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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  Good Car - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By craig455 - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Premier Edition with 35K on it and put another 25k on it. Overall I like the car a lot. It is comfortable and well equipped. The car has plenty of power and gets upper 20s for gas mileage. Interior room is what you should expect for a compact SUV. To everyone complaining about noise, the issue is the sway bar end links. Replaced mine with aftermarket links for $50 and the problem is gone. Also, the bumper does not need to be removed to change a headlight. It does require removal of the wheel liner (a few screws & plastic fasteners). My only other complaint is the poor quality (de- laminating) Chevy emblem on the back, but this is not limited to the HHR.

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  Love my Cobalt - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By special edition - September 12 - 2:00 am

  this is my 2nd cobalt[1st 2005 and loved it till it got t-boned repaired then got rear ended and totaled]. My 08 cobalt was an improvement over the 05, as it has more pickup and highway mileage is 33miles/gal and it is an automatic. Inside is very comfortable and with the wood grain dash board and side panels it has a great look. Since my 05 cobalt kept me with miner injuries 1st accident and kept me from being really hurt when reared by an SUV at 47miles/hr in my 2nd accident, I am very happy with the cobalt!

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  Good vehicle but flawed. - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Turgon - September 12 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy the ride quality and the impressive performance of the 4 cyl. Fuel economy is good for this class of vehicle, but certainly not the advertised EPA mpgs unless you consciously baby it and coast in eco mode. Comfort and passenger room are impressive, but at the expense of the rear cargo space. I have concerns regarding the build quality and reliability. The interior plastics are of low quality and scratch easily! I had to bring the vehicle back to the dealer to fix a problem with "frozen" climate and radio controls. I have to return to the dealer again to fix a broken clip in the rear hatch and a problem with the driver lumbar support (makes clicking sound).

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  Superior SUV - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By T5258 - September 10 - 2:00 am

  Purchased to replace a rusty 90 Bronco...what an improvement!! Itll take 3 people, their dog & a weeks worth of luggage with room to spare (ask me how I know). With just under 200k, it runs, stops & shifts like new. I guess 60 years of refinement will go a long way...Ive owned the aforementioned Bronco and an 87 Grand Wagoneer, the Suburban combines the best features of both in one SUV!!16-18 mpg with the 5.7 V8 is great in my book, plus a ridiculously well-appointed interior AND go-anywhere 4WD?? Make mine Chevy please!!!

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  Ugly but .... - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By themarine84 - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car just to get me bye while in college and fell in love with it. I have put more than 50k on it my self and have only had to replace the water pump and the O2 sensor. This car has really decent interior and comfortable seating for everyone. The gas mileage on it is pretty decent for a 3.1 6cyl as well. I will continue to drive this car as long as I can. If they still made them I would get another in a heartbeat.

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  ouch - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By steve bruni - September 9 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car cheaply, as a project, but o boy. after spending $6000.00 in parts and repairs plus countless hours of my own labor, it is in the shop, 3rd one counting chevy dealer who could not find the cause of intermittent surging and stalling. after replacing every ignition part from the opti to coil plugs wires alternator on and on, when it runs its like a dream, but how many times can you go out and need a tow before you give up? if this guy cant fix it - hes had it for 3 days now, by tomorrow, Im off to a dealer to lose thousands on a trade-in and buying a vette. at least when i blow my money Ill have a real car. by the way, this is my 6th and last-worst camaro. lol

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  Oh, my. - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Oh, my. - September 8 - 11:01 am

  I got this from my mother who purchased it new. I prefer a different brand, but had to keep her from driving. Im having same problems as others. Ive had to have the AC button fixed several times. Youd think that Chevy would offer some kind of rebate or recall to those of us who have to have it fixed since this is a problem with most of the 03s, but they dont. Once is bad, twice is inexcusable. I also have trouble with the brakes when it rains. Glad to know others are having the same problems. I thought it was just me.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By AD - September 7 - 5:33 pm

  Comfortable to drive except for arm rest is too low. Exterior and interior looks nice. Ok gas mileage, average @24-26mpg. At just 20,000 miles, the timing chain, timing chain tensioner, and serpentine belt needs replaced. Dealer tech stated service bulletin issued for timing chain. Had recall for control panel completed but backlighting still dims periodically. May regret purchasing.

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  5 years and running like a champ! - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By LinRichards - September 6 - 4:52 pm

  I bought my car used with 64,000 miles on it five years ago. I LOVE THIS CAR. So reliable, I have not had to do any major repairs on it. I have of course changed tires, batteries, flushed the transmission. But there have been no other real problems. When I drive on the interstate or above 70 mph, it does eat a lot of oil. Im thinking it might have an internal oil leak. I need to get it looked at. But the miles per gallon is incredible and I absolutely love this tiny little car. I like that it has nothing automatic on it, thats how you can keep the cost down. BUY IT PEEPS!

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  Truly in Love - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CVega - September 5 - 8:11 pm

  I have a Black 2011 2SS with the RS package with the Inferno Orange interior. This car nails the WOW factor to the max. I see younger kids taking pictures with their cellphones, older ladies pull their husbands shirts to look at my Camaro. I am truly in love, I cannot wait to get out of work just do drive it. The ride is really smooth, has a solid feel like a BMW 750 which I owned. It is very very fast, however because of the smooth ride it doesnt feel as fast. The HUD came in handy for that problem. The only reason I am not driving this instant is because I have a horrible cold. I recommend it to all. Great alternative to Viagra.