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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  2005 Impala LS - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By ourlivesforhim - June 9 - 5:07 pm

  I have had this car for 22 months now. A great highway car. I drive 70 miles a day, and have a true average of 25.6 MPG. Some highway and some stop and go. Hard to beat that when you consider this is a full size car. I have had many Hondas in the past. This car is built just as well. Perfect, no, but darn close. The 3.8 is strong and solid. The brakes are excellent. Check the safety ratings! Top of the class. Go Chevy!

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  Not as good as I expected - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By jumeplatt - June 9 - 2:58 pm

  I purchased the van with 55,000 on it so I expected it to be used and have minor repairs. The problems started with the intake gaskets blowing this turned out to be a very typical problem with the Venture coolant deteriorates gaskets (Dex-Cool). Then there is the engine rattling also typical for the 3.4, caused by short piston skirts (design defect). Water pump went out ended up being related to the intake gaskets (Dex-Cool). Then there is the transmission hydraulic pressure defect that results in having to replace the transmission also typical of the 1999 Venture. These are all very costly repairs and I would not have purchased the van if I had known they were all so common to the Venture.

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  Reliable Chevy - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By chris1604 - June 9 - 11:13 am

  Ive had this car a little over a year and the only major problem I had was the cooling system. Only 2 radiator hoses were needed and that fixed the problem. Ive been having a lot of trouble with the starter. Brought it to my mechanic after I had a fresh oil and filter change and when I hot the car to him, the starter was fine! Funny how after I replaced my air filter and the oil was changed, the starter problem actually cured itself! He said if it acts up again, hell install a rebuilt one at no charge to me! The key turns every time and this I will never understand! Lets see how long until the problem occurs again!! Its a pleasure driving this car and the ride is very smooth.

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  Excellent Equinox - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jstow - June 9 - 9:40 am

  The Chevy Equinox has been a dream come true for our family. The interior roominess of this compact SUV was the major selling point for us. We love the ride of this vehicle too.

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  Small things gone wrong - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By colorfularies - June 9 - 8:24 am

  I bought this car 4 years ago and it had 90,000 miles on it. I just needed something to get me back and forth to work in. The car was nice looking, had great pick up and rode strong and smooth. No problems at all the first couple years. Soon the white paint started coming off, and after a brutal winter with snow and ice storms, my car was left with patches of grey primer showing through all over the vehicle Ive seen other white Luminas with the same problem. I had it repainted a few months ago and now it looks brand new. A defect in the paint that GM should fix. Ive had the radiator, AC compressor, alternator, and water pump replaced.

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  Good Truck for the Money - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By pyz01 - June 8 - 5:31 pm

  I really enjoy this truck. I wanted a small to midsize dependable truck. This was it. The other were too expensive and/or did not give the value for the money spent. Would be nice if it got better mileage, but I am not going to complain compared to others. I get about 17 in the city - 23 highway -which is pretty good. Excellent handling,good pickup. Drives smooth.

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  Pleased Corsica Owner - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By krissyc36 - June 8 - 5:07 pm

  Ive owned this car for over a year and its been very reliable and the engine and transmission are holding up well for a 16 year old car! Only major problem I had was a coolant problem (leaking) but 2 new hoses fixed that. It does need a new radiator, but my mechanic put some raqdiator stop leak on and its lasted almost a year!! Will have to eventually replace. Replaced stareter yesterday. No serious problems at all. I love the smooth ride and comfort of this car. This car will go across country and back with no breakdowns! Ill own this until the wheels fall off! Will buy another one for a second car when and if mine dies.

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  Very Underrated - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Joel Hryniewicz - June 8 - 5:01 pm

  I am always suprised to see how low the experts rate the Cobalt. I absolutely love this car! It has great looks, great gas mileage (35+ mpg), and is very comfortable. It seems to be a very well built car, and it is a blast to drive. If I had to buy a sport compact all over again, my choice would not change at all. GM did an excellent job in designing this car. Oh yeah, did I mention the great looks?

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  76,000 Miles and Sweet Malibu Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By dbadcraig - June 8 - 2:30 pm

  This is a car I did not care for much at first, but we needed another car and the price was right. Well, the car has really grown on me and I now love it. I am incredulous of the odometer reading, this car drives more like a car with 7,600 miles on it (not 76,000). The engine and transmission are wonderful, delivering a good +33 mpg on the highway. Not a drop of oil used. The ride/handling compromise is perfect for everyday use. The electric steering is different, but easy to get used to. Negatives: 1. noise (a "clunk") in the front end in low speed turns that appears to be a common characteristic of the electric steering, 2. the cars heater is slow to warm up the car on cold days.

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  1993 Vette owned 10 years - 1993 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Paul - June 8 - 12:12 pm

  I bought this 93 Vette right out of college w/77K mikes. I used it for a daily drive, weekends, etc. Ive owned Jaguars, BMWs, etc. This car has been the best bang for the buck and you can pull into a dealership in any rural town and get it worked on. With tech manuals you can easily service it yourself or you local mechanic buddy can fix almost anything. With the mpg and economical repairs, it has been a very great affordable car to own and operate. Performance and the looks of this 14 year old car still turn heads. If you dont have one, get one.