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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  I Love My Aveo! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Mel Miller - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I have never ownwed a brand-new, fresh-off-the-lot car before.And im 34 years old! I had to find the cheapest car possible, so when I saw the Aveo ads, I decided to check it out. I have been so pleased! The price is right, it handles great,it turns on a dime,it has a good high suspension-and high seats, and a surprisingly roomy interior "feel".The only gripe I can think of is the sound quality of the stereo-probably the speakers fault. The same C.D.s and radio stations sounded much better in my old car. But to me, the most important features are all well-represented.

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  HHR - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Joe - November 7 - 10:00 am

  Got the car a few days ago, and am enjoying the ride so far. Ratings are relative to the price and segment. For the price, we couldht have gotten a better car. My wife and I didnt want to get another HoHum sedan (at least not until we are pushing 60), and we also wanted a car that seated 4 comfortably, with a smooth ride. HHR fit the bill. Car handles better than what I read about it. Not perfect, but handles well. I am very happy with this purchase.

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  Good all around Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Anthony - November 7 - 9:30 am

  If you dont want a full size truck, this is a nice little truck. I love the way this truck looks, especially the front end. The interior could use a little improvement. Seats are comfy, but just not too much going on inside,(too much plastic). No complaints about the 2.8L engine. Its nice and smooth, and has plenty of power to get around. Exhuast note is little funny though. 5 speed is very smooth. A lot more room than my previously owned Ranger. Overall a good little truck for a good price.

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  A BARGAIN WITH A LOT OF EXTRAS. - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mikey47 - November 6 - 8:07 am

  I OPTED TO WAIT AND BOUGHT MY "LS" IN 2005 WITH ALL THE REBATES. THIS CHEVY SCREAMS ON THE ROAD(GREAT ON THE ROAD) IT SCREAMS INSIDE(SUPERIOR STEREO SYSTEM) AND IT SCREAMS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY (CORVETTE TAIL END WITH THAT SCOOP). AVERAGED 23-M.P.G. ON MY FIRST TANK, THE MINUTE I GET INSIDE OF MY LS, I CAN LOOK UP THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND THANK GOD I GOT THIS CHEVY, IT IS PHENOMENAL WITH ALL THE STANDARDS, DONT LIMIT YOURSELF, GET THE LS VERSION AND GET THE UPSCALED SUSPENSION AND EVERTHING WITH IT. POWER, PERFORMANCE, EASY TO DRIVE, GREAT TO RIDE AND CAN LAY DOWN IN MY BACK SEAT. LOT OF VALUE FOR THE MONEY AND IF CHEVY KEEPS THIS KIND OF MENTALLITY OF OFFERINGS, ILL BUY ANOTHER..

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  glad i bought american - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By backtogm - November 5 - 8:35 pm

  i waited until i had 12000 miles before i wrote this review because i was so skeptcal of buying a gm car again. But, its been over 6 months and 12000 miles, and everything has been perfect. Quiet, comfortable, solid build quality, and not one problem. the gas mi. are super for this size car- i avg. 32-33 mpg. mstly all hwy. This car is the best new car ive ever owned, even compared to foreign makes. Good job chevy- if this car continues to be reliable- ill be back for another.

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  Another Vehicle, please! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By AneetraSherrell - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Unfortunately, I wanted to trade it in for an SUV. On the contrary, I was told that the trade in value offered would cause me to add $3000 to get out of the damn car! At first, I thought I was the only person who couldnt keep my light assy clean. Much to my surprise, when I notice other Impalas going down the road, the rest of the car looks clean but that lens is always filthy! I like it for the look since I am a single female, but getting out of it is more trouble than its worth. Do me a favor Chevy, since I have owned nothing but your model vehicles for 10 years now, give me a break on the trade-in!!!!

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  2.4LT - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Matthew - November 4 - 7:06 pm

  I would say I am generally happy with the car. The gas mileage is fine (mid 20s), the power is fine (the gear ratios need to be adjusted), the options are very good (I opted for all options) and the ergonomics is good. It is very weasy to get my daughter in and out of the center rear seat, the rear volume is better than I orig thought and the styling is unique.The two things I would change would be the location of the power window controls and the number of cup holders available. The only complaint is the the roof liner glue does not hold with sunroof models and the dealer does not have a clue as to how to fix the issue. I would recommend this car to a friend or family member.

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  @004 Trailblazer - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mcarlson - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I just bought this SUV and so far I really love it. I would like to see added space to carry your purse or other items while driving, other than that I cant think of a thing I would change about this vehicle.

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  equinox review - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bernard lewis - November 3 - 10:00 am

  This is a very nice vehicle, fun to drive, and looks very good. every were i drive im asked about the vehicle. some people even think its a high end luxury import.(the attention is good) The only problem so far is the 6 disk cd changer which has started to give problems. i returned it to the dealer to check.

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  Need another one - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Miss My Chevy 2500HD - November 3 - 4:40 am

  Best truck or car I ever owned. I miss it. I traded it in on a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee...mistake! If you never owned a Chevy truck, do yourself a favor and get one. The strongest, hardest working truck/car out there.I had the HD and Im going to get another even if gas goes out of site price wise. I had Corvettes, Z-28 (1994), Mustangs, Dodge Ram (2001) and many other cars (Jeeps..etc.) and the only one I miss is the Chevy Silverado 2500HD. 12-15 miles per gal. Wish that was a little better, but my weak Jeep only gets 16 - 18 miles per gal, and the Jeep already has a transmission leak! Get a Chevy.