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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  Bad experience - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Rachel Goodman - April 15 - 5:42 pm

  I thought I loved my car. I have now owned it about 8 months. The paint is chipping, my power steering has gone out, the traction was horrible this winter, and when more than 1 window is down there is a suction almost. There are several things that I do like, but I dont believe my vehicle should be having problems yet and I am upset, thats why I bought a new vehicle, to not have problems for reliability.

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  2007 HHR LT - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Rodney Duggar - April 15 - 2:41 pm

  I had admired the HHR for some time and finally took the plunge. Its a great car with everything you could want. Styling is exceptional, its fun to drive, its comfortable with great mileage. When I test drove the vehicle I have to admit I felt a bit claustrophobic what with the huge windshield pillars and dark tinted glass but soon got used to it. The large mirrors compensate quite well for any blind spots. My only complaints are the front brake rotors are too light for the car and front end needed work at 29,000 miles (which the dealer performed under warranty). Overall, I am thrilled with the car.

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  Great Little Car! - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By bethann591 - April 15 - 1:30 pm

  I bought my 1997 Cavalier used in 2000 with only 50,000 miles on it. Its been a sturdy, reliable, and fun little car. Ive put another 74,000 miles on it driving all over the country. Recently I encountered a freak sleet storm in rural Montana and ended up rolling my car in a ditch. I always said Id drive that car until it died, and boy did I. The car was totaled, but I was able to walk away from the accident with minor scratches and bruises. Thank you, Cavalier! You did you job well!

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  Best vehicle in its class - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By HWYman - April 15 - 9:46 am

  After driving this vehicle in a climate prone to ice, snow and rain, for the last two years and 55,000 mi., I can only express my gratitude to Chevy for building such a safe, reliable, incredibly responsive, ultra fuel efficient vehicle. It has the pep and style of a sports car, the handling of a formula 1, and the gas economy of a sub compact. The AVG. fuel efficiency has been consistently 28 MPG city and 32 MPG HWY. It has the comfort of a Caddy, the roomiest rear seat around, the horse power of a mini Corvette, and a unique style that says " classy chassis." The price is right and the many options are all 21st century.

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  High MPG HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Ken - April 15 - 12:08 am

  I have the 5 speed manual, 2.2 liter engine. I get far better mileage than the EPA estimates. Around town, I get around 28 mpg, and on trips I get 36 - 38 mpg! Its a terrific vehicle and I am totally satisfied with it.

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  Buyer Beware, Mileage is Terrible! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By BBB - April 14 - 11:36 pm

  With gas prices the way they are, I would definitely look at another small SUV. I have not been able to get more than 16 mpg with this thing. If you are looking for economy, this is NOT the car. The salesman used the "Great MPG" as a sales tool...dont fall for it!

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  Love my Malibu - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Ashley Brewer - April 14 - 7:08 pm

  Love this car so far tons or room

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  2006 Impala SS - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rob - April 14 - 5:43 pm

  Just traded 98 STS that I drove for 140k miles. My new SS has been evrything I expected. Way more fun to drive, plenty of performance but a little short on acessories as compared to the STS. I live in the Northeast so the fwd is necessary, but the torque steer is NOT an issue. Educated drivers paying attention to road conditions will enjoy this vehicle at a very competitive price. Do I miss my 2 driver memory settings and heated rear seats, sure, but I dont miss the service costs that came with the $52k msrp STS. I am enjoying the "sleeper" that this car is when all those soccer Moms try to pass me on the right. Good Luck!

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  First car for teenagers....Great Choice! - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By tatorbug - April 14 - 4:02 pm

  I bought a 95 Corsica with 71K miles for my sons first car. Back seat is not too comfortable but overall ride is smooth. The only problem we have had is with the fuel injectors. Everything else has a 10 star rating. Gets 30-32 miles per gallon. Cant beat that with gas at 3.50 a gallon. It now has 110,000 miles and runs great. No peeling of paint as I see others have had, no electrical problems. I like the idea of it being a medium size vehicle for my sons first vehicle. Great purchase on our part. I would recommened this to any parent for a teenagers first vehicle!

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  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Stace - April 14 - 1:19 pm

  Okay, so lets start off by saying I owned a 2002 Dodge Neon before this, yuck! It was my boyfriends he loved it but wanted bigger so I got a hand me down this cars a year old with a little over 13,000 miles on it! I love it drives smooth runs great looks great and is better on gas then my Neon was. My sister owns one and she loves it. My boyfriends co worker has one loves it. If your looking for a spacious reliable SUV this is it! Excellent buy. Its worth every penny I bought it for!