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:

• 

  Probably the best! - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By B-dub - August 10 - 11:27 am

  I purchased my Z06 with 9,000 miles on the odometer. Best car Ive owned. Great mpg for a car with base 405 hp. Best recorded 31.6 mpg. Some say noisy interior but with a trunk partition 80% of roadnoise gone. Hey, its a sports car! Best bang for the buck car around. Great looks! Very quick, responsive.

• 

  Impala 3.9 LT is a great car! - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By jc0860 - August 10 - 10:33 am

  I love this car. It is comfortable, elegant interior, and the performance is excellent. My last three cars were Acura TLs (02 Type S, 04 and 05). I loved them but have had my eye on an Impala for awhile and decided to give it a try. I think this car compares equally well in just about every category. I miss the bluetooth of the TL, but the ride is much more comfortable. Not quite as sporty as the TL, but still fun to drive and the 3.9 engine performance is outstanding. MPG has be great. Average over 30 on the hwy and low 20s in town. Excellent for the size of the car. The car is an absolute pleasure and has restored my faith in GM.

• 

  Impala Great Buy - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Kevin - August 10 - 10:24 am

  I believe the Impala is the best buy in its class for the buck. This vehicle has great performance and fuel mileage. I average 20-21mpg in town with the 3.9 engine. I do not do a lot of highway driving, but a friend of mine has a 2008 Impala and he says he gets anywhere from 31-34 mpg on the highway with non ethanol gas. So far I have had no problems with this car. I believe the styling is great and have read there is one more year of this style before a body change.If you are looking for a full size car I blieve you cannot go wrong with the Chevrolet Impala.

• 

  A Really Great Little Car - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By cc732 - August 9 - 8:08 pm

  It was hard to replace my little 99 2dr. Cavalier, but I was lovestruck when I saw the HHR. My local dealer gave me a great trade-in and found a car with the options I wanted. I had an issue with an interior water leak, but it was fixed to my satisfaction. A later pulsating brake issue was resolved quickly with little interruption to my busy schedule. I love the way it handles and interior space is great. The fuel economy is good with the base 2.2L auto. The seats are comfortable and adjust well. I currently lease and hope to buy it at the end. After 30,000 miles, it has been a very practical, reliable and affordable vehicle.

• 

  2005 Impala cop car - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Chris - August 9 - 3:52 pm

  Its a pretty good car for being a rebuilt title and a cop car. It only has 20,000 miles and I bought it for 9,000 dollars. It handles great around corners. And it has good pick up. Also its cool when some one thinks you are a cop and they slow down and you just fly by.

• 

  Take it from a pro! - 2015 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Bill W. - August 9 - 1:32 pm

  I own an auto service/repair facility and have been in the industry for over 20 years. When the Camaros concept was shown over 10 years ago, I said that if the production Camaro stays true to the concept, this will become one of the hottest selling sports cars on the road. The V6 is more than enough power, but in hot, humid areas like Georgia, it doesnt reach its full potential. Not to worry: when the oxygen rich cool weather comes, the engine will come to life...be aware! The chassis is very heavy which does hurt the power, but the trade for safety is worth it. Ive read complaints about traction, and I dont get it. Sure, this thing isnt designed for ice skating, but the GM Traction Control system has been perfected and is reliable. Compared to its predecessor models from the 80s and 90s, the traction on this car is excellent. GM didnt go cheap on the brakes on any models. Four-wheel disc brakes with very good response makes even the base models awesome. They didnt go cheap on the base models exhaust design either. It has true dual exhaust complete with individyal catalytic converters on each bank. Thetransmission is huge with a bell housing nearly as big as the Tahoe. They worked the bugs out of the new design that came with the 2010s. Chevy needs to stop with the body changes; the design is awesome - no need for modifications. If you buy the LS as I did, installing afyermarket fog lamps are easy. I installed mine in about an hour. Yes, there is a blind spot! The 3.6L is very solidly built. USE FULL SYNTHETIC! A high torque V6 like this has high oil consumption. I have the base model entertainment system which is ample since I have XM Radio. Heres the best part of owning the model with the 3.6L: beyond the excellent fuel mileage, the Camaro holds its resale value very, very well. So, if you are like me and plan to move up to the V8 on the next one, as long as you take care of the V6 model, your trade-in value will be excellent!

• 

  Demon ride...with accoutrements - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JK - August 9 - 1:07 pm

  When I first stepped into the car I thought it was roomy - Im 66". The seats were very fitting and finally a head rest that met the back of my head. The SS has everything you want - power across the board, not the seats though. Side airbags and a great steering wheel. I wish I had a manual telescoping option, but its 20K so go figure. If I wanted wood on the dash and in the car, I should be in the backseat ala S500-EL or a Cadillac Deville-EL. I would recommend getting a two tone interior red/black for victory red, gray/black for the sport tint - very nice combos

• 

  2007 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab 6.0 LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Steve - August 9 - 11:30 am

  Bit the bullet and bought a black one! Added MAX Trailer- 367HP-375Torque-TOW 10,500lb, EZ Tailgate, Sunroof, Safety Pack, OWL 17" Tires, Elect Slider,XM Radio. A very nice truck. I am unsure about the active fuel management as its slighty noticeable when it shifts between 4 and 8 cyl. I would prefer not to have it, but I guess it helps fuel mileage.

• 

  Fun to own - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Beachbum - August 8 - 8:36 pm

  Great car for the money. Designers at GM finally understand what the GenXers want in a car, and for the most part have delivered. My only tiny gripe is rear visibility, as the trunk lid is higher than what Im used to.

• 

  What a Great Car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Evan - August 8 - 5:26 pm

  This was my first brand new car, but Ive driven a lot of cars over the years. This car is a blast to drive. Great, strong engine should give years of dependable service. Comfortable front seats, back seats may be a bit small, but 98% of the time, Im the only one in the car. This car gets decent mileage for being a S/C 4-cyl. With my aggressive style, Im getting mid-20s.