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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  New Malibu is excellent. - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By zipster - February 7 - 9:10 pm

  I said I would never buy another GM product. After being a lifelong GM customer I had a bad experience with my last purchase. I shopped all the foreign makes, Honda, Toyota, and even looked at some Fords but when it came right down to it, the design improvements and quality fit and finish of the new Chevy Malibu won me over. This car is awesome! It handles and corners wonderfully. It has quick acceleration and the 4 wheel disc brakes respond quickly. My only complaint so far is the rear window wiper that is inoperative but should be repaired on the first dealership visit. I recommend that everyone check out Chevy, because they are designing and building quality cars again.

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  I just want to drive it! - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By txyank1 - February 7 - 9:06 pm

  After several GM pickups I hadnt driven more than a block and I was hooked on the Avalanche. I had joined an Avalanche fan club and been reading about them for 5 months. This is my 3rd Av (had for almost 3 yrs now) and Ive loved every one. Each was a little better-equipped, this one being a Z66 with Sun/Sound. Liked the 3.73 gears in the 03 for get-up but love the 3.42s for highway mpg. 21+ consistently on trips. If GM only made a pickup that rode like this.

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  Like a rock - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By Greg - February 7 - 8:12 pm

  I have owned this truck for about a year now. I love almost everything about it. The 4.3L has plenty of power compared to my earlier 87 s-10 with the 2.8L. This truck has almost 400k and does not owe me a thing. The one thing I would change is more durable cloth on seats especially on driver side. Recommend the S-10 to anyone so far best built compared to ford and dodge.

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  Not too bad.. - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By JasonWiggins - February 7 - 6:40 pm

  Nice vehicle, very large, the folding seats arent as difficult as these other geniuses makeem out to be, lots of room for hauling...everything, wish the 3rd row seat would fold flat. seatbelts require extra effort to put on (installed in seat). Excellent for a family vehicle. Ran very well up to two major accidents (bent frame rail and rolled on side...thanks honey :) However, safety wise, she and the kids were well protected, nothing but bumps and bruises. Related to the accidents or not, the tach went on the fritz as well as the speedo, rear heater core went bad <-- kinda early for 50k. Gas mileage isnt as bad as previous posts claim, large SUV w/4.2L 6 cylinder 250+horsepower

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  Stinks in Deep Snow or Ice - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Lizabeth - February 7 - 5:32 pm

  Bought this car for cargo space & good mileage. Didnt realize it was terrible in snow & ice. Last winter, got stuck at least 15 times. Was in for brakes/ABS & traction control four times before 20,000 miles. This winter, bought a 12-year-old AWD Ford Aerostar to use. Mileage in summer is great on highway driving. But the terrible winter performance forced me to get another vehicle, so its not worth it. Will dump it as soon as I can, but am upside-down on loan because it dropped so much in value in 1 year. May buy foreign next time, because the Big 3 havent made anything with good cargo space, good mileage (24+mpg), & AWD. Maybe Subaru, Kia, or Mazda. Very disappointed with GM!

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  two ton paperweight - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Leah - February 7 - 1:17 pm

  i previously had a 97 grand am and i think that ran better than the cobalt sometimes, considering it had over 180,000 miles on it. i just dont get how you all get like 45 miles a gallon geeez thats unreal well i only get 21.1 right now. its around 25 in the summertime. well the only problems ive brought to a shop were the alignment and tire balance. the tires that come with it are no good and had constnat slow leaks. it also has a problem with the radio oncce in a while it works when it wants to. i dont like how it didnt come with floormats either. anyways ive got in 3 accidents since getting this car and it still runs decently.

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  Best Car Ive Ever Owned - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By GEO Fan - February 7 - 12:58 pm

  This car is the most versatile, fun vehicle Ive ever owned. It gets 29 mpg w plenty of power from the 2.0 engine. 4WD goes through any mountain snow storm. I take it up steep mountain dirt trails in a foot of snow. I go off-roading in the summer in rural Appalachia driving though streams, ATV trails & deep mud. I use it as a commuter economy car during the week. More reliable than the Corolla/Prizms, better MPG & 4WD than Suburus Ive owned. The only problem was with the transmission. Needed rebuilt at 116,000. Otherwise its still like new after 10 years/122,000 miles. I plan on driving it over 200k just as I have w Suburus & GEO Prizms. My next vehicle - another Tracker.

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  I loved my Lumina - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By bndr37 - February 7 - 12:52 pm

  I absolutely loved my Lumina. It was my first car, and it just recently died at a whopping total of 308,000 miles on it. I didnt have to put any work into it while I owned it except the usual oil change and whatnot. The only reason I didnt keep it was because I blew a head gasket and it would have cost me more to fix it than the car was worth, since I only paid $600 for it.

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  So in love - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By shelli bell - February 7 - 12:07 pm

  This SUV is definitely the best purchase for a family in our opinion. The Equinox has more than enough power, and for tall or bigger person is is ideal. After much researching for almost a year, this car is extremely safe and puts the mind at ease with safety. We have a big truck, and didnt want to sacrifice room and power for great gas mileage of a car. Although I wish I had gone with the LS, this is my only regret. This base model has more than enough gadgets and the OnStar is wonderful. I work night shift and live in the country, and after a serious accident about a year ago I am so comfortable driving in the snowy conditions on back roads. With only the FWD, I have never had a problem!

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  Chevy is the best - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mizmommy - February 7 - 10:56 am

  This is the very best SUV Ive ever had the pleasure of driving. I couldnt have asked for a better looking or running vehicle. Ive never had any problems with it, very satisfied. And very roomy. We have a family of 5 and everyone has enough elbow room to move around and be comfortable.