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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  Absolute Success - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Phil - April 21 - 9:01 pm

  Performance: 2.2L ECOtec with the 5sp. is a very quick engine for what it is. A+ on the engine. Suspension needs work, too soft in the corners but smooth ride. The rear drums on mine constantly need adjustment. Comfort: I just drove from Ohio to Wyoming and back non-stop and had no problems with comfort. Fuel: For some reason, the higher the RPMs the worse my mileage... still get 26-7 Driveability: This car is a blast for what it is. Design:Exterior looks excellent except for the lame front bumper. Interior is well constructed and looks good but cheap materials were used. Build: Definitely built well Reliability: A couple minor things needed replaced but covered by warantee NICE CAR!

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  Better than PT cruiser - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By KEVIN - April 21 - 8:05 pm

  I owned two cruisers but like the HHR even more. Tenn to NY got 35 mph when its still brand new. Love the center compartment! Love the DIC, especially the instant mileage. Didnt think I would ever want XM but it is great (has old time radio and real 50s music). I look for reasons to drive places. No problems with vision. I use the front opening for coffee holder, works great. Im glad I waited for the 2009.

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  oldie but goodie - 2000 Chevrolet Lumina
  By mick - April 21 - 7:32 pm

  been driving this car for 9 years! Was my company car that we purchased. Its been a great, reliable car, comfortable, good for travel as well as around town. Good mileage, low maintenance. Passing down to one of the kids... Safe car that still has some life in it Im sure.

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  I love it - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By TY L. - April 21 - 1:43 pm

  I love it. Drives awesome, looks even better. Theres not a lot of them around where i live so its awesome being next to the tuner guys and give em hell. The ride is very smooth. Everything is straight forward. Fuel economy is something everyone seems to have an CON for but what do you expect out of an SUV with a corvette engine in it. Id recommend anyone that needs the room of the SUV but the fun of a sports car to buy it and never look back.

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  It is my mobile office - quite comfy too - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By corneliani - April 21 - 12:56 pm

  If youre looking to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, there is no better choice. As a homebuilder I need the function/look of a truck on a jobsite, but it cleans up so well that we use this same truck to go to church, outings, evenings out, everywhere. Ive racked up 66k miles in 2.5 years and all Ive done are oil changes (whenever the light tells me to) and changed a set of tires (shouldve balanced them more often, was told). I average 4-6 hrs/day in my truck when out, and could not imagine a more comfy ride and interior. At 61" and 250lbs it fits like a glove. Fuel economy can be an issue if you have a heavy foot, as I used to, but even though I still drive aggressively I avg 16+ mpgs city.

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  My S-10 - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Rangerdog1 - April 21 - 9:23 am

  Picked this little truck at a huge Auto Sale the local dealers in our area do every year. The put all of their vehicles, new and used, up for discounted sales. Ive done this twice and have very good luck with the autos Ive purchased. This truck was one of three that caught my eye. Its a very durable truck and its been my go to work every day vehicle. Ive averaged about 21 mpg with every fill up some times more sometimes less, depending on what Im doing with it. I also had a spray on bedliner done right after I bought. Ive hauled dirt, wood, trash, recycle stuff, and furniture. I keep up the maintenance on it and it still looks like show room quality.

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  Safe and fun to drive - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By EquinoxGuy - April 21 - 8:50 am

  I took my pregnant wife (8 months)to the car show and we spent 4 hours trying out nearly every SUV and minivan made. Fortunately we both loved the Equinox with its style, safety rating, and overall flexibility. My wife could no longer fit into her Ford Escort and she absolutely loves the new Equinox. Our baby boy also seems to like it, spending long car rides sleeping in the rear seat. The cup holders are ok, and the window controls take a little getting used to (location). Overall it is a good value and a sensible car to start our family in.

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  1999 Silverado Ls 5.3 4WD - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Josh - April 21 - 8:28 am

  Bought the truck with 130,000 miles and shes 18 years old. Starts up everyday and runs perfectly. Love the power of the 5.3. Interior is excellent with power seats CD player cloth seats and a huge storage in the center council. Only complaint about the truck is the rusty rocker panels, but thats to be expected with older vehicles. Overall great truck and definetly deserved the motor trend truck of the year award it won!

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  Disappointing! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sooo Disappointed! - April 21 - 7:59 am

  I fell in love with the sleek style, beautiful on the outside..but thats as far as it goes! After having this vehicle for 2 weeks I began experiencing problems my car wouldnt start! It would turn over but wouldnt start completely then stall out. I took it to the dealership and they "couldnt figure it out" 6 visits/7 months later they still dont know whats wrong? The worst part about it-the fact that in my most recent visit the was one towed there another sitting there waiting to get fixed with that same problem as mine! Besides the starting issue, my car will not reverse,breaks/roters grind(didnt need to be replaced), car dings even when keys arent in the ignition!

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  Aveo - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By arthur cook - April 21 - 12:43 am

  Seats are very comfortable. Sound system is good. Its fun to drive. Paint job is excellent. Ours is grey and pretty. We love the design of the back of the car. Ample room to store groceries. We are very satisfied!