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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  Green Machine - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Migdalia Archilla - May 27 - 11:01 pm

  Great cabin comfort for driver especially seat. Difficult but not terrible for disabled elders to get in and out of from back. Liked Cruze enough to lease same car, differnt colors 3 times. Sluggish on hills and when merging onto a hilly highway despite turbo engine. Overall, enjoyed driving it,.

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  Great car, poor A/C - 2005 Chevrolet Aveo
  By DW - May 27 - 6:26 pm

  I think that this car is great. Good on gas, and just enough room for me and my son. However every summer I am having A/C problems. The A/C never gets cold enough and when it does start to work I cant use the A/C adapter and air conditioner at the same time.So charging my cell during road trips are usually out of the question. Other than that the car is great. The heating system works great and no other complaints.

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  2006 Chevy Cobalt LTZ - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By 2006 Chevy Cobalt - May 27 - 6:25 pm

  Fun to drive. Car has a lot of get up and go for a 4 cyl and good handling. Gets about 26-28 mpg aroudn town according to the dash mpg calculator. I have 48K plus miles and have had no problems.

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  Wonderful Car - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JAGXJRPORTFOLIO - May 27 - 4:17 pm

  Traded in a Jeep Liberty that was getting 13mpg, just couldnt handle it. Was also shopping Saturn Astra, but dealer and factory incentives were too good. Sticker price was 23k paid just over 19k out the door. Manual transmission is a joy to drive with short throws and positive engagement. Engine has good power and torque, although not the quickest revving or smoothest sounding one out there. Fuel economy is outstanding! 28.8 mpg first tank, in a 60% city 40% hwy mix. Very quiet on the inside even with sunroof, also the ride is very comfortable even with sport suspension. Handling is sporty and fun. Seats are comfortable and supportive. Good trunk space.

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  Smooth - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Sam - May 27 - 3:56 pm

  Smooth SUV! Got the LT2 package with 20" wheels. The Granite blue paint turns heads on the road. Plenty of power and you cant beat the price. Gas mileage is on average 15-16mpg. Drove the Yukon and you can get the same package in a Chevy for a few thousand less.

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  A Truck Built With Problems - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Bill - May 27 - 3:08 pm

  Ive owned this truck for a little over six years now and I have been very disappointed with the quality of construction on this vehicle. There have been constant brake issues, the ABS system went out prematurely, the third door latch broke, the front bearings wore ouot, the idler arm went bad- all in under seventy thousand miles. Not what I would call a well built vehicle and it makes me sure that I will never buy a GM product again.

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  American Top 3 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Howard M McGoldrick - May 27 - 4:43 am

  This vehicle rides and handles much better then any of the competions vehicles I road tested! I think Chev. outdid themselves in this model truck. I will buy another GM truck. It handles great on the road, has a quick response, and can pull down a house.

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  Fun to drive, great on gas, unbeaten! - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By bigbird91 - May 26 - 11:06 pm

  We purchased our 1998 Cavalier Z-24 coupe (2.2, 5 speed manual, the car had an engine change after previous owner blew the engine using NOS). Even with the smaller engine, this car is very fast, its a piece of cake to do a burnout. It has been very reliable, it has about 150,000 miles on it now. It gets great gas mileage (about 38 to the gallon if my dad drives, about 30 if I drive, but Im 16 and like to punch it.) Over all, this car is great, handles way better than the non Z-24 version, and looks great.

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  Gas Mileage - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By luvmyequinox - May 26 - 8:26 pm

  I love my Equinox so far. Except for the gas mileage. Its far from the rated 25 mpg. Although it only has 600 miles on it, I am only getting 17 - 18 mgp after 3 tanks. I drive highway 93% of the time usually between 70 - 75 mph.

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  Great Ride! Great Looks! Great Value! - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Larry - May 26 - 6:38 pm