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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  This was the best choice - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Marilynn - April 7 - 1:16 am

  I have owned this car since March 2006 and I am thrilled with it. It is spacious,comfortable & smooth riding. The back seat is very roomy and the seats fold down for more storage, which is great.

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  Highly Recommended - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Steve T. - April 6 - 5:17 pm

  I have owned four Corvettes prior to my 1999 (60, 63 77, 89). The 1999 Corvette is by far the best model of them all. Reliability and performance are outstanding it is comfortable and fun to drive the fit and finish (both exterior and interior) are laudiable the cost to own is reasonable and the resale value is great. Overall it is just an outstanding vehicle!

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By HawaiiC6 - April 6 - 11:42 am

  I have gone through a lot of sports cars in the recent years, MB CLK500, BMW M3 (2x), Dodge Viper, BMW 330ci, BMW 645ci and then I came across the Corvette C6 and of all things it was in a BMW showroom. I instantly fell in love with the looks and lines of the car. Once you get behind the wheel and you feel and hear that mighty V8 roar to life, you know you are in something special. The car I have has the 6 speed auto with paddle feature and it is simply great. You can work the car as a manual but without having to step on a clutch which is great in traffic. The only caution is learn to drive the car it is fast...fast...fast. This is the best bang for the buck.

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  My Impala - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By gr8impala - April 6 - 10:47 am

  Bought it with about 480 miles on it. So far it has been trouble free. Roomy, comfy and kind of sporty looking. Only had the rotors cut and got rid of the horrible tires it came with since in winter it was terrible to drive. I have snows for winter and its like a 4wd now! Interior is made a bit cheaply but sound, no rattles. It has the not so good rated 3.4 v/6 due to coolant leak problems later on with miledge but I have the 7 year extended coverage so Im good to go I hope. Powerful engine when you need it, quiet at idle but rough sounding on hard acceleration, it can be quite a zippy car! Handles good, fair amount of body lean on turns but firmer handling tires take care of some of that.

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  Fantastic All American Sportscar - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Wayne F - April 5 - 8:13 pm

  I have owned this vehicle now for a year and have had nothing but a phenomenal experience. The car is quiet, handles superb and had the power to keep things interesting always. I ways amazed at getting 26.8 mpg on a trip back from Kentucky. Great to have an all American Sportscar available that can perform with the best of them. The storage in the back is great for road trips. No regrets on purchase of my first Corvette!

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  I love this truck - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By shelsm - April 5 - 5:30 pm

  The price tag was expensive, but it was well worth it. I got the chrome edition with 22" wheels. I love it! It drives like a car, but has the benefits of a truck. I recommend it a 100 times over. The fuel management system does save me a little gas too.

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  First Car I Bought New - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Summbreeze - April 5 - 1:15 pm

  I needed room for my daughters family which has my 3 grandkids, and also wanted the DVD player to keep them quiet! Lots of room for everyone on trips. The only thing I have noticed is that the lights get brighter and dimmer sometimes. I have consistently gotten an avgerage of 21mpg which combines city and road. We live in the hills and I drive 32 miles commuting. Thats not bad for a roomy vehicle. Only thing I have done is change the oil and filters on time. I am beginning to feel a bumpiness when braking, so I think it is time for brakes though.

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  Go for it - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Brian - April 5 - 11:34 am

  3LT paddle shift NPP exhaust and NAV. If I were to buy this car today, Id leave the Nav, and automatic trans off the build sheet. The NPP exhaust is a must, a portable gps is cheaper and easier to use and the 6 speed manual is a bit more fun. the money you save can go towards a new valentine1 radar detector. The hud is something youll miss after using it for a week, so the 3lt is the only way to go. Awesome car!

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  Just the right size - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By metalbabbleDotcom - April 5 - 10:37 am

  I imagine most people come on these sites to complain about problems but not many people take the time to praise a dependable vehicle. The Colorado has been great, I drive 20k a year and its well past its warrenty period without a peep of trouble.

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  A truck car worth your attention - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Wang - April 4 - 10:03 am

  HHR is definitely a car worth your attention. It runs very smoothly and quietly, gives you great gas mileage (30 miles highway plus local in my case) and plenty cargo space. My HHR has a 2.4-liter engine for which premium gas is recommended (you can still use other grades but later on your engine may need to be serviced). Ive noticed that whenever Im driving up-hill, I really need to push the paddle to maintain the same speed. The only thing I dont like at all about this vehicle is the little compartment space. My previous car is a Geo Prizm (much like Toyotas Corolla) which is quite smaller than HHR. But Prizm has more space where I can put CDs, maps, stuff like that.