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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  Electriclal Problem - 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By not to happy - September 16 - 11:26 am

  I love the look of the car, and the fact that I can go out to dinner with fricends, and the next day toss lumber in the back. That is what I liked most about this SUV. But I have had issues with the Nav. system and a loud popping noise that shoots through the speakers, and you never know when but then the nav and dash systems blinks off and then comes back on (for now).

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  Worst Cavalier I have ever had. - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CM - September 16 - 10:22 am

  This is my third Cavalier and I would warn anyone to beware. I have had more problems with this Cavalier than any other and have had over 100,000 miles on all my vehicles. I just had to replace the engine, have replaced the fuel pump and now all the gages are crazy. I can be driving along at about 30 miles per hour and the next thing I know my speedometer says I am going 110 Miles per hour. Same thing happens to gas gauge and temperature gauge and now the tachometer is starting to go crazy too. Also the switch for the heater wont work right either. This car has been giving good treatment and service but this kind of problems should not be happening. Needless to say GM fix it for a price!

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  Kind of a blast from the past. - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Doggie Daddy - September 16 - 10:20 am

  Some "professional" reviews talk about the 5 speed trans being "jerky." At 13 miles on the clock, it was. By 200 miles, it had smoothed out considerably. It could be a mechanical form of tromp loi, but everything sounds solid about the Aveo. The handling is sensitive but precise enough for me. Mileage has been as advertised. Everyone who has ridden with me comments about the roominess and exelent visibility. With the LS you get the basic car and so is reminisent of Pinto, Vega, Colt, Civic of the past (had em all) but somehow a little more evolved. The option packages seem a little lop- sided. Time will tell on reliability, but for now I have no issues and enjoy my new ride every day.

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  Wow - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By dale - September 16 - 9:48 am

  Really surprized with this car. I needed an inexpensive car to drive to and from work. The gas mileage is unbeatable, it is averaging 39 mpg. I really like the 5 speed. It has plenty of power. This is a much better car than the Corolla I was looking at and a lot cheaper.

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  2LT 2.4 Fully Loaded - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By MAP Science - September 15 - 11:36 pm

  It has been a great car with a few minor problems. At 14,000 miles it would make a pop sound when speeding up and slowing down. Sounded like slack between two parts in the power train somewhere. Dealer could find no problem? Now with 20,000 on it the pop is louder. The front passenger hub assembly is being replaced. The steering has begun to clunk when turning the wheel and the intermediate steering shaft has been replaced. Sunroof glass is on order to be replaced. When opening the sunroof it drags the underside of the roof and makes cut marks in the glass.

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  Very Satisfied - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Very Satisfied - September 15 - 10:58 pm

  We bought this SUV used in 2005 for hauling building materials. It was the only SUV with a rear gate that folded down to extend the bed for loading lumber. We love the rear gate & having 4 doors. It is so convenient! We get at least 20 mpg & the only problem was a wiper that came loose & needed to be tightened. We change the oil every 3000 mi and the vehicle has given us no problems. I had to write after reading other unfavorable comments. The vehicle has been so good that I wanted readers to have a balanced view.

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  Red, hot, and sassy - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Shay - September 15 - 7:09 pm

  This car is used enjoyably for daily driving to and from work--plus leisure. The C5 has, by far, the sleekest, sexiest, cleanest body style. This is our third Vette, and although there are newer models, we simply love the looks of this car. Have added heated seats, powerful sound system, blue LED interior lights for dash and all controls, and navigation system.

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  Simple but Solid - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By FirstNewTruck - September 15 - 4:43 pm

  It isnt decked out with all sorts of bells and whistles, so if thats what youre looking for this might not be your truck. But it is sharp looking on the road, suprisingly roomy Crew Cab (my three kids car seats fit in the back), pretty good power train, and so far the reliability has been really good . All in all Im pretty satisfied with it. I bought the Z85 since its mostly being used for commuting to work, and I have no complaints. I have the Z85 w/ I5, Crew w/4WD.

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  SSR fun - 2003 Chevrolet SSR
  By SSR FUN - September 15 - 3:02 pm

  I first saw the concept car in a newspaper write-up in early 2002. After attending 3 car shows across the US, I knew I wanted one. I ordered Yellow. Took delivery in November 2003 and have been loving the truck ever since. Folks around still ask questions about it as there are not too many on the road. A certain kick to drive and be seen in!

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  Great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By fens - September 15 - 1:37 pm

  We are so happy we purchased this SUV. We have always been Honda/Toyota buyers. We previously owned a Honda Odyssey and had some safety concerns with our children in the third row, heads up against the back glass, not to mention lack of storage in the minivan once you use the third row. We also needed 4WD for our winters. We looked at Toyota Sequoia, but heard great things from other families about the suburban. For the price, it was a no brainer. We absolutely love it. Repairs are very inexpensive and we have been amazed at the reliablility and the luxurious interior. For the size of the car, gas mileage has not been as bad as we thought - we didnt get much better with our minivan.