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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  2007 LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Debbie - April 30 - 10:13 am

  I am so pleased with the ride, style and comfort of my new 2007 Tahoe LTZ. What a great improvement. There is plenty of room If youre a "gadget" person, this is for you! Chevrolet really did an awesome job.

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  My Chevy Passenger Van - 2007 Chevrolet Express
  By Eric - April 30 - 8:58 am

  I bought the van slightly used instead of 2008 Dodge Sprinter. The price difference(I saved over $25000) can pay for years of fuel, plus I will support an American-made product. Myself and the family are very happy with the van! The fuel economy is better then I expected (approx. 16.5 MPG on higway). The only minus would be the quality and the fit of plastic trim inside the vehicle.

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  My Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Chevrolet Tahoe LT - April 30 - 8:46 am

  I love my Tahoe - it rides very smoothly. I have not taken a road trip as of yet, but I can hardly wait. The only downside is the gas mileage and gas being so expensive. My experience thus far has been great.

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  Overall a good truck - 2000 Chevrolet S-10
  By Nick - April 30 - 7:35 am

  I bought this truck about a year and a half ago with 100,000k on it but Ive owned an S-series vehicle before, so the mileage didnt bother me. Ive driven it almost 40,000 miles so far and I really dont have any complaints. I only had to replace the MAF sensor and heater core, and Ive done everything from auto-crossing to drag racing with it. Ive put it through its paces thousands of times and it hasnt given up on me yet. It is definitely a truck that is decently easy to work on if something goes wrong. Ive averaged around 20-21 mpg driving 50% city/highway. Its decent for a v6 truck.

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  Great Car For The Money - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By MissShona - April 30 - 3:54 am

  We got this car out of pure necessity (our previous Neon was on its last leg). The Chevy Cobalt seems to be a much more solid car than the Dodge Neon. The only thing we needed to go back to the dealer for was the window sealing/trim falling loose from the door seal. What a great way to get from point A to point B without breaking the bank!

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  My Fun for the Sun ride - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Ray - April 29 - 10:11 pm

  I have driven from Ohio to Florida 3x and counting. With 64,000 miles the HHR is still going strong. Avg.29gpm it is easy on the wallet and the lumbar support makes the long drives a pleasure. I was disapointed just after I bought mine they lowered the price and added the 100000 warrenty,just my luck. The 2.4 175hp motor climbs the WVA hills easy. I did have a problem with the front stabelizer bar at 32,000 miles,just after the warrenty ran out but it was a cheap repair. The brakes going down hill at speed pulsate and I had 2 tires break their belts(not Chevys problem) I love this little car and thought about trading it in on a new one with the warrenty but dont want to give mine up.

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  TrailBlazer 2005 review - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By phillip anteski - April 29 - 7:16 pm

  I bought this TrailBlazer with 17,850 miles. I test drove quite a few SUVs this had the best ride. Chevy has a winner with this one. This is my first suv me and my son love it. Buy it you wont be sorry.

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  Hard Driving - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Sturns - April 29 - 5:30 pm

  I have had this car for less than a year and have had to do a lot driving. It scared me a couple of times, but its come out a champion. Its hardy and the gas mileage isnt too bad. It has made me take a second look at GM. Sorry Japanese.

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  Ex-cop car - 1995 Chevrolet Caprice
  By jason - April 29 - 2:54 pm

  I love this car. It had a few problems with it when I first bought it. One of the engine fans were out, the radiator was cracked, and brake lines broke soon after purchase, but! For $900 the power and comfort that came with this ride is unbeatable. I hope to hold on to this car for the rest of my life.

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  Satisfied - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By amaira - April 29 - 1:22 pm

  For the money I believe I made the best possible choice. For 52,000 miles it has run well performed well and carted a lot of personal belongings. It looks good is roomy and mileage is good for a vehicle this size.