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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  You dont get what you pay for - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Marie - August 21 - 11:16 pm

  Cheaply made. Interior is uncomfortable and made of substandard materials. Visibility out the back window is horrid. It angles upward so you dont get a clear view of what is behind you. For everyday commuting in a flat area it is a fine car. It performs horridly in hilly areas and mountains. Definitely does not handle winding roads well as it does not hug the road on turns. I am trading this in for a either a Ford Focus or a Toyota Corolla.

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  My new Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Adam - August 21 - 10:26 pm

  I have done alot of research before I got this car. When Chevy brought out the new Malibu in 08, I knew I had to have one. I love my car, I got the 2lt with the engine package, so fuel economy is not that great, but it is so fun to drive. I plan on driving it to Arizona all the time from Vegas, it is so comfortable too, GM did a great job with this car. I bought it because it has done so well in the first year.

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  Good fast car - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By moorjus - August 21 - 9:20 pm

  Great car. Paid 750 for it. It was very fast and passing with ease too. Suffered a bit on hills, but its a six cylinder, what do you want? And it ran well on or off road. I had no trouble until I thought I could get 4000 out of an oil change instead of 3000 and it threw a rod. I had to replace the motor. No trouble since.

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  Love my Tracker - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By OVUgirl - August 21 - 5:23 pm

  I bought my Tracker on a lark, just out looking one Saturday. What a great find it was and still is. Tracker had 44,000 miles on it in 2004 and now has 122,000 with nothing but regular oil changes, brakes, tires and a timing belt. This is a great little SUV and really fun to drive or go muddin with. I can throw all kinds of mud on my friends expensive trucks and SUVs! Its a riot. Best vehicle I ever bought, and I bought my first in 1968.

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  Counting the days till I return! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By unhappyMA - August 21 - 3:16 pm

  This was the first GM car I have ever bought and it will be the last. I had to replace the struts and strut mounts as well as the front axle at 14,000 miles. The front brakes and rotors at 35,000 and the rear brakes have been deglazed 3 times the first was at 10,000 miles. The car is so loud, you hear ever bump in the road. The car handles horribly and does not feel safe. The only thing I am happy about is that I did not purchase the vehicle instead I used the smart buy program and I will be returning it early in December. The worst part is GM knows the issues with the safety of the car an ignores them.

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  Wih high gas prices, these are cheap! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Rick0822 - August 21 - 12:23 pm

  Have had this vehicle for about a month. I traded in my 10 year old Sunfire, and yes I miss the gas mileage, but its OK. So far it has been great, weve put roughly 1000 miles on it trouble free. We did buy an extended service contract for the length of the loan, other reviews have been subpar, so we didnt want to chance it. With gas prices so high we paid $13K, and it had a window sticker of $36K. We bought it planning to only keep it around for 3 years or so, but we might go long term. Personally, I wish we would have bought the 3rd row V8, gas mileage isnt that much worse. We just couldnt find one low mileage with an LT option package.

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  So far so good - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By ehsande - August 21 - 11:04 am

  I bought my 1998 Tahoe in 2006 with 99,000 miles on it. I think the GM/Chevys of the 1990s are great looking vehicles and always wanted one. Being that I bought it with 99,000 miles, there were some repairs to be done at 100,000, one being the water pump. I recently had work done on the brakes. Gas mileage can actually be quite good. Im a fairly "soft" driver, and have gotten nearly 23mpg hwy with cruise control. I was in Montana when I first bought it, and often got 16-17mpg "city", though that has plunged since moving to a big city with lots of wasted gas at intersections.

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  Bought one, big problems - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wallyuwl - August 21 - 8:43 am

  Wrote one of the first reviews on this after test driving. Bought one a week ago. Tranny problems already w/ 4 cyl. When downshifting from 4-3 and 3- 4 it shifts too early, causing sudden deceleration. Also jittery (front to back) coasting at 17mph, and when accelerating in low 30s. In dealer right now getting checked out. Seems others have experienced it, but not everyone, so it isnt "normal", just might be a bad batch of trannys (assuming it is tranny). See my experiences in "2010 Equinox Problems" thread on Edmunds forum. Love ride, technology, and interior. Highly recommend is tranny is right.

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  Simply awesome - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By dsinned - August 20 - 5:14 pm

  427 cubes of modern day small block, push rod V8 engine technology is a wonderful thing! I never thought it would happen in an age of hybrids and ever greener emission standards. The Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is the best of all worlds. Big time muscle car performance, yet still docile and comfortable enough for every day commuting. It dont get much better than this! Corvette still rules as Americas #1 favorite sports car. Thank you Chevrolet!

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  Almost a year and 17000 miles - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Happy HHR owner - August 20 - 2:50 pm

  Car has proven to be very reliable. I have total confidence in the ecotec motor and GM transmission. Car is well built and everything fits, no rattles. You cannot hear or feel the motor inside the car. Car is quiet at speed and at idle. Handling is pretty good. I love the cargo utility & the fold down seats, I use it quite often. Very little maintenance is required. I had a few small problems with brake drums and vibration when I first got vehicle. Dealer fixed it all promptly and professionally. This is the first ever GM product I purchased new! I have no regrets, satisfied with my choice and recommend the HHR highly if you are looking for a small, efficient, family utility vehicle