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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  Who needs a V8? - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By VF1Skullangel - July 27 - 7:19 pm

  Since buying the V6 3800 Camaro I must say my personal opinion has changed about six cylinder secondary models. This car delivers! Its got great styling, outstanding performance, and fair quality. This car is simply an amazing machine and for the price you cant beat that. If you are in the market for an affordable sportscar without paying the price give a 3800 Camaro a chance youll be suprized with what they can do.

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  I wanted a safe, dependable car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Sad Dad - July 27 - 2:17 pm

  I wanted a safe dependable car to send my daughter off to college. She liked the sporty look, and we shopped until we found one with the bells and whistles. The car has 37,000 miles on it, so the bumper to bumper has expired (barely-- 36,000). While she was driving from Nashville, the power steering just quit working. Im glad she wasnt in a turn! Dealership and GM are not very sympathetic, but when I googled "Cobalt power steering," I found that this problem is widespread. I hope that anyone considering the Cobalt will use google and research this power steering failure.

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  2007 SS - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Katie - July 27 - 11:22 am

  I love my Cobalt, but I am worried about its reliability. My visor broke after I had the car about a year. I have not even had the car 2 years and the top part of my shifter knob just broke off along with the plugs for the chargers no longer working. Also, the emergency break went out. Great that its still under warranty, but what am I going to do after that?

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  Reliable not comfortable... - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Lissa - July 27 - 10:49 am

  Love that the transmission and engine seem rock solid. Hate the noise and all the electrical issues. The low profile tires make for a noisy ride when combined with the lack of passenger cabin insulation. The paint job is not durable. Like the body moldings which gave the old classic a newer sporty look. Hate that pricey as it was to get the sport upgrade, it didnt come with power windows. Watch for lower blower motor issues, dash electronics issues and AC problems. The drivers side seat blew a spring in the first year. The gas tank reservoir will crack on these bad boys too. All pretty spendy repairs.

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  Nice rental car - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By NYCarDriver - July 27 - 10:11 am

  I rented this car when it was almost brand new, only had 300 miles on it. I drove it for about 500 miles. I wasnt very impressed by it. The gas pedal was extremely hard to push. The side mirrors are triangular in shape with less surface area than the oval ones I am used to. The interior is made of cheap plastic and the wood trim just emphasizes the cars cheapness. But overall, the car drove pretty well. I got about 30 mpg on highway driving. The steering was very responsive and the brakes stopped on the dime. Not a bad car, but it needs to improve in the areas I mentioned above.

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  Lovin it! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jim Sanchez - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I didnt like the HHR when it hit the road. I went with a friend to help him buy a car and test drove the HHR. 2 hours later I was driving out with it. He bought also. Great car! I bought the LT with the 2.4 engine.

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  Best car Ive owned - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kade Joslin - July 27 - 9:55 am

  The car is great! Plenty of room for me and the few passengers I drive around with on the weekends. I am 62" and fit in the drivers seat perfectly wit the seat adjusted of course. The rear seat has little to no leg room if myself and another tall person are sitting in the front seats. The gas mileage is great for commuting to work and school, filling the tank is super cheap compared to my 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 I had before. The 5speed manual equipped in the car shifts nice and can handle the power-shifting I do when I feel driving fast. The engine/exhaust has a nice tone also. I put a K&N Short Ram Intake system on it to spice up the performance, gas mileage and sound. It is the best running vehicle Ive had and it did awesome during the winter. If youre a parent looking for a car for your child, this is the car to get. Its cheap to buy, its reliable, sporty and gets great gas mileage.

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  Towable - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By rbowen - July 27 - 4:13 am

  Its towable and moderate weight for towing. The towbar fits nicely with no body modification, just fasten the bolts onto the frame. With the seats down, it can convert to a cargo carrier. Dont have very many miles, as yet, but what I have, Im impressed!

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  Very disapointed - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Danny - July 26 - 9:19 pm

  I have had a lot of trouble with my truck. Engine noise when starting, bad brakes and air noise in the cab.None of these have been repaired nor I dont suppose they will be as the dealers say. The engine noise is metal tolerance. Ive looked all over the window sticker and it doesnt say anything about an engine knock that you have to live with.The last dealer I took it to fixed it for me. It doesnt knock now because the engine is full of oil additive. The rear lug nuts are worn out because the dealer blowing brake dust out to repair a brake petal situation. The doors are adjusted so tight they pop when you open them. Now thats service. Product is probably good. Service lousy.

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  Great Choice in Trucks - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Truck Owner - July 26 - 9:03 pm

  I wanted a full size truck in 2WD that was good on gas and served me well everyday. This has been it. With over 120,000 miles it has given me zero trouble. Passengers comment frequently on its roomy and comfortable interior - even in the back seat; probably the best bench in the industry. With an average of 18mpg, its no eco-car, but compared to its 4WD bretheren, its awesome. That goes for 4WD mid-size trucks too (at 16mpg). Good looks, solid build, dependable - what more do you want?