test drive. Initially, I wasnt hooked. The test drive was in a loaded LT, which made the car too costly and too gadget-laden to make me leery of potentially costly repairs. My interest in the car held, however, and a year later I test drove an LS with essentially just ABS and side airbags as options (std on the 09s). I liked it. Bought it. Have been driving it for 6 months and still am happy. Very comfortable. Handles well. Lots of fun to drive. Took about a week to adjust to the short windshield and "blind" spots, but no big deal.

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  My "bus" - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mike - November 17 - 5:25 pm

  This is my 4th Suburban and all I can say is they keep getting better. This one is a loaded Z71. All I have done is change oil and 1 set of tires at 65K miles. I am now taking it in for a 100K mile going over for some deferred maintenance. Still has original brakes.

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  So far so good... - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mollie - November 16 - 10:03 pm

  Im quite impressed with the performance of my little Chevy Cobalt. My husband & myself are both over 6 feet tall & we have comfortable leg room. I have the LS sport, but my display gauges arent white, not sure how it happened