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:

• 

  Excellent Truck - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By K. Curtis - January 21 - 2:00 am

  We bought this new in 2001, and other than a few minor cosmetic things, it has been a great truck. We have had not problems with it and it is really fun to drive. Its a great looking truck and I love it. I would definitely look at them again when we get ready to trade.

• 

  Great SUV - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By tone - January 21 - 2:00 am

  When I bought this ( we call it the bus) I expected 12 mpg but I am getting 18 which is a surprise. I will never buy anything I have enjoyed more!

• 

  Fun Car - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Dave Palmer - January 20 - 2:26 pm

  I have owned my HHR for about 5 months and about 6,000 miles. The car has been fun and economical to own. The 2.2 litre engine will not win any races but it moves the car with enough acceleration to make it fun to drive. The engine is quite noisey under heavy acceleration. Rock solid on the road with plenty of room for people and things. The interior is roomy and very versatile, and I love the fold flat rear seats. Overall has been a great car.

• 

  Love My Equinox! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Amy L. - January 20 - 6:56 am

  Great vehicle for the price, sporty and fun, seatbelts are added safety not found in most cars of this price, with lap/shoulder combo in all seats! Its very comfortable and roomy. I love the adjustable tray in the rear cargo area, and it converts to a table for tailgating. Radio controls are confusing for me, but I am in the over 30 group.

• 

  Great Car - 1991 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Atmospheres - January 20 - 2:00 am

  My car has given me very little trouble in 8.5 yrs. Its easy to maintain with very little mechanical experience. I have done most of it myself with a pretty basic tool set. Ex.:Ignition switch and light switch in the steering column, batteries, fan motor, hoses, radiator, cooling tank, thermostat, plugs, wires, light replacement, water pump, oil, air, and fuel filter changes. (Keep in mind, Im a girl...)I paid $3000.00 for the car and have put another 115,000 miles on it since I bought it. Mine has over 230,000 miles on it! My car has towed more than its share of vehicles. (I never said I pampered it.)

• 

  Excellent Ride - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By elgantis - January 20 - 2:00 am

  The 2002 Tahoe rides much smoother than I expected any SUV to handle. It is a pleasure to drive.

• 

  The best Tahoe i have ever had. - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
  By John - January 19 - 7:07 pm

  I have owned my 08 hybrid Tahoe for about 8 years and has been a great suv for my family it drives great and is highly recommended mine has just hit 200000 miles and never has had problems just a few minor recalls you can fit 8 perfectly please get one it is the best.

• 

  A fabulous 3-ton truck - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By mgrabo - January 19 - 4:13 pm

  After years of avoiding an SUV thru station wagon ownership, I gave in and got my wife the Tahoe. Im theortetically getting a fishing boat out of the deal this spring which will make me like it even more. Weve clocked ~6,5k miles to date and just returned from a ski trip to Lake Placid. The truck was fabulous on the 5+hr drive to upstate NY on I-87. We averaged 17mph on the highway with 6 people, 1 black lab and all our gear in the roofbox. The village we stayed in still had about 6" of snow on the roads from the 2/14 storm. The Tahoe never faltered in any of the ice or snow. Its a big lumbering vehicle, but surprisingly easy to park and drive in close quarters.

• 

  What a great car!! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Jenni Lynne - January 19 - 10:03 am

  I love this car. I have had my eye on this car since the autoshow. I finally got it. I told myself i wouldnt settle... and i didnt .. its fully loaded... if its offered i have it. The radio is outstanding... the sound amazing. I love that i can store fm, am, and xm channels in the same category in the presets. The drive is amazing. The speed sensitive steering really makes a difference... who knew? It has good power for the size of the engine. The exterior color (golden teal) really turns heads. The remote start is great especially considering that its october and already snowing. Wow the room it has... its the best !!

• 

  Bought it new - 1990 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Dr.Wyman of Woburn - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Was my dream car then and still is today. Famos quote "You can own fastest car in the world but you can always build and/or find a Chevy that can beat it."