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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  After almost a year, still love my Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Brian - August 8 - 4:40 pm

  Ive had my Tahoe for almost a year now (14,000 miles), and I still love it. No problems whatsoever except for a minor squeak that the dealer found and fixed right away. Overall average MPG since first oil change is 16.3, and I regularly get 20-21 mpg on freeway-only trips. Not too shabby for something this big and powerful. Love the styling, and love the interior fit and finish.

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  Great mpg on XFE version - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By cobalt_xfe - August 8 - 12:19 pm

  I bought this car as a replacement to a 1993 Audi. I drive a lot and needed good fuel economy. I have almost 5000 miles on the car and my calculated mpg is 37.4. The headrests are uncomfortable from the factory (they tip my head forward), but they are easily reversed and quite comfortable when reversed. It is a little tight with 2 teenage boys in the back, but they can make it work. It handles well. It has good acceleration and cornering. I was a little afraid of the low rolling resistance tires, but they seem to perform well. The stereo is adequate, but lacks fidelity in the bass. I suggest the XFE version over the standard. Its performance seems about the same. Minor lines mismatch on hood

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  Excellent SUV, sincere review - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By joetibu - August 8 - 5:57 am

  I had this SUV since new. No mayor problems and has now more than 100k. Basic maintenance. Overall is very comfty, hauls lots of stuff and feels very secure. Good MPG for the size and weight.

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  Best SUV driven yet and best stylish - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Nick - August 7 - 3:56 pm

  Having driven the Ford Explorer and Dodge Durango, the Trailblazer was the most powerful and had the most room out of the 3. The truck handles great in the snow with its extra wide tires. Cant wait to by my next Trailblazer when Chevy makes a newly redesign SUV in 2007

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  2005 Chev Crew Cab Short Box 4X4 Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By LJP - August 6 - 9:20 pm

  This truck is one of the best designed Chevy trucks I have owned. Everyone I take for a ride likes the 4 doors and roominess. The comfort is better then most cars I have driven. The match of crew cab and short (58" bed) is a perfect blend for my use. The 5.3L coupled with the limited slip 3.42 axle is good on mileage and acceleration. The fuel tank is large enough to get me where I need to go with minimal stops at the outrageously priced gas pumps. All in all, this truck was a hit even with some complaints that I had / have.

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  Review - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Larry - August 6 - 8:07 pm

  Love my new Tahoe! Just came from an Armada and do miss some of the extra storage but Im loving the ride, super comfort. Mileage is awesome. If you practice hypermiling you can get 17mph around town. Its amazing how far this will coast. I didnt realize that new vehicles are designed to disengage the tranny when you let your foot off the gas. Great way to improve economy.Just went to Maine and got 20.4 hwy at 75mph and 21 when I cut it back to 62- 65mph.

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  Loved my Sub! - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SUBMOM - August 6 - 1:18 pm

  This was a great ride. It was diesel and we got 24 HWY, 20 city. We did get rid of it after it got well over 2000,000 miles. The underneath was needing a lot of new parts replaced. Now after buying a gas 1999 Sub, I wish we would have fixed our old one. Besides great gas mileage, and power, it looked great. We did have to replace the brakes, and we had fuel and air problems at first, but once we figured them out, it was a great experience. There is more room in a 3/4 ton than in a 1/2 ton. The 94 is built much better also.

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  Still great - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By darren - August 5 - 10:49 pm

  Great power, ride, fuel economy better than expected, all the safety features, the quality is awsome! Better than any Toyota Ive ever owned. Will buy my wife an 09

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  Only Car I could honestly stand by - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tgvas - August 5 - 5:00 pm

  I bought this from my dad in 98. Had 45,000 on it, was mint, he changed the oil every 5,000. Ive owned every car & truck I can imagine, none, absolutely no other vehicle has been comparable in any way. Usual service, battery, Alt, Starter once, now I need crank bearings, slight oil usage and some smoke, my mechanic says it should be fine after the installation. I have 165,000 on it now, and will never let this car go. It sits alongside my Audi allroad proudly, this is when GM really built them to last forever, give a great ride, comfort, saftey and a great look, it still shines in every way. Problems I have had.. Driver side window stops when hot Ah, thats it!

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  A lot of bang for the buck! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Matt - August 5 - 2:50 pm

  I bought my 2007 HHR sight unseen, just because I loved the exterior styling so much. I hadnt even driven one until I took it off the dealers lot. I knew from the first moment after that point that this was going to be an automobile that I would love, and I do. The smooth and quiet ride, I would dare say, is compariable to more expensive luxury vehicles, and the attention to detail in the manufacturing shows. Fuel economy is excellant, averaging 34 MPG, I can now go as long as two weeks between fueling, and I travel a good distance to my job.