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:

• 

  The Only Truck to Buy - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Jack - January 25 - 1:05 pm

  This is the smoothest, most comfortable, versatile truck in the world. I bought a new LT last year and dad and I made a trip up to WI., from Florida. He couldnt believe it was a pick up truck. It truly has a better ride than my wifes Cadillac. The storage is awesome and abundant and the cabin is as comfortable as sitting in a lazyboy in your living room. The only thing I dont like is that my wife likes it better than her new Caddy, so it looks like we will probably have 2 of them in the near future. You can really dress these trucks up too if youre in to that. Chevrolet never seems to advertise these trucks. If they knew what they were doing, they would put everyone else out of business.

• 

  Go American - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By mr_comfort31 - January 25 - 11:23 am

  I looked at all the other small cars in this class and the Cobalt shined. The Kias and Hyundais I drove had no guts and felt very shaky. Honda and Toyota are expensive and arent what theyre billed to be. The Chevy has a great engine and tranny. The auto holds gears much longer than expected, and it can move onto the highway with no problem. The inside is well appointed also. The auto headlights are a plus, and so is the sound and climate controls. The little bits of chrome arounf the controls is a good finisher. The thing looks great after a wash and wax. GM did a great job here.

• 

  a huge step up from my Shelby GT 500! - 2018 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Steven Hassig - January 25 - 5:58 am

  This car has dramatically reset the bar for American muscle cars. The improvement in refinement and livability are truly amazing. i am very satisfied with my purchase and would recommend it to anyone aiming at near supercar performance.

• 

  What did GMs Cruze Lose? - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By gandalf7719 - January 25 - 12:29 am

  I have been eagerly anticipating the release of GM’s Cruze since it first appeared on the horizon, a compact chocked full of technology forward engineering economy and the first to bring Flex Fuel Vehicle (FFV) technology to a fuel efficient compact. So imagine my surprise when after negotiating my best deal at my local dealer when my excitement of the vehicle’s capability to run on E85 a fuel produced in America was met with a blank stare. He went on to explain that “FFVs have yellow gas caps, and the Cruze doesn’t.” In simple terms on the way to market the Cruze did lose its FFV capability un-noted in most arenas and media outpourings. So just when it seemed

• 

  Already There - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu Dreaming - January 24 - 11:30 pm

  I have really hesitated in buying a Chevrolet again. For the past 11 years I have bought imports because of what Chevrolet was making (Cavalier, Beretta, etc.). I have been needing a car to replace my Mazda. I first naturally started with a Mazda 3, which had looked good in the past. This car was gutless and did not really get great mileage. I also tried some of the other imports and was still not impressed. I finally tried the Chevrolet Malibu and I liked how it felt. The fit and finish was nice, the ride was not harsh and not too soft. I really enjoyed the stereo and the steering wheel controls. I am a finally proud to own a Chevrolet again!

• 

  Not a bad deal - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Rebel - January 24 - 10:59 pm

  Ive had my TB for four months now, and Im pretty happy with it. I average 13-15 miles in combined city/highway driving. The car drives ok for a truck, but I feel like the handling is very rubbery (compared to my F150). Its more than OK for normal driving, though. And its spacious enough to handle all my normal cargo for weekend trips and my dog (German Sheppard) has plenty of space in the back. Its a good car, really.

• 

  Great Little Car (LS/2.2 Automatic) - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Andrew - January 24 - 8:58 pm

  Im a six and a half foot tall guy and my Cobalt has more than ample front seat room for me. Im a teacher and commute 90 miles per day to work, and 400 miles a weekend to my summer job for the past two years and I have had not one single problem with the car. Performance is great for the 2.2 engine as a commuter car. I currently have 73500 miles on the car and only have brought it back to the dealership for regular maintenance. When I keep it at 60-65 MPH on the highway, I regularly get about 425 miles to a tank of gas. In the summers, I drive from the Jersey Shore to Scranton, PA, and back, and still have enough in the tank to drive around town for a couple days. Id recommend to all.

• 

  Not a great experience. - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Rawiri - January 24 - 7:09 pm

  We leased this van in April 2005 and have been counting the days till April 2009 when it goes back. It has been mechanically reliable but weve had too many trips to the dealer for electrical, build quality and handling problems for us to call the van reliable. It constantly pulls to the right - wheel alignment doesnt help - and sways all over the road at highway speeds. My wife wont drive it, preferring our 97 F150! Cabin space and comfort is adequate although front storage is very limited as is the trunk area compared to other vans out there. We were seduced by the long list of features for the money compared to Honda and Toyota but next time will pay way more attention to quality.

• 

  Best Car Ever! - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Fran - January 24 - 1:58 pm

  I traded a 2004 Ford Explorer for this little show piece. I love this vehicle! It is fun to drive, handles well as it hugs the road and the seating is comfortable. I love the sun roof, the leather seats and seat heaters. The arm rests are optional. You can pull them down if you like. If you want a little more room, leave them up, especially if you have a soft drink in the cup holder. The cupholders are fine with where they are located as long as you remember to lift the armrest. My HHR that gets 27 to 28 mpg around town. I drive 40 plus miles every day and maintain this average constantly. On the highway, I can get about 32 to 33 mph. Best car ever!

• 

  Duramaxd Diesel with the full Banks Kit - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Duramax Diesel - January 24 - 8:00 am

  This truck is plenty powerful on its own with the Duramax Diesel. Tons of torque, a great ride and built tougher than any other truck out there. Lots of room inside. I had the full Banks system added over time (chip, exhaust, Six-Gun and Speed Loader) and this truck is faster, stronger and better than I could have imagined. I get a combined 18MPG and I put the miles on this beast in all the worst driving conditions. My acceleration is amazing. You CANNOT go wrong with the Duramax diesel and the Alison transmission. It will stand up to anything you throw at it.