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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  Beautiful - 2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By kirch - June 16 - 8:30 am

  The greatest thing about this car is blowing by cars that are modded to race. Most dont stand a chance with the hp and torque on this thing. Only one problem with it is that if you drive in salt a lot your rotors rust easily mine after 27k miles but dealer handles that as long as you dont void your warranty. Up to 34 mpg going 60 mph. Headturner no matter where you are. Not to mention the stock 18s look sweet

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  A Big Disappointment - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Diane - June 16 - 6:48 am

  Traded our Venture due to high mileage. During warranty period,power door motors had to be replaced twice, along with stabilizer bar, and horn. Power doors and back lift gate never close properly and road noise was terrible. DVD sometimes didnt work. Rotors replaced at 20,000 miles. After warranty expired, trouble continued. ABS light came on - $500 for a sensor and then needed another $1500 for wiring? Braking always scary -grinding and shaking when stopping. Power rear vents would occasionally not close, and power doors would open by themselves. If it would work right the van was nice. Trading for a Toyota.

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  Perfect 1st TEEN car - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By justin - June 16 - 3:05 am

  Produces a decent amount of power from the 4.3L v6. It pumps out about 190hp, perfect for a teenage driver. Plus with the 4X4, it makes a pretty good off-road SUV. Pretty bad gas mileage The 4 doors are very convenient. And the big v6 gives it plenty of passing power. The cheap material for the interior rattles sometimes when you go on bumpy surfaces. And because its a Chevy, its gonna be in the shop alot if you drive it hard. I woulnt pay more than $6000 for a used Blazer. Its a good teen SUV, but thats about it.

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  Recommended Buy, But Research First - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Good Truck So Far - June 16 - 2:00 am

  I love this truck so far, and have attempted to give a fair review. I love the styling, Cadillac-like LTZ interior. The truck rides great, and on the highway, I regularly get over 21mpg, and average almost 17mpg overall. I love the look of the truck, and have consistently received compliments. I went for the 20" wheels too, and would recommend that option to anyone who would not regularly take the truck offroad, as it really fills up the wells, which is a complaint I have seen several times. I am worried about a recent dead battery. I went to start the truck in the morning (sat for 10 hours) and it was dead. There wasnt not even a click, gauge movement, or dim lights.

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  MY NOX!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mark - June 15 - 11:33 pm

  The new 2006 Equinox is great! rides very well, great sound system, large interior, enough rear seat leg room. its better than any other SUV in its class.

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  Matches or Exceeds Expectations - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Otto Piechowski - June 15 - 10:44 pm

  Recently, I drove my Malibu 2500 miles from Kentucky to South Dakota and back. The overall fuel economy was just under 31 miles per gallon in spite of a couple hundred miles of country road driving at slow speeds, highway driving at 75 miles per hour (at times with the air conditioning on), and with one full tank of 10% ethanol. // Acceleration was both quick and sufficient when required. Handling was crisp and pleasant. When a quick turn or maneuver was required, the Malibu was responsive and gave me a sense of substantial control of the car. // Good dampening of outside sounds and a very good speaker sound quality. (However, the bass on a rear speaker failed in the first few months)

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  Road trip to California - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By John in AZ - June 15 - 9:53 pm

  We purchased our 2009 HHR SS in March in anticipation of a vacation trip to Californias wine country in June. We just got back to Arizona. What a blast in the HHR! The car easily achieved 400 miles or more per tankful of gas. Cruising out to LA and coming back on I- 10, the car averaged 29.5 MPG doing 80 MPH. Driving up the coast through Big Sur, the car handled great on the curves and up the hills. When we needed to pass slower cars on the single lane roads it was great to downshift into 4th, punch the accelerator, feel the turbo kick in, and pass the slower car like it was standing still. After spending 8 days and 2100 miles in the car, we are ready to go again!

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  Hamronic Vibration Truck - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Frank - June 15 - 7:53 pm

  This is my 5th Chevrolet Truck since 1991, and it has given more trouble than the previous four put together. The dealer has not been able to fix any of the three major problems and Chevrolet will not take the vehicle back. The truck constantly vibrates at highway speeds, and the harmonic vibration greatly exaggerates minor bumps in the road. New tires have not made one bit of difference. Chevrolet is well aware of the problem, (calls it "BEAMING"). The truck has developed a whine in the differential, which the dealer cannot correct,(tells me it is normal) and the brakes shudder, which the dealer has tried to fix on two occasions without success. This will be my last GM vehicle ever.

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  Traverse a dream - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By JOEKATE - June 15 - 5:55 pm

  I own a Mercedes S 550 and am sorry I did not buy the Traverse first. The Mercedes would still be in Germany after all the issues. The Traverse is a dream and the storage space is unbelievable. Chevy finally gets it.

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  Better Than What The Reviewers Say - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JCP - June 15 - 5:29 pm

  In Sept. 2007, I traded in a Ford Taurus SES for a 3LT Trailblazer with the 5.3L V8. I drove the SS, and even though the acceleration and handling were impressive, the fuel consumption made me rethink. I then drove a 4.2L I6, but just after driving the SS, it seemed lacking. As the 5.3L gets the same mileage as the 4.2, I went on the look for one. Not a lot more power than the 4.2, but a lot more torque makes for effortless acceleration and quiet cruising. A highway trip today yielded 24.6 mpg with the cruise control set 4 mph over the limit. rides smooth, seats are comfy, and you can beat Lexus LX 470s and GX 470s all day long, as there are no external V8 identification badges.