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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  Best in show for price - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By phil - July 24 - 1:45 am

  I bought this car three weeks ago and I havent looked back. I bought the Value Special stickered for $10,700. I paid $7700. There is no car anywhere close to this price that performs this well. I dont feel buying this car loaded is a smart deal at $14,500. But at $11K to $8K you cant go wrong. Rides nice. front seats fit me great. Great 5 speed transmission. Shifts smooth. Good fit and well I think it is fun to drive. I drive 300 miles a week for work and spend around $36 to $38 in gas a week. Payments are low, gas bills are low. What is not to like. Sure there are nicer cars out there but at twice the price.

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  A Little Work For An Older Gem - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rambo - July 23 - 7:09 pm

  Bought this Sub with 60K on it. Now at 105K. Many mods made to it. K&N Air Filter, Slotted front rotors, HypertechIII programmer, True dual exhaust with glass packs/headers, 2" front suspension drop, wider tires, 18" wheels, larger front brakes. All this enables 18+MPG on the hi-way. Makes heads turn even at 9 years old. Will flat out fly for a heavy SUV. Wont beat a Mustang but eats "Sport" trucks up for lunch. Cruises like its on glass after the 2" drop in the nose. All together, I cant complain. Driving a 4 ton truck like a Corvette more than makes up for the $100+ gas station stops. But so does room for 8 and 700 miles between fill-ups! A little time/money goes a long way with her.

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  Spunky ride! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By orriginal - July 23 - 3:34 pm

  This vehicle is the perfect combination of practicality and sporty fun! Ive only had my new HHR (LT Special Edition) for a couple of days, so Im not able to rate the reliability or fuel economy yet. So far, so good! I love the retro styling - very spunky! Even my style-conscious 20 year old daughter approves! My HHR is very quiet and has a smooth ride. Im impressed with the roomy seating areas, as well as the cargo space! Its an added bonus that there are two height options for the cargo floor. The seating is very comfortable lots of headroom, even with the sunroof! Very enjoyable and fun to drive. I compared a lot of vehicles - the HHR gives the most for the money!

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  i love my truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By cheinold - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I didnt think i would find a suv that I liked better than my blazer but I love my trailblazer. The ride is great; it is comfortable and roomy. I can separate my granddaughters when they are fighting! One in the middle and one in the back.

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  Montes worth the look - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dtmsox - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a standard 3.8l SS last year, and the car has been everything I would have expected out of a $28,000 car. Acceptable performance, good handling, great sound system, and trouble free driving. Fuel economy regularly exceeds the rated 29 highway. Body style is regularly commented on in a positive light. This car has the ground effects package, everything is black on black.

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  2 doors rule - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By OCyndi - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. It is the closest I have come to my 71 GTO. The only decent sports cars can only be two doors. When I am in the drivers seat, I am so comfortable the leather seats just rap around you. I know I can step on the gas pedal to get out of any predicament that happens around me. Chevrolet has a very good car right now, and the color red makes it really stand out as a decent looking sports car. I love driving 70 on the freeway with both windows and sunroof open.

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  BEST TRUCK I EVER HAD! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Donny - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I really love this truck! Its awesome style and sleek look really turns heads. My wife WAS NOT a real big truck fan until she drove the Avalanche. I only had the truck 45 minutes and I had the windows tinted and 22" rims put on it "IT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE" My friends call it a AVA-CADE or ESCA-LANCHE.now dont steal my name. HA HA HA Thanks, Donny from MARRERO LOUISIANA

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  Great Value, Reliable Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Carolinaguy - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I bought this truck with 30K miles, and have driven it to 80K with not a single problem. I regularly get 20 MPG on mostly highway driving, and it is comfortable on longer trips. Ive also owned a Ford F150 and Ford Ranger, and its unreal how much more room this extended cab has in it. I cant imagine how much the double cab has. This has been a great ownership experience and I love this truck. I see many with 150-200K miles so I look forward to owning this one for a while.

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  Chevy has done it again - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By dernbro - July 23 - 10:00 am

  This truck is awsome,,the ride ,the looks,,what else can you ask for---its all here!!I will never buy any other truck, but a chevy..

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  Like A Rock - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Happy Trucker - July 23 - 10:00 am

  I live in the country and dont have repair shops every other block but, since Ive had my Silverado I dont need to visit them anyway. As long as I keep the oil and other fluids clean and at the right levels I keep trucking on.