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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  Disappointed - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Susan - July 2 - 1:23 pm

  I purchased this vechicle after researching it for months. I am disappointed in the interior features. The gas mileage is nowhere close to what the mpg on the stickers says. Bad gas mileage. It is noisy on rough surface roads. The interior materials are cheap even in the LT. I have owned Chevrolet cars, vans, pickups and SUVs. I must say I am very disappointed with the Equinox. Not much bang for your buck.

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  Best truck ever built. Nobody else can compare. - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By you know me - July 2 - 12:33 pm

  This has got to be the best truck ever built. Nobody can compare to this thing. Its like if God created a truck and wanted to drive it himself, this would be it. The ride, the offroad ability, everything about this truck is truely amazing.

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  Satisfied - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Kim - July 2 - 10:50 am

  I have had my used HHR which by the way I just found out means: Heritage High Roof for 13 months. It does have a high roof but you cant see out the windshield very good at a red light. All in all I really like the car, (I hope I am not jinxing myself) the other members of my family always want to drive my car instead of their own. My mother can get in and out of it with no problem (which is a problem in other cars). I have always owned a van and at first I thought WOW how small, but I just went on a camping trip and was able to get everything in comfortably. I wish it had roof racks though. I have recommended this car to friends and family because of the price and reliability so far.

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  Bunch of Small Problems - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lmonty - July 1 - 8:58 pm

  I got this car 2 years ago from a Rental place, and it had 44,000 miles on it. It now has 63,000 miles on it, and things have been acting up. The passenger front and back windows dont work with the drivers side control, the heat/AC doesnt come on until the 4th and 5th setting, the hazard lights/blinkers dont work at least once a day, and Ive replaced the brakes twice. The ABS gives me a lot of trouble in the winter, it pulses and the brakes disengage--- very dangerous! Lastly, the coolant seems to be used up EXTREMELY quickly-- not sure what the problem is there.

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  80,000 miles, no problems - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Gene - July 1 - 8:13 pm

  Hello, Im reading through all the previous posts and amazed of all the problems that people are having. As of July 1, 2009 I have 80,000 miles on mine. It will be four years old in October. I will admit the original tires were junk, I replaced them at around 20,000 and now have Toyos. The new tires are wearing awesome, I can probably get around 75,000 miles on them. Other then that, oil change every 5k, rotate tires every 10k. My goal was to get 100,000 miles on it (five years). Gas mileage, I travel 85 miles per day and I have been getting 34-37 MPG

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  So So - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Eric - July 1 - 6:46 pm

  When I purchased the car it had a whine from the power steering pump, but was corrected by replacing the hose with a larger diameter one. Had replaced the alternater 3 times with a battery each time. Fuel economy is about 19 mpg average. Car rides like a dream and power is great. Anti-lock brakes and AC does not work and too costly to repair.

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  For a big family, theres no other ride! - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Ricky - July 1 - 4:07 pm

  We have a large family (7) already when we purchased this Suburban. Then, we became foster parents and we grew to 9! Ours has the optional bench seat in the front, which is a rarity we found out, but we all love it. For the large family, theres no other way to go. We can even go on weeks vacation with most of the luggage in the back!

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  Caution, I wouldnt buy another one - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By T. Bronk - July 1 - 3:07 pm

  I bought this car brand new in late 2004. I had it for about three months, when the steering gears needed replacement. About a year and 1/2 later, I had the same issue. Again, replaced the steering gears and guess what is wrong again. Not to mention I have already had the heater unit replaced and now the AC unit doesnt work. For the money, you get a good deal, but for the value, I dont think so. Its funny, I bought a Mazda & Chevy from this dealer, and when I asked them which 1 they thought I have brought into the shop the most, they said the Mazda. WRONG 7 years NO ISSUES. Chevy Malibu on the other hand... Going to head out and trade in this junk car, Now I know why they are going belly up

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  I have you all Beat!!!!!! - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Brian - July 1 - 9:03 am

  From what I have read many people are having issues with their sliding doors and gas gauge. I too thing the gas gauge is useless. This morning as my wife put 1 of my 3 kids into the car and went to close the drivers side sliding door IT COMPLETELY FELL OFF AND HIT MY SON IN THE SIDE OF THE HEAD.

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  Im Keeping Mine - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bret - July 1 - 8:36 am

  I got a deal on mine because it was the last 2007 on the lot. It is fully loaded and its really a luxury truck. The LTZ model has a great interior. I have to park outside and let me tell you having remote start with heated seats is da bomb during winter. I wont own another vehicle that doesnt have it. I got the standard bed size and have moved twice with it. Very roomy even though I put a half-height truck box in the front. The Bose stero is kickin, and I had an aftermarket iPod adapter wired in that is a must have for audiophiles. The truck rides great, you sit really high up, and most important of all, you feel real safe out there on a street full of idiots.