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:

• 

  Nice Van - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Brian - July 10 - 10:28 pm

  Bought used w/ 116K miles, now at 143K. Intake manifold started leaking repair mostly covered under extended warranty. One power sliding door doesnt work left wiper runs off the windshield Rear end fluid had to be replaced (common problem with Versatrak AWD) occasional wheel sensor problem which disables ABS and AWD already rusting Despite these problems the van has never left me stranded.

• 

  Lumina is OK - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Rob - July 7 - 2:03 am

  Ive had my Lumina for 4 years and its been a 6 out of 10 car. In the last 2 years Ive had to replace the battery, alternator, starter and water pump. Ive heard a lot of bad things about Luminas, mine has been alright. It cruises great down the highway and the gas mileage is decent for such a big car. My family and I feel very safe when were in it. There was 82800 miles on it when I bought it and now it has 147000 miles. The transmision has some issues lately, I was thinking of replacing old betsy. For what I paid for this car, it has served me well. If you need a car and you come across a Lumina with low miles and a decent price, consider buying it. If not, buy an Impala like Im going to.

• 

  18 Months and 18000 miles - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Burt - July 6 - 10:29 pm

  The truck has done its job. It not the most refined truck out there but it was inexpensive to buy. A previous review said the truck had problems with brakes locking up after a recall repair was performed at the dealership, and blamed GM for his problems. The same thing happened to me, got half way home and noticed the brakes were overheating. The tech that installed the new parts didnt properly adjust switches to accommodate brake pedal travel and they were dragging. It was an easy fix and the brakes are fine. He also complained about fuel economy. Well, if your brakes are dragging your fuel economy isnt going to be all that good. The check engine light in mine comes on regularly.

• 

  OK - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By NIKKI - July 6 - 7:50 pm

  We bought our second GM SUV this year it seems to be a nice vehicle. It delivers a very comfortable ride. And fuel economy well, it is an SUV. Not so great. It does tow well. We tow a 21 foot boat and it handles well. Overall I would buy another TrailBlazer.

• 

  Reduced Engine Power - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Heirborne - July 4 - 7:06 pm

  Bought truck new. Has been fine other than the lousy fuel economy. 260 miles or less per tank of fuel on the highway, so I am not sure how you others are getting such "good" mileage. Have had the Reduced Power / Check Engine warning light come on 3 times in the last month. First time they said it was a bad battery cell, the second time they asked me if it had been jumped off, to which I answered no! Now I wonder what they will blame it on. It is under warranty thank God and either it will be fixed or else. I am not happy right now and would not recommend the truck to any buyer. I had a 98 Ford Ranger that never gave me a problem. And Chevy is wondering why they are hurting? Duh!

• 

  Big Lemon - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By lonebull - July 4 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is totally unreliable due to excessive and severe electrical/computer problems that Chevrolet cannot fix. The Duramax diesel is not as economical as my Ford 7.3l Diesel. The salesperson lied when he said the Duramax diesel will not "stink" like a Ford. It does!!!!

• 

  02 Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By hpc1979 - July 3 - 5:17 pm

  Ive had my Chevy Blazer for about 5 years now. For ther most part, since it was my first new car, I havent done too bad. The cons: Changed fuel pump already, build quality is poor, and it eats gas a little too fast, back seats are unconfortable. The pros: Good power, good control for an SUV, Drivers seat is extremely confortable, great driver to dash set up.

• 

  So far, junk! - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Anderson - July 3 - 11:41 am

  We bought this car brand new. The first couple years were ok. Today this car is the biggest regret for a car I have ever owned. First, the brakes were junk. Then the catalytic converter went, then the fuel pump, then the heater core, then a engine seal for the coolant, then the ignition module, then another set of brakes, and finally a #350 sensor for the computer that was also giving it starting troubles. I cant even remember the other stuff that has gone wrong. To date I have about $3000 to $4000 in repairs and the car only has 96,000 miles. I have a 08 Silverado and a 98 Cavalier and they are great vehicles. 02 Malibu is junk!

• 

  Chevrolet 2000 Monte Carlo LS 2dr. - 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 2DR LS Coupe - July 3 - 6:33 am

  Great gas mileage. Uncomfortable seating, makes back hurt with way front seats are made. Too uncomfortable entering and geting out of car, both front and back seats. Too low from front stepping out of car in front. Back headrests are very uncomfortable when trying to turn head, unable to see behind. The younger ones like drivng it though. So far it has been reliable and I do believe it is well made. I will never buy another 2 Dr. Too uncomfortable.

• 

  Do I have a lemon - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By RICHARD LEE - July 3 - 12:15 am

  I have been having constant problems with my new Z06.1. The automatic shift from 1st to 4th light does not comes on and off whether I am actually shifting from 1st to 4th. Sometimes the vehicle will not let me fill a full tank instead it only allows me to fill 1/2 a tank. My traction light comes on and off whenever it wants and it seems the rear end is slipping. When I make wide slow turns the steering wheel gets rock hard and I have to really hold it tight as if I didnt have power steering. When I pull my vehicle up to my drive way I hear the roof of the car crackling as if the roof is shifting. My power seat control went out the first week of owership and they had to replace it.