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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  Satisfied Owner - 2017 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dwaine Kamnetz - August 30 - 2:13 pm

  Solid GM Product

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  Never happier - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By 1BADHHR - August 30 - 1:23 pm

  I purchased my HHR and from day one I have never been more satisfied. This car exceeds all my expectations. Comfort, mpg, handling and a real eye catcher. I couldnt have asked for a better automobile.

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  Awesome little car - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By Mom - August 29 - 10:19 pm

  My brother drove this car to work every day in all kinds of weather until he retired this year. I luckily inherited it from him with 94,000 miles on it. It still gets great mpgs. Its a little cramped for me but I can deal with that. The only problem I have is with a fuel pressure sensor and I cant find parts at the junk yards!

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  Great Surprise - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Marty - August 29 - 1:26 pm

  Traded in a small SUV. This car is a wonderful surprise. The handling, transmission and motor provide a sports sedan feel in comparison. Great gas mileage and logical technology - the WiFi is useful. Interior and exterior are tight and attractive.

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  The right decision - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By April - August 29 - 12:54 pm

  I bought my Malibu after a month and a half of searching for a vehicle after I totaled mine. I was a bit skeptical on this purchase because I know what kind of problems Malibus have had in the past. I work with cars everyday so I get to see first hand what kind of problems come thru my door. Once I saw the cars sleek design and I was able to test drive it, I was sold. This Malibu was far past my expectations of a Malibu. I love the 3.5L V6, which my dad says is too big for me and my lead foot! I purchased this car used with 80000 miles on it. I have put almost 6000 on it since I bought it and I have very few complaints. There are a few bumps here and there, but thats normal for a used car.

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  ONE GREAT CAR ! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By biarritz84 - August 29 - 10:00 am

  Traded in a 99 Seville STS on this Monte LS. Tested a new 300, looked great but seats was a killer on the back. This Monte rides and drives as smooth as my STS but lacks the HP by far but with 32 mpg and regular fuel it uses no complaints.Got this car for under 20 grand and it has all the right features not too much like the STS. The leather seats are great to.

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  OVERALL QUALITY - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By CYNTHIA SHEDD - August 29 - 10:00 am

  THE QUALITY OF THIS SUV BEATS ALL OTHERS.

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  Best I had - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mario - August 29 - 12:02 am

  Was purchased without my wife around. Fell in love at first drive. My wife hated it for its large interior front seats until she drove it for an errand. She also fell in love with the power although scared because of the front end torque. Overall strength of the body is poor with a bent door with a wind gust but it is the best overall experience I had with a car. Very good gas economy on highways.

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  Pleasant Surprise - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By overrev - August 28 - 7:25 pm

  I saw in another review a claim of 27.6 MPG. I was also pleasantly surprised in this area. We have been as high as 27.9. We came out of an HHR and it took some getting used to, but this is a damn good buy. The price was very liveable, and we have not found any defect so far. It handles well for a van of any type and the ride is very smooth. Good power. I am waiting for winter to see what effects Traction control and Stabili-trac combined will provide. Overall, I think it is a well thought out vehicle

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  Great for young families. Love it. - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jonathan - August 28 - 8:16 am

  My HHR is an LS with manual transmission. Its comfortable, fun to drive, smooth ride, and with the manual transmission the acceleration is much better than the automatic. I test drove the automatic and thought it was sluggish. My manual is not sluggish. Im surprised and impressed with the car. Its roomier than I thought it would be. I have a young family and a tight budget, the HHR is big enough for rear facing car seats and front passengers. Its a hard quality to find in affordable cars.