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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  48,000 complete engine failure - 2001 Chevrolet Tracker
  By standed - April 2 - 2:00 am

  50 miles from home in a 2001 4 Cyc 2.0L 4 door. Purchased less than 2 months ago. The engine fell apart from the inside, cloging the oil pump and totaling the motor.

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  Good deal was really a bad deal - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MaryBeth Costa - April 1 - 3:03 am

  Got 2009 Silverado in 2015 with 33,000 miles for about $25K. A month later the camshaft went, dealer repaired. Two months later camshaft went again and oil pumps as well. Dealer said sorry. I had it fixed. problems with electrical system, throttle body, steering column electrical issues. Needed complete transmission replacement at 60,000 miles. Now more electrical issues with grounds, throttle body, alternator. I need this truck for work! It is costing a fortune in repairs. As soon as it is fixed I am selling it.

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  Piece of Junk - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jhow0672 - April 1 - 2:00 am

  Only 66,000 miles but already had driveshaft fall off, computer died, radiator leak, water pump died, intake manifold leaked, air-conditioning died, windshield wipers had a manufacturing defect that I fixed myself.. generally unreliable truck.

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  Needs Woork - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By fpkeegan - April 1 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the Blazer new in 1999 it now has 79,000 miles on it. The plastic seat handle on the driver seat broke off in the first 5000 miles. I use the vehicle to drive to and from work and normal city driving, it has not been used for towing or any off road. In the last 10,000 miles the transmission has been replaced ($3300), the air conditioning compressor was replaced ($700) and the Heater coil was replaced ($700). The heater coil is located in the dash board, which required the removal of the dash board to replace it. The only saving grace is that I purchased an extended warranty on the vehicle at the time of purchase.

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  Beware the Blazer - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By bill mydo - March 30 - 2:00 am

  In my effort to "Buy American" I got a brand new blazer - and been regretting it ever since. At only 70k has never gone more than several months without having to be in shop. Replaced a side mirror, alternator, two batteries, the front tri-boot, repairs for a turn signal switch that went on and off, leaking oil (hose), leaking coolant (pump) and leaking transmission fluid (various lines). Now the "service engine" light is on. Worst part is, Ive totally babied this vehicle - Ive taken it "off road" twice, park it in a garage at home and work, and followed manufacturers scheduled service/maintenance recommendations religiously. Vehicle is a piece of junk.

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  never again - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By arula219 - March 30 - 2:00 am

  My blazer was fine for a year except for bad gas mileage (expected due to being SUV). Then at 53000 miles my transmission went out and I had a recall on some electrical stuff (blinkers, etc.).

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  Never ever ever again - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By gene - March 23 - 4:30 pm

  This car is the biggest piece of junk! Soon as I got it I noted that water was leaking in from the firewall thanks to the cabin air filter being under the window wipers stupid location, hard to fix, impossible to replace a blown speaker in the back, blows fuses for back up lights regularly, horrible suspension and creaks over every bump and feels floaty, had to replace the driver side wheel hub assembly at 62,000 miles cant be left for over two days with out it being dead dude to electronic draw, exhaust rattles thanks to design, traction to sensitive, and kicks in at weird times. A horrible gm design and poorly engineered! No gm crap for me any more, reconsider if you want one

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  2006 2LT Monte Carlo - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By 2LT - March 23 - 4:33 am

  I am very disappointed with my 2006 Monte Carlo purchase. The car is very uncomfortable, and the interior is very plain. My previous car was a 1998 Monte Carlo, and the interior in that model is much more elegant, and the seats were comfortable, unlike the 2006 model. I would never buy another Monte Carlo again, or a Chevy. There is much more I do not like about the car, but itÂ’s too much to type.

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  Biggest piece of scrap metal I own - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By jano - March 23 - 2:00 am

  In the 8 yrs that I have owned my Nissan, I have less problems with it than I have had with this hunk of scrap metal. A totally rebuilt engine at 38,000 miles? Left and right wheel hub assembly replaced b4 33000? I look at it and despise the day I bought it. Should have paid attention to the poor reviews for reliability and mechanical soundness.

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  Problems Problems Problems - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By Kevin Dolan - March 14 - 2:00 am

  Ever since we bought our Venture (with approx. 17K miles), things are falling off. I agree with the comment above, lots of plastic parts, then the power windows not working, a blown headgasket, machineing of the heads to finally a blown engine with only 97,000 miles. This has been pouring good money after bad. My Nissans have had over 180,000 miles with my first one over 350,000 miles. Never issues like this, not at only 97,000. What is it with american made cars, you pay them off then they die!!!!! What happened to quality that you can count on??