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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  Good Car - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By redcar - May 14 - 8:06 am

  I have been driving Saabs for 20 years. The Maxx is on a Saab platform. Fit and finish not as good but engine has more pep. I like the hatchback. Price is right. Seats good.

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  It serves its purpose - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Irv Goldberg - May 13 - 11:57 pm

  I started shopping for a roomy vehicle that i could afford and could afford to run. I didnt have the need for speed or a handling package since most of the work the car would be doing would be on the interstate. With the HHR I feel I hit the transportation jackpot. I regularly fit a string bass, 2 amps, several guitars, a sax or 2 and three humans inside fairly comfortably. Over the life of the car so far, I am AVERAGING 29.9 mph. Fully loaded on the hiway Ive never done worse than 33.5 mph. Splitting the gas 3 ways at todays gas prices, that works out to about 2 cents/mile. The HHR is quiet, comfortable and very reliable. Easy to drive, a great turning radius and very easy to park.

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  Black HHR-LT - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By mihhr - May 13 - 11:10 pm

  Great choice for a light utility hauler. Gets lots of notice/approval from other drivers. Its a fun little wagon. I transport boxes of training materials, projector screens, and other odd size cargo. The HHR is exactly what I need.

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  Build Quality Questionable - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DB - May 13 - 11:00 pm

  The engine is just adequate for this size of SUV, and its performance is great so far. The dashboard design is okay but did not follow any ergonomics principles. The worst things are the locations of the power window switches and the gear shift display. The audio controls are horrible and you might want to get handle mounted controls. The stereo system itself is great. Right now the back door makes a terrible loud squeaking noise, which is a built in defect, and you have to push it hard to close the back doors.

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  You can tell its a Chevy..... - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Big Patrick - May 13 - 10:31 pm

  Bought my 07 HHR new in 2007. By the time 2008 rolled around it was worth about 10K less than the sticker price on a trade. The car was much better built then my 2004 Cavalier...but that does not say much. In my 20 months of ownership I had multiple electrical issues, suspension problems and fuel mileage down to under 23mpg consistently. It looks more spacious then it really is. I would be more likely to recommend this vehicle as a used car....dont get suckered in to buying a new one because it drops in value sooooooo quick you cant get your dollars worth out of it before it will be off the road. My summary: Decent car, dont forget that you are buying a Chevy and it will cost you!

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  Nice Truck - Poor Reliability - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By envelopo - May 13 - 8:36 pm

  After returning to the dealer 7 times for issues ranging from a door rattle they did not fix, various squeaks, engine oil usage, a bad torque converter and electrical issues, I traded the truck in on a 2010 Tundra. A pity really, since the silverado is overall a nice truck with great features and really the best looks of any out there. Wish it would have worked out for me but I need my truck for work and cannot afford to be hanging around a the dealership waiting for repairs to a brand new truck.

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  2016 Colorado - 2016 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Bob - May 13 - 7:23 pm

  Have a 1100 miles so far and have been very happy. Love the way it drives and have been getting excellent gas mileage with the V6. Getting 26 mpg @ 70 mph. Very peppy with the V6, I believe it out performs my 2013 Silverado. The Infotainment system is very nice with great sound. So far the only thing that I am upset about is the lack of a CD player and auto 4 wheel drive option. I live in Michigan and enjoyed the option of auto 4wd when the roads were slick but not heavly snow covered. Has plenty of tow ability and love the 6 yo 7 mpg more I an getting over the 2013 Silverado.

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  Great car. - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Obdulio Santory - May 13 - 1:36 pm

  I find it to have good handling and very comfortable to drive. It has a good pickup when I need it. The brakes are great for quick stops.

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  Lot of car for less - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By chevyownerof4 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  Between the GM rebates, GM card earnings redemption, end of year dealer discount,and GMAC rebate, we saved over $10,000 off the window price of $23,150. Truly a lot of car for the money! The styling takes a little getting used to, but the creature comforts in this base LS model with the preferred package is just overwhelming.

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  Malibu Maxx LT - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Rudy -1 - May 13 - 10:00 am

  The Maxx has outstnding interior room yet it does not take up much room in my garage. The Maxx handles considerable better than most SUVs and has better gas mileage. Passangers in the rear seats enjoy the standard skylight and adjustable seats. The Maxx come with many features not found on cars of its price class such as rear adjustable seats, Tilt/Telescopic steeling, rear skylight, power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals and remote start. Great overall value.