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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  Hard to find - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Recardo - May 24 - 2:43 pm

  These cars are hard to find. My Chevy dealership cant hold the HHR for longer than a few days. I purchased a black LT with the 2.4 automatic engine. Have owned it for only a week and my wife and I are having a cruising good time.

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  Cant Complain - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Victor Cruz - May 24 - 10:04 am

  Ive had my Equinox for 2.5 years and I have 30,000 miles on it. I love it. Gas mileage is great and seems to keep getting better-- I get about 22 mpg combined city/hwy. Once I got over the 20K mile mark, the mileage increased. The comfort level is great and back seats have enormous legroom and ample headroom. Interior and exterior quality is up to par. Its not a BMW, but its not what it should be. Ive considered trading it in on other new SUVs like a Hyundai, Kia, or HHR... but why? I get the same gas mileage and it has more room. I wish the warranty was longer although (knock on wood) Ive had no problems and have kept it regularly maintatined. Excellent truck & value!

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  Sweet! - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Joe - May 24 - 9:56 am

  I am used to driving big trucks, but in order to economize I was on a search for a smaller car that had personality. Was I in for a big surprise, the vehicle feels big inside with plenty of headroom and elbow room to spare (Im 60 and about 200 LBS) interior has really good fit and finish although the materials can be a little better, it has plenty of storage space with many hidden compartments. Engine performance impressed me because it does not feel like the if the vehicle is coming apart on hard acceleration, handling and braking are both top notch and they work hand in hand with the engine power. I drove the 2.2L and 2.4L engines but I will definetly suggest upgrading to the SS.

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  A perfect domestic car for $4 a gallon - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Cutty - May 24 - 2:14 am

  I read all the reviews on here prior to buying, and the biggest thing I agree with is the suspension. The day I got it the coil springs snapped. I took care of that and since then had no problems. the car is great on gas 29/30 mpg. Mine has the 5 speed so it does move a lot better than the auto. I currently have 96k with no cracks on the dash either. The biggest thing that I can think of is that all the pedals have a noise to them but Im sure a little wd40 will cure that. Overall Im happy with it and would definitely recommend to others.

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  Great Car - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jessi - May 23 - 7:32 pm

  My first car, 1997 Camaro Z28 V8 convertible, could not have asked for a better first car! Its been very reliable, head-turner, steering is smooth, handles great in rain and ice, only problems I ever had were with the windows but a simple motor problem, was easy to fix. The alternator needed to be replaced at 135,000 miles, but that was simple as well. And the black ragtop started to fade from the sun but treating it with oils brought back the black. Very fun to drive, was quick to get out of the way of bad drivers, roughly 18-22 city, 29 highway. Manufacturers sound system was excellent.

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  Tahoe is the alpha dog of SUVs - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Bob - May 23 - 4:21 pm

  I have to say my Tahoe LT (fully loaded) has been a great, great, vehicle. Drivetrain and 5.7 Vortec engine delivers. Plenty of room for people and my Siberian Husky in the back too (who loves the rear A/C) Aggressive BF Goodrich All Terrain T/As (functionally large but not monster truck silly) make Tahoe the big dog in the yard. A balanced truck with Bilstein gas charged shocks that rides like a dream on or off the road. Love the 4WD, towing capabilities, and the heated leather seats. I may not get the best gas mileage at $4.35/gal for Premium, but the power is there when I need it, and will safely win the physics game in the unfortunate event there is a collision.

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  HHR Review - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Phil - May 23 - 2:47 pm

  Ive driven this car for over 3 months now. I love it! Just what I wanted. The only two setbacks I see is that it really is small for a five passenger car. And man I wish this was a 4x4. Other than that I love it.

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  02 Chevrolet Trail Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Danno - May 23 - 2:37 pm

  From the beginning until present, this vehicle has been super. I have had no problems with it to this date. Outside of regular service, the only expense has been new tires at 45,000 miles and a new battery at 35,000. Ride has been like sitting in a comfortable chair in my living room. Excellent on trips over 50 miles. Acceleration when you need it is there. Today with gas near $4 I wish it had better mileage but it more than makes up for it with its spacious interior, ride, and visibility.

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  Really Nice SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Brandy - May 23 - 1:39 pm

  I really love my TrailBlazer. It is a very comfortable vehicle. Have had it 3 1/2 years. Only problems have been clearcoat peeling on rims(warranty fixed), temp control sensor (warranty fixed), and front wiper motor. The front windshield wiper issue was a recall that should have been fixed by the dealership, but a friend of ours (a GM mechanic) looked it up and found out they took the cheap route and didnt replace the whole thing. The only issue I have now is gas mileage. It is average for a SUV, but may have to trade off since I have a long commute. The computer says I average 17.8. At highway speeds (55-70), I have seen instant economy of 19-30 though. Have to readjust outside mirrors rarely.

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  Wonderful! - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By april - May 23 - 9:50 am

  I love my car. Its the same color as the one pictured. The car looks so classy and expensive but yet its so affordable, I only payed $8.900 for mine and its great. I love the interior its so comfortable and it has so much space! The trunk is also huge and holds just about anything I need. The only negative is that I was told it had a V6 in it, when in fact it has a 4cyl but it gets really good gas mileage, and thats more important being that gas prices are outrageous. I think with this car the only thing to be careful of is choosing the right exterior color, a lot of colors make it look a little cheap.