Chevrolet has long been one of the top-selling American brands and is the core brand for General Motors in North America. Chevrolet offers a comprehensive lineup of cars and trucks, a feat matched only by the Ford brand, and to a lesser extent, Toyota and Nissan.

As GM has struggled to redefine other brands like Saturn, Pontiac, and Buick, Chevrolet has often taken a back seat when it comes to launching new products, but it has often paid dividends with more refined versions of otherwise identical models from its sister brands. The latest example of this is the Chevrolet Traverse. Although the Buick Enclave, Saturn Outlook, and GMC Acadia have been on the market since last year, the Chevrolet version has had to wait on the sidelines. The Traverse features unique styling reminiscent of the Buick Enclave, but is mechanically very similar to its siblings.

The big news for Chevrolet this year is the release of the long-rumored Corvette ZR1. The ultimate Corvette sets itself apart from the already quick Corvette, and quicker Corvette Z06, with a 620-bhp supercharged V8. Extensive use of carbon fiber in the body reduces body weight and adds exclusive flair to this $100K+ Corvette.

The Cobalt sedan and HHR panel wagon get new SS models this year. A 260-bhp turbocharged four-cylinder powers the SS models. The package also includes aggressive wheels, tires and bodywork.

GM has responded to changing market conditions by offering a number of models with improved fuel economy. XFE badged versions of the Cobalt, Silverado, and Tahoe all offer improved fuel economy over previous versions.

Introduced last year on the Tahoe, General Motor's two-mode hybrid system finds its way in to the Silverado Crew Cab for 2009. The elaborate transmission and battery pack boost the fuel economy of the Silverado, but allow the Silverado to retain the truck characteristics that buyers are looking for.

Next up for Chevrolet is the return of its pony car, the Camaro.

• What's new for Chevrolet
• Chevrolet for 2009
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• Official Site
• Parent Site

Performance

For many, the way a car performs is a key criterion for which car to purchase. Our Velocity Index helps determine which vehicles are the best all-around performers taking in to consideration a balance of factors such as acceleration and handling.

For more information, view our new car performance guide.

What would we drive?

Based on our Velocity Index analysis, the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette seems to provide a good trade-off between price and vehicle performance.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy has long been a key decision factor when buying a new vehicle. While the EPA estimates may accurately predict your mileage with a given vehicle, they are useful for broad comparisons of vehicles. Note that many trucks and large SUVS are too heavy to be required to specify their fuel economy.

For more information, view our new car fuel economy guide.

What's popular

Here are the five cars that draw the most attention from our readers.

• 2009 Chevrolet Impala
• 2009 Chevrolet Corvette
• 2009 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
• 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
• 2009 Chevrolet Traverse