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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  Electrical nightmare - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By rick - April 5 - 9:05 pm

  When we bought our HHR It was our first new car. We thought it was going to be the last new car we would buy for a long time. Little did we know it was an electrical nightmare. The radio shorted out two times. The brake lights shorted out. The headlights would not go out. The inside lights stayed on and the door chime wouldnt quit dinging. Then the electrical wireing fried under the dash. The dealer had to replace the complete harness from front to back. Now the wipers go nuts when they are on intermedant. The headlights are blinking off and on. Now the radio is starting to go out again. I wish we had bought something else. Never again

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  My First Tracker - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By ComputerNjip - April 5 - 9:02 pm

  My 2001 Chevy Tracker is my very first car. I love the fact that I never have to tuch the light switch. Its a very strong SUV. A couple months ago I hit a guardrail at 50 mph and went across the road into a ditch. It suffered little damage and I was pulled out of the ditch and was able to make it to work about 5 miles away. Compaired to the Expedition that was 400 yards up the road from me which was facing the ditch that had the same sort of accident as I did was undrivable. The accident I atribute to less the ideal tread depth on non LT tires.

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  Fantastic All American Sportscar - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Wayne F - April 5 - 8:13 pm

  I have owned this vehicle now for a year and have had nothing but a phenomenal experience. The car is quiet, handles superb and had the power to keep things interesting always. I ways amazed at getting 26.8 mpg on a trip back from Kentucky. Great to have an all American Sportscar available that can perform with the best of them. The storage in the back is great for road trips. No regrets on purchase of my first Corvette!

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  Great Value!!! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By speedy0001 - April 5 - 7:29 pm

  Great family car the performs well and the reliability has been great. The cargo space is the same as some suvs with a sticker price of half.

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  I love this truck - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By shelsm - April 5 - 5:30 pm

  The price tag was expensive, but it was well worth it. I got the chrome edition with 22" wheels. I love it! It drives like a car, but has the benefits of a truck. I recommend it a 100 times over. The fuel management system does save me a little gas too.

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  First Car I Bought New - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Summbreeze - April 5 - 1:15 pm

  I needed room for my daughters family which has my 3 grandkids, and also wanted the DVD player to keep them quiet! Lots of room for everyone on trips. The only thing I have noticed is that the lights get brighter and dimmer sometimes. I have consistently gotten an avgerage of 21mpg which combines city and road. We live in the hills and I drive 32 miles commuting. Thats not bad for a roomy vehicle. Only thing I have done is change the oil and filters on time. I am beginning to feel a bumpiness when braking, so I think it is time for brakes though.

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  Go for it - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Brian - April 5 - 11:34 am

  3LT paddle shift NPP exhaust and NAV. If I were to buy this car today, Id leave the Nav, and automatic trans off the build sheet. The NPP exhaust is a must, a portable gps is cheaper and easier to use and the 6 speed manual is a bit more fun. the money you save can go towards a new valentine1 radar detector. The hud is something youll miss after using it for a week, so the 3lt is the only way to go. Awesome car!

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  Just the right size - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By metalbabbleDotcom - April 5 - 10:37 am

  I imagine most people come on these sites to complain about problems but not many people take the time to praise a dependable vehicle. The Colorado has been great, I drive 20k a year and its well past its warrenty period without a peep of trouble.

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  05 Colorado 2.8L Crew Cab LS - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Phase700B - April 5 - 9:25 am

  We purchased this Colorado as a Chevy program vehicle from the dealer. It had a great option package, is a crew cab LS and has both OnStar and XM radio. The clincher was the Granite Blue color which makes the truck look upscale. It hauls my 1500lb boat trailer & also a small utility trailer with no trouble. Its not a rocket,but very surprising in what it can do for a 4cyl. Around town we get 17-19mpg and hwy 24-26mpg. Lower numbers are for winter driving, higher reflect wind or hwy speed. I drive 65-70 hwy. Love that it came with power windows/locks, AC, OnStar, 6CD/XM Radio, locking differential, and traction ctrl. 06 and later can not get these last 2 options on 4cyl crew cab LS.

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  Great Little Car For The Money ! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Limo Mike - April 5 - 3:24 am

  I have had my Cobalt for just less than a year now and I have to say I am very pleased over all. First off I got a great deal. The car is definitely more than I had expected. I find it fun to drive and very comfortable even on long trips. The car is gorgeous from the outside and the interior is very nice for a car in this price range. It has just enough power to make me happy. If I wanted a race car I would not have bought this. The handling should be more that adequate for most drivers. The ride is much softer and more forgiving than most cars in its class. Overall I think it is a vast improvement over the Cavalier it replaced and a great value for all that you get.