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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  Awesome New Spark! - 2016 Chevrolet Spark
  By ryan1233 - September 26 - 1:47 pm

  The new 2016 Chevy Spark is an awesome car for the money. You must test drive one if you are in the market for an affordable car. While driving, it feels like a much larger car than it actually is. I love the seating position, as well, sitting up nice and high and easy to see out. I purchased the 2016 Spark to replace a 2014 that I also liked very well, but the 2016 redesign is leaps and bounds better in quality and value. The Spark has great fit and finish on the interior and the powertrain works very seamlessly. I have the CVT transmission, and it works better than any Nissan CVT I have ever driven. It has imitated shift points to feel sportier when you drive more aggressively. Engine noise is low compared to other small cars I have driven. I am AVERAGING over 42 mpg for the life of the car, so far, and I do drive in the city regularly not just highway! I have never spent this little on a new car and been so very pleased. The 2016 Spark was an awesome purchase for my needs! I plan to keep this car for a long time.

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  Excellent Car!! I Love Mine!! - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Sherry - September 26 - 9:16 am

  This car has really suprised me. The gas mileage is excellent. I get an average of 400 miles to the tank. It cost me between $30 & $35 to fill up depending on the price of gas. The most it costed was about $45. It holds 15 gallons if that helps. The car is extremely comfortable and very sporty. Men love it!! So I highly recommend it to single women.

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  2008 Suburban is Great! - 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jim Nowlan - September 26 - 12:35 am

  Bought our 2008 Suburban on 9/18. We were evaluating the Expedition EL and the Sub. I found the Suburban to have better interior quality. The standard suspension is very smooth. The 08 has redesigned gauge faces. They look better than the 07s. Sound system (standard) sounds great. Ebony Leather seats very comfortable. V8 Power is great. Wife took a trip from LA to Phoenix. Averaged 17 MPG with mixed City/Hwy driving. An excellent value. You cannot go wrong on this one. We got the Blue Granite Metallic paint. It is very sharp. We were staying away from normal white/silver/black.

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  2007 Avalanche LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Paul - September 25 - 11:44 am

  This is my first Avalanche after buying 5 new Silverado pickups. Its a great versatile vehicle, has near luxury car like ride with great styling and comfort.

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  Import Killer - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By SMV - September 25 - 10:00 am

  My job requires me to be on the raod frequently, and this car makes that a lot more pleasant. The driving position is comfortable, and most controls (except the cruise on/off) are well laid out. The 3.8 gives plenty of "freeway merge" power, without sacrificing fuel economy. I average about 23-4 in combined city/hwy. There is plenty of room in this car, you could park a Civic in the trunk. Handling is exceptional, I feel very safe. I have had no mechanical problems, and the had ZERO defects on delivery.

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  Great Ride - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By Spoiler45 - September 25 - 10:00 am

  No import can compare to the Impala LS. Surprisingly great fuel economy. Great + Unique design. Excellent power. This is a perfect sedan for a family looking for plenty of room, a good quality car, a fun ride, and something a little different than all those homogeneous imports you see all over the place. The price aint half bad either.

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  My Tahoe! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Gina - September 25 - 1:23 am

  I love my Tahoe, especially now that we have added 22" rims and Billet Grille/Bowtie! We tinted the front windows and customized our plates, and its wicked! The only thing I regret is not getting leather. We live in the Valley in CA and black leather would be too hot, but the new fabric interior is awful! Everything sticks to it. We have tried fabric softener sheets and sprays. We constantly get it cleaned, and are still using a lint roller to clean the fuzz that sticks to it. Only complaint.

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  Great car! - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Milaur - September 24 - 11:50 pm

  I have owned my HHR for one month. I am amazed with just about every feature of this car. It rides so smooth, handles well and gets fantastic mileage (around 27-32 mpg) overall. It has great power, I got the 2.4 litre motor with automatic transmisson. My HHR is equipped with the 16" wheels, which ride fantastic. I am more concerned with ride over performance. I drive about 20,00 miles a year and cant think of a better vehicle for what I do. The overall build quality of this car amazes me. It feels so solid for such a small car. The paint quality is fantastic and the interior is very tastefully done. I would highly recommend this car to anyone.

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  Real Nice Ride - 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bob Reeves - September 24 - 9:42 pm

  Thus far it has been a great ride. Overall perforamnce and reliability has been excellent. I have not had to take it in for any issues since I purchased it in Feb. 2006. I am extremely pleased with it.

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  Great Ride - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Great Fit - September 24 - 7:46 pm

  Forget the over priced Toyota or the Edge with all that windshield glare - I am truly happy to own this Chevy Equinox. Love the tinted windows and sunroof. I actually like it better now, than the day I bought it with some reservations - Those reservations are long gone. Zero warranty work needed so far. I like a well built dependable ride.