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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  My First Disappointmebnt - 2016 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Jim H - July 30 - 8:05 pm

  Most fun to drive of any car in my 71 years. Purchased this 2016 brand new. Comfort very surprisingly super. Performance terrific. Problems from day ONE STILL UNRESOLVED. Air conditioner/climate control wildly hot to only cool - never ever cold. Seat cooling works mildly just a few times in the two years we have had it. First year a horribly loud vibration when going up a hill. Selling dealer took it for joy rides and left the suspension at the hardest/racing setting. The cabin cooling and seat cooling still unresolved. Second dealer I went to is trying, but NO results. This car has been in dealers shops perhaps two dozen times for up to three weeks at a time. Gas mileage unbelievably wonderful. Long Beach Red - be prepared for people to follow you to a parking lot to look closer and compliment appearance. Ive wanted a Corvette since I saw the very first one in 1953. Were driving the car off the selling dealers lot and Priinces "Give me a Red Corvette" comes on XM - Bridge. People follow us in the freeway in our blind spot just to look for miles then pass and wave. Take all of the remarkably wonderful things about this car that we love, put it against the horrid reliablility and amount of time its been in the shop - is it worth it? Absolutely NOT. This is by far the most disappointing motor vehicle Ive had Ever and Ive had 13 brand new ones. For the first time in my life, I REGRET BUYING IT......................................... Be prepared for all the crap you will have to learn to tolerate if you buy one. Chevy complaints in the sky? All they did was to tell me to go to other dealers to see if they could fix it......... We have driven this vehicle with love and care and serviced as recommended................................................... Go buy a Mustang instead.

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  Not best choice on market - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Phillip Smith - July 29 - 12:11 pm

  Vehicle is underpowered, has a hard time catching up with cruise control settings. Often resulting in high engine revs and downshifting. Even with no cargo load. Removing seats for cargo space is cumbersome and could result in back injury. They are extremly heavy, release and locking mechanisims do not work well. Center console not well designed or user friendly.

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  Overall performance - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Rhonda S. - July 23 - 7:11 pm

  Overall, its been a good vehicle, but compared to the Venture (which we also had), the comfort of the Venture was far better and the interior of the Venture with its Captains chairs (minus the table as the Uplander has) was easier to access the 3rd row seating. It drives fine but already we have had problems with the air conditioning failing (pinched wires and blown fuses). Headphones with the radio/DVD system in the Venture were an easier fit for the kids.

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  Not very reliable - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Steve B - July 22 - 8:20 pm

  Have been stranded twice with this vehicle. In both instances it was the security system that failed. It wouldnt allow the engine to start. Upon replacing the failed security system electronics, other electronics controlling the anti-lock brakes and tire pressure monitor subsequntly failed. Have problems with the front passengers side suspension (rattles) that are still not resolved. Vehicle was at the dealer for repairs to the suspension issue when it was discovered that the steering rack and axles needed replacement (this occurred at around 12,000 miles). Mileage when using E-85 falls by about 35% but vehicle operates fine with this fuel. Average vehicle, nothing special

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  Bought a Lemon - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lynn27 - July 21 - 9:04 am

  Weve had this car for 3 years and 3 months (37,000 miles) and have had it in for service 18 times. Though all were under warranty, it meant time off work to take the car in, sitting for a couple of hours in dealership, or finding someone willing to drive us back and forth. This is the most unreliable car weve ever had. Service included: steering column replaced, (lost power on highway and I couldnt steer), fluid leaks from axles, new routers, stablizer bar, front end problems (Chevy is working on this they said), trunk release broke, strut mounts replaced, seat broke, new muffler, hazard button fell into dashboard, gas cap recall and more.

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  Looks good, if you could only push it - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Christy - July 21 - 8:06 am

  I have had my Chevy for two years now and it has a whopping 23K on it. Apparently, this is the same as 200K for other cars based upon my problems with this loser vehicle! I am currently looking to get-rid of it soon before the warranty runs out. I told the dealership today, as my car was being repaired for the sixth time, that I could not afford to do all the work it need monthly. So, I am currently looking to unload it before I have to start paying big money out my pocket. Two weeks after I bought “it” the starter went out. I took a picture as it was being towed back to the dealer. Then a stylish feature is the check engine light - it stays on all the time, which will no doubt become an

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  Bad Luck - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By aria49 - July 19 - 10:12 am

  I have had the worst luck with this car. Three months after I bought it, it began to stall out when I would start it after not driving it for awhile. (The mass airflow sensor was faulty.) On a road trip my timing belt snapped resulting in needing to totally replace the engine. The most recent thing to go wrong with this car is that the hood latch was faulty resulting in my hood being bent beyond a cheap repair. (Had to replace the hood, both quarter panels, paint them and finally replace the hood latch.) Everything that has gone wrong with this car was an expensive fix. The other issue I have with this car is it gets less than 30 mpg highway.

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  Extremely Disappointed - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By GP - July 12 - 3:46 am

  Unfortunately, for all the good attributes this truck has, power, performance, comfort, gas mileage for a big car, its an extremely unreliable vehicle. Ive had it at the dealership 4 times in the last 6 weeks for various issues that have required major repair. Fortunately, I found a good dealership that has made the repairs under warranty. The selling dealership was horrible. Along with all the other problems Ive had in the past, I could never recommend this vehicle. The other funny thing is that some things that one dealerships says is covered under warranty is not at another dealership.

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  Cheap Cheap Cheap - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jamie Keaton - July 7 - 10:20 pm

  I own a 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer LS 4x4, purchased it in February 2006 with around 11,000 miles on it. Since Ive owned the vehicle, Ive already replaced the rotors. The rubber molding trim around the back doors comes through when the doors are shut. The black plastic molding around the front driver side door handle keeps falling off- local Chevrolet dealership fixed it and it fell off again. The front passenger seat molding around the bottom of the seat is loose. The glove compartment will completely fall out onto the floor from time to time. Overall this vehicle was made cheap and Ill never buy another one. Im looking into trading for a Toyota 4Runner.

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  Sorry owners - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By McKinley - June 29 - 4:37 pm

  The front bucket seats are not very comfortable for long trips. This van lacks the small storage spaces that we have been acustomed to in the past 3 GMC vans that we have owned. The fact that the middle row bucket seats do not adjust allowing more leg room is very uncomfortable. I never realized that the storage behind the front seat would not hold the Atlas we always carry and that the earphone holders were not removable. We really wish we had not bought this van.