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 Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JaredJon - September 4 - 2:56 pm

  I love this car! Everything is standard. I added some cool effect like white face gauges, alumin wheels, xenon lights, euro tails....had a head on accident last week in bad weather...car frame did great and sustained no engine damage...did $6k to the body tho. That must mean its a safe choice.

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  40+ MPG - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By gjc866 - September 4 - 9:07 am

  Fantastic car..consistantly get 32+ in the city w/ AC on and well over 40 MPG on the highway. Drive the car reasonably, as its meant to be - its not a sports or performance car so it shouldnt be driven as such - keep the cruise on the highway at 70-75 MPG and youll be suprised. Yes the Aveo can go 90+ MPH if it needs to. No problems at all with car at 13500 - Many compliments on LT Sedan. Well worth the money. No complaints at all except the cup holders!

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  Cant beat these Tahoes! - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By anniston - September 3 - 8:37 pm

  I travel all around the Southeast for my job, so I need a big, comfortable car that I love to drive. The Tahoe fit that perfectly. I have always driven Chevrolets and Buicks, my wife always drove a Toyota. When I got this Tahoe LT in 2004, my wife was sitting in a Black Z71 the next month, so I drive a 2004 and she drives a 2005. It really turned her into a Chevy lover! Like I said I travel and have 91k miles on it, but I hate to sell it. I dont like the new ones, so Im going to buy a low mile 2006 whenever I hit 100k. No major issues with repairs except the AC compressor at 80k, but it was covered under my extended warranty.

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  Love my Monte! - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By D and M Ahart - September 3 - 8:40 am

  We have had this car 2 years now and its been a pleasure to own and drive. Only problem weve had with it is the Tire Pressure Monitors malfunctioning. Otherwise, nop problems. A very solid feel this car has. It hugs the road and handles great in all weather conditions. The 3.9L engine provides plenty of power on the highways, which is our main type of driving. The fuel economy isnt all that bad, but i didnt purchase this car with fuel economy in mind. For what we paid for it, we got much more car than we would have gotten from any Japanese import of the same price. I love my Monte, and its sad to see the MC nameplate disappear, probably for good, unfortunately.

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  Overall satisfied - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Bob Gaul - September 3 - 6:48 am

  The only problem I have is with the A/C. The vents cannot be aimed at the driver. This is a major design fault which is still a problem in the 06 & 07 models. The dealer claims they cannot be fixed.

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  So far so good - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Andy - September 3 - 3:00 am

  14k on it so far and runs great, Wife puts 130 miles a day on it going back and forth to work. Has not had a single issue. It handled very well through the Wisconsin winter. You had to work hard to make the tires slip, the traction and stability control really worked. Gas mileage average is about 27 so far. Very comfortable and roomy, I can take the wife and kids on a long trip in peace and quit. They all fall asleep!

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  Worth Every Penny - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By davisnet - September 3 - 2:40 am

  This truck is truly an awesome and versatile truck. A little soft in the suspension but that can be changed easily. Comfortable to ride in front seats or rear Easily fits 5 tall adults. Beefy and stout when compared to most other full-size trucks on the road. Easy to drive for my wife but yet still enough power for my lead foot.

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  I will never sell my Camaro SS - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By hcjmoose - September 2 - 10:00 pm

  This car is a beast. I swear I have never gotten tired in 7 years driving this car. Pure power car with great handling. I get nothing but compliments on my car. I you are looking for a sporty powerful ride get a 97 SS! Even the factory options are great. Only thing I added was new Flowmaster to make it sound a little meaner and a performance chip to give it a little kick.

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  One Cool Machine - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Harold - September 2 - 9:07 pm

  I reviewed online information for a month or more noting what others liked and disliked. So far, there have been no surprises. I have the 2LT package with many extras. The vehicle was purchased for my 30 mile one way commute over rolling terrain back roads. I average about 27-28 mpg on the daily commute. The ride is very good for a small vehicle.

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  Happy, Happy Ride! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By HAPPY RIDE IN MS - September 2 - 10:13 am

  I feel like I have a new toy! I love my little HHR. It is the perfect run- around-town car. It has enough get up and go for this grandma and good gas mileage too...about 26 mpg. It has good all around visibilty and handles well in town as well as in the country. I like the way it hugs the road at 55 mph. It seems so solid. I don[t think of it as a "truck", more like a big car drive in a small package. Its very easy to get in and get out of too.