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, could be better though. - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jay in SW Illinois - September 24 - 4:41 pm

  Its a great car for the money. (After all, you wouldnt buy a car like this unless low cost was important to you!) Its very stylish inside and out and seems well made so far (1200 miles). Engine is fuel efficient but I am surprised it isnt more so. Chevrolet and the Korean manufactures of the Aveo could make some simple improvements to make it a great car...variable speed intermittent wipers, actual electronic door lock buttons, more storage, better cup holder location in the front seat, etc. Overall, it is a good car for those on a tight budget.

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  Chevrolet Cobal - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ? - September 24 - 4:16 pm

  Difficult to read the speedometer in the daytime. Would rather forego tach and have speedometer in center. Hard to enter and exit due to slope of windshield. Once inside, the car drives great. Good acceleration and good steering - cornering.

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  We bought the "Ad car" - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By mark - September 24 - 11:47 am

  We bought the bare-bones "loss leader" car that the dealers advertise as "2008 Aveos for $7995!" The price was great, given that we are willing to do without A/C in an around-town car, and prefer the manual 5 speed. The promotional price was way better then the Edmunds invoice or TMV price, even after the dealers add-on $275 "title fees." We also had to fight to not pay for other dealer add- ons. As expected, this car feels quite underpowered and is noisy, but overall we got more than we expected. The gas mileage is really not as great as everyone says, and is less than the old Escort we traded in. I dont know why it is low, but we can buy a lot of gas with the savings compared to a Yaris.

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  Its OK for the price - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Wont do this again - September 23 - 8:26 pm

  The down side is the interior noise level. If I dont play the radio it sounds like Im in a wind tunnel. The door seals are also a bit cheap. I have to wipe inside the door frame after I have the car washed or a heavy rain. Some time you have to slam the door to get it to catch. And, the interior floor is thin. The heal of my shoe has gone through the floor. Also, redesign the headlight assembly. You have to take most of the front end off to change the headlight bulb.But the most shocking is the resale value. I owe $4000 more than what the car is currenty worth.

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  So far so good . . . - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Ed - September 22 - 9:33 pm

  I set out to buy the best available AWD small SUV. I really didnt care where it was built or who made it. I compared Honda CRV, Toyota Rav4 and the new Chevy Equinox. I purchased the Equinox and have no regrets. The Equinox is larger, nicer looking and rated higher in the mileage department. So far I am averaging 25.4 mpg during a typical 40 mile (one way) daily commute on a mix of secondary roads and state highways. With only 1400 miles on the Equinox, I expect the mileage to improve a bit more.

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  Lots and lots of miles - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By dlilly - September 22 - 12:14 pm

  I bought this car with about 54,000 miles on it. It went 20,000 miles before its first oil change (was in college and couldnt afford it) and it is still going strong. I used it as a delivery vehicle, so lots of starts and stops. My brother owns the car now, it has over 201,000 miles on it and still runs great.

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  Great Little Car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By WillnLBK - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my Aveo for just about a month now and I have been nothing but impressed with the car. I have driven the car in the flat lands of West Texas and the mountains of New Mexico and its performed very well. The engine has pleanty of pep and the interior is very spacious. Im a big ole boy and Im more than comfortable in the car.

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  Nice Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By jrydel - September 22 - 10:00 am

  Nice car. Ride is a little harsh. Good handling and great gas mileage. Fun to drive, but is not all it should be. See suggested improvements. A little pricey for the SS compared to other makes such as Nissan Maxima, etc.

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  BlackJack21 - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Blackjack21 - September 22 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy the comfort of the vehicle. The only downfall I see is it lacks passing power, it takes a while to kick down and accelerate.

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  Great truck, bad MPG - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Matt - September 20 - 10:20 pm

  2008 LT1 LT 1500 Z71 XCAB long bed. This is a replacement for the same truck but a 2002. I love this truck, plenty of power, very comfortable, nice options. I call it the contractors Cadillac, the ride is awesome for a long bed extended cab truck. So far just a few small gliches at 2800 miles. Fit and finish is very nice.