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:

• 

  Solid and dependable - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By 4 Dr LT 4WD - July 26 - 7:40 am

  This truck is a vast improvement over the 2001 GMC Jimmy I traded in. The engine is smooth, quiet, and strong. The ride is firm and comfortable, even on long trips.

• 

  No Other Beast - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By SICKZ06 - July 25 - 4:41 pm

  Absolutely the best bang for your buck. Considering the fact its competetion are thousands away. Porsche and Dodge are still great cars, but for all it is worth the Vette Z06 is the true American Sports Car. A legend still adding rights!

• 

  Home Run! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cyper2002 - July 25 - 10:00 am

  I was hesitant about purchasing a Chevy, but I hope this car continues to impress! I have to say I really hope people start taking a look because this car blows the Corolla and Civic out of the water. Not sure about Chevy reliability, but I am impressed with the fit an finish of the car. Hopefully what seems to be great build quality will translate into great long term reliability and decent resale value.

• 

  My HHR - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By JR Brown - July 24 - 7:00 am

  I have not had a bit of trouble with this vehicle. I just get lots of attention. The only problem so far was a flat tire and it was hard to find that size in stock in Cincinnati

• 

  Little car that can - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jamie - July 23 - 2:52 pm

  After comparing many different makes and models I finally settled on the Aveo. And it has not disappointed. I use my car for both personal and business uses, so I wanted good fuel economy(dont we all!) and interior room. I can honestly say that my Aveo is a better overall car and value than the 2007 Hyundai Accent and 2006 Kia Rio that I also tested and compared. The steering and suspension is tight and responsive. The engine is only rated at 103HP (lower than both the accent and rio) but it has good torque (especially from 1st to 2nd gear) to get you up to speed. Overall the cars performance and drive is better than I expected from a car of this size.

• 

  Great Engine - Duramax - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Dave - July 22 - 2:16 pm

  Bought used from brother. 6.6L Diesel Duramax engine. Never a problem. Lots and lots of power with this engine. Maintenance easy for a DIY. Ill never go back to a gasoline powered P/U. I consistantly get 21 - 22 MPG on the highway, and 18 in town, when running with out a load. Everything solid, reliable and predictable. Would buy again in a minute. Brother chose this color. Id never get navy blue. Requires lots of washing.

• 

  Up with Uplander - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Richard Waterstram - July 22 - 7:49 am

  I was not considering an 06 Uplander in my car search but am glad I came across one. I tried it and I like it. The ride is smooth and quiet. The visabilty and handling are perfect. The mpg is about what I was getting in my Windstar LX (19 & 26) and the price is right. So far there have been no problems.

• 

  Great coupe - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By jorge gutierrez - July 21 - 9:16 pm

  I loved this car since the first time I drove off the lot. I love the aceleration, and I never had a problem with it. I just love this Chevy.

• 

  Great overall - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike - July 21 - 10:11 am

  I take it pretty easy and regularly get 55 mpg. Has decent pep and great exterior look. Roomy inside but interior could have better finishes.

• 

  Kens Trail Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By KennyJ - July 21 - 9:40 am

  Equal to or better than any of the cars, SUVs I have ever driven. Exception is the SL Mercedes ontight corners and turns. Fun to drive