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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  Very Nice! - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Josh - August 2 - 8:33 pm

  I bought my 99 Chevy Lumina 2 years ago with 83000 on it. I currently have 127,000 miles on the car and never had any problems. The power of the 3.1L is outstanding, especially with the low end torque. Im currently getting an average of 29-30 mpg on the highway! Great car is all i have to say! Nothing but regular maintaience and it still runs like brand new! this is exactly the reason why I buy GM products. Nice job Chevrolet!

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  2007 Suburban 2WD 100 LT vortex 5.3L fle - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mweb - August 2 - 5:18 pm

  I was shopping for a new Cadillac, but fell in love with 2007 Suburban. It drives and rides better. My 1992 has 210,000 miles and still does not use a quart oil between changes. So far my new one is great. I average 16 miles in town and thats better than my friends Highlanders 15. For me and my needs our Suburban is great. Its funny all my friends drive small imports, but they aways want me to drive. My taste, guess I am use to my 1992,

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  20 ,pg my foot - 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Vince - August 2 - 4:41 pm

  Great vehicle for family and for pulling. Great ride, quiet cabin, good sound system. Looks great on road

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  Tow and Go - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By doctorjim - August 2 - 2:45 pm

  Purchased used with 16k mi, now 162k. A great vehicle for me, as I have driven it to work every day since. Ive been deer hunting in Alabama and duck hunting in Arkansas, driving to areas that my friends were pulling ATVs to access. Tows my boat (3300 lbs) without a whimper. I was recently asked to pull out my friends boat on a dirt private ramp when his full size pickup failed. There is no substitute for horsepower and 4WD! Had to replace water pump at 120k and master brake cylinder at 150k. Back seat is a hastle for car seats, but if your kids are booster-sized or older then youre home free. Not really accessible for elderly parents, though. Gas mileage: 11-13 tow/city, maybe 15 hwy.

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  So Far...So Good - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Colleen - August 2 - 12:54 pm

  I bought mine 3 weeks ago with 39,000 on it. The gas mileage on this thing is incredible. (Coming from a former Jeep owner). I wish the interior cloth and carpet was a bit darker though, it stains pretty easily. Cupholder placement is a bit idiotic. Roomy interior. The sensor for the passenger seat airbags is great, and so is the DIC (driver info. center). Trunk is huge! Looks nice, cute and sporty without being over the top. Exactly what I needed.

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  Country Girl - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jeannie - August 2 - 11:35 am

  I went from a Grand Caravan to an Equinox and enjoy the smaller size. The turning radius is longer than the van, which is odd. So far, I am enjoying it. Am getting 20+ in mixed driving and will probably get more on a trip. The cup holders are inconvenient. I think the shift mechanism should trade places with cup holders so the cups are comfortable to reach. Need a dome (reading) light between visors, front is dark at night. A/C cools well, SUV handles nicely. Has 80,000 (fleet vehicle) on it, but is trouble free so far. My son-in-law found it for me on e-bay - driving it home my daughter liked it so much, they got one for her.

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  Not fun. - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By TJ - August 2 - 7:53 am

  The look of the Equinox is great, that is where it stops. Backing up is down right scary there are so many blind spots, the turning radius is terrible, the suspension feels like the car has 70,000 miles on it since new (really clunky over bumps), and the gas mileage is a lie... We are selling it with 10,000mi. and buying an Audi Allroad. GM vehicles are just not good..

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  Brand New Owner - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By landofcroz - August 2 - 6:53 am

  The fuel milege is horrible, nowhere near what is advertised. Rear seats should fold flat so they are usable for storage. Itts slightly underpowered, but not bad. Drives and handles fairly well. Rear vision is horrible. Hood noise on the highway with windy conditions. Its a nice looking vehicle. Plug in location is bad, and the cup holders are cheap and in the way of the parking brake. Steering wheel tilt is useless. Driver seat adjustment is ridiculous.

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  Not Happy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jim J. - August 2 - 1:10 am

  Life long Chevy driver, I am very disapointed with my new car. In to dealer twice already (1500 miles) vibration and ticking from the engine when brake is applied at a stop light or sitting in traffic. "New engine" so what, make it right before you send it out. 3.8 V6 was better. Service people are great and I believe they are trying, but I do not like driving this car at this point. Hopefully after further trips in to dealer and more aggravation they will be able to fix it. This is not what one expects when buying a new car!

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  Awesome car with soul - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By bubbak - August 1 - 9:25 pm

  Was looking for a fun, practical vehicle to pick up after dumping a boring mini van. The HHR is awesome. Old School styling with soul, modern but comfortable interior. Right on the money for a small family. We took delivery of our hhr just a couple of hours before taking a beach trip. It was so cool loading up the vehicle with all of our stuff and seeing it actually fit. Perfect mix of people room vs. cargo room. Quiet, solid ride. Average about 27 miles right now. Tough but still low-pro design. Chevy knocked the cover off the ball with this one.