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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  Overall Great Vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jomac - July 15 - 4:30 am

  I bought the car in April 2010 and I have been averaging 28-29 mpg, which I am happy with. I ended up getting the 18" wheels which seems to make the ride a bit stiff. The car runs great but there seems to be a slight hesitation during quick acceleration. I have cloth seats and the drivers seat is experiencing a problem with the foam material appears to be bunching up where it meets the seat back. This is causing a hump right at the back of the seat cushion. The dealer has a new one on order, 2+ weeks so far. Having the door locks on the dash is a pain as I am use to locking my doors as I exit the vehicle. Just taking an adjustment.

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  Nice car at a good deal - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Meyers - July 14 - 12:53 pm

  I bought my Trailblazer mostly for towing my toys around. It does this very well. It doesnt get much mileage as I have 2 beater cars that I drive on a daily basis. I get anywhere from 15 to 17 MPG in the city and around 21 on open highways. I have been a Ford guy through and through, but when it came to this purchase, I couldnt pass it up. For the price and features, it beat all Explorers that I looked at. Dont get me wrong, if I were buying brand new, it would be Ford all day, just on principle, but I was looking at getting the biggest bang for my buck on this purchase.

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  My HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Gerald Patry - July 13 - 10:23 pm

  Before I purchased my vehicle I did research. The gas mileage was well for what I needed, the interior and exterior was sane for me and I thought the vehicle was cute. The car maybe ugly to some people but we all have our opinions. I like the unique style it has, its different. That car will move actually, you may think that little car wont move but surprisingly it does! 0-60 in 10 seconds! Not bad for a little SUV. I recommend this vehicle to anyone with at least two children:) it truly is a good gm vehicle.

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  Hate this car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Unhappy Customer - July 13 - 5:49 pm

  I hate this car. It tends to stall and has bucking problems especially when it rains. The steering wheel ALWAYS shakes a lot around 55 mph (or anywhere between 50 and 60 mph) after using my auxiliary cord for a while the radio goes in and out as if someone were constantly inserting and removing the auxiliary cord even though the outlet is not being used. I cant forget to mention the inconvenience of manual locks and windows or the 2 recalls. Plus, it only gets an average of 23 mpg. Dont waste your money on this car!

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  Bring back the Prizm - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Julie - July 13 - 3:23 pm

  We have been more than happy with our 2002 Prizm. Still gets 32+ mpg. Even in winter here in Minnesota! We are religious about giving it oil changes every 3000 miles. It has had 2 major maintenance checks with no major fixes. We live on a long gravel road which is also hard on vehicles, but this car seems to handle it fine. We hope we can get another 100,000+ miles from it so our teen daughter can inherit it from us in 3 years.

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  Worst car I ever drove in the city - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mike - July 13 - 1:10 pm

  This car is great on the highway, is a different story in the city, every imperfection on the roadway is an adventure. Bring your cowboy hat and boots, because youll think youre in a stagecoach,

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  Electrical Nightmare-RUN-baby-RUN - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By ColoradoCyko - July 13 - 10:01 am

  GM has, for years, been having electrical issues, primarily with the instrumentation and blower controls. Our Impala has suffered such a nasty fate. First the speedometer found 6 oclock and never again moved. Then the Fuel gauge pegs out.($1500 to fix) Then blower motor becomes intermittent, then quits, then smokes. FIRE. The net is full of complaints just like ours. This all starts about 60K miles. Plenty of used for sale, no wonder, so steer clear. If youre an Electrical Engineer and have a fire fighters job, this car is for you.

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  Good car for the $$ - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chevy loyal - July 13 - 8:13 am

  We bought our Cobalt new in 2008. Got a great deal & are very happy. We had one thing wrong with the mirrors when we first got it but taken care of quick and easy. Our cobalt is a manual & we get about 34-37 mpg on the highway, 30-33 in city. (depending on who is driving). Overall a good car, just not a lot of room in the back seat.

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  This car is my baby - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Dr.Dave - July 13 - 4:11 am

  I Read the reviews on the 1995 Chevrolet Z28 and I was pleased. I wanted to add my comments. I purchased my red/black Z28 brand new in 1995 with every option available. My Z is a blast I still own it and I love it just as much as I did back in 1995. I like all the American muscle cars myself, so I think it is preference and price of what you want to own. I think you get a lot of car for what you pay and the parts are cheap compared to my Cadillac DTS. These camaros are basic and easy to work on to a point. Very fun car for any night out, or just driving around. Very cool car and a head turner. I turn heads when I drive mine to this day, my z still looks new and I keep it detailed and garaged.

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  GM competes! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ree - July 13 - 2:22 am

  Ive driven Volvos and Lexus for many years because American quality was low. When my Lexus RX400 SUV was stolen, I looked for similar features, and the Equinox came coming up, at $15k less than the new RX 450. The seat is more comfortable than the Lexus, and its more maneuverable. Luxury features are comparable, plus some. Nav system is better, personalization of car features is more extensive.