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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  Love my Equinox But...... - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By diana408 - March 3 - 10:02 am

  I have had my 2005 Equinox since 2008. I love driving it but I do have one complaint..the electrical system is poor..I have had all kinds of trouble with lights..dash board lights do not work and the driving lights will not come on automatically when turned to auto..I am putting over $2000.00 into it to have the air bag light fixed and I still wont have dash lights as it would cost another $500. and I will still have to turn lights on manually...I think you really need to work on this problenm and give some type of refund for these repairs..

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  great machine - ive owned this car longer than any - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chevyonlyfon - March 2 - 1:24 am

  This has been the most enjoyable car I have ever owned. i usually et rid of cars around 5 years - because they are uncomfortable or just not pleasureable any longer. This car i have never tired of is so comfortable and ergonomic - i have yet to find a car that makes me feel at such ease driving - minus the poor breaking. The reliability has been nothing short of astounding . though i have put some into repairs.. 400 for an ignition switch - 700 for a fuel pump. i spent 55 bucks for a wiper motor - which later was reimbursed for under recall. and i did have the dex cool problem- cost me 141 bucks to replace the radiator - 1300 $ in 14 years.. amazing..

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  poor MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By tjeffrey1 - February 28 - 11:42 am

  NOT 32 MPG. at best with the wind at our back we got 29 mpg. not impressed at all. i put 500 miles on mine and have had it four days. my average is about 24 mpg, if i would have know that i prob would not have bought it.

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  Upscale For Compact Sedan - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By g6leaser - February 28 - 6:42 am

  I had just finished my 08 Chevrolet Malibu lease and was looking to stay with Chevy but upgrade on MPG and options. I found a great deal on an LTZ Cruze (fully loaded with nav,leather,sun roof,usb,bluetooth) and so far couldnt be happier. Im a gadget guy and the interior dash board and controls make driving fun. The leather seats are comfortable and roomy - the rear could use a bit more room but I dont often transport passengers in the back. My only gripes so far is the delayed shifting that occurs on certain gears, not sure if there is an update to the transmission but on occassion there is a bit of hesitation, only slight. I must say that Im impressed thus far with the Cruze!

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  hard to see to drive - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By brenda50 - February 25 - 8:01 pm

  I HATE the center rear headrest...anyone know how I can get rid of it? Im afraid it will cause an accident because of the blocked vision. I agree with the others--cupholders in bad place, outside mirrors too small. I have the luxury package on the LT...the seats are hard and uncomfortable.

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  1999 Chevrolet Tahoe LT - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By carguy03 - February 24 - 12:15 pm

  I had a 1999 Chevy Tahoe LT with the 5.7L V8 with the 4 speed automatic transmission. I purchased it in October of 2010, and it had 246K miles. It was lost in an accident in December 2010 due to brake failure. While I drove it, it was a very comfortable ride, and it was good to drive in the West Virginia weather. My father had a 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LT as well, I thought that the 96 had better power, but it was sold in November 2010. I would reccomend this vehicle to anyone.

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  Cool car/truck - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By lakelizrd - February 23 - 10:32 pm

  I just purchased a 2010 left over automatic SS/HHR. List price $27,975. Bought the truck for $20,260. The dealer had the SS left over in his inventory from 2010 and wanted to get rid of the truck. I only have 3000 miles on the SS, but so far it is a kick to drive. I added the stage 1 turbo booster kit which is a $690 dealer installed option. The booster kit kicks up the performance to 290 hp, 330 pounds of torque. This little guy screams and will keep up with my G-35 infinity. The ride is great, and handles well. You know the HHR is what it is - an inexpensive fun ride. If you are looking for big hauler buy a big truck - this is just a fun ride netting me an average of 27 MPG. So far so good

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  Great Large SUV... Could Use Some Small Tweaks - 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By jsb_mi - February 18 - 12:52 pm

  My wife and I leased a 2011 Tahoe LT 4X4 about two months ago. It replaced a 2006 Grand Cherokee Limited (w/ Hemi) my wife had been driving. As our family is expanding, we needed an SUV with more room and the Tahoe fit the bill. Exterior styling is awesome and the powertrain seems very good. We got the 20-inch wheels as part of the Luxury Package and really adds to the styling. The ride on this SUV is excellent and I cannot wait to take it on a long trip. I would suggest a few interior tweaks, including add storage "bins" on the sides of the truck area and a coin holder in the console (it kills me that a $50k SUV does not have a coin holder) and a larger rear-view mirror.

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  Fully Loaded Black Cruze LTZ - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By g6leaser - February 15 - 7:03 am

  250 miles on my Cruze --- I must say that after trading in my 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Lease and getting into a smaller ride - the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze I was a bit worried about comfort. The Cruze far exceeds my expectations about interior comfort. Plenty of room and an upscale dash for a small car - the Infotainment system (NAV,Bluetooth,Hands Free, XM) with the Pioneer Premium Audio Package and Sunroof makes me want to take extra laps around the block. Only complaints are the styling of the rear of the car, a few hiccups when using the Manual Tap Shift - but the positives outweight any negatives so far in my ride. Time will tell regarding MPGs - currently avg 26 mostly city driving.

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  2010 Coupe LS XFE - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By mdobb21 - February 13 - 12:41 pm

  I bought my Cobalt Coupe LS XFE in March of 2010, and am still very impressed. The fuel economy is incredible (I average 31 to 34, and this is mostly around-town driving.) The ride is smooth, the seats are comfortable, and the trunk is huge. The interior lacks some style (my gray interior is very bland), though the center stack buttons are laid out in a very efficient and easy-to-use fashion. Considering its a 2-door, front- and side-visibility are very good, but rear view is blocked by the giant trunks lid. The headlights are decent. Many people complain about its reliability, but proper maintenance eliminates most of those problems. I have had none.