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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  What a Lemon - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Theresa Stephenson - June 14 - 2:00 am

  This car is in the shop every 3 - 6 months even during the warranty period. We have spend over 4000.00 on repairs since then and now an additional 1500.00 is required. Getting rid of it and will not buy another chevorlet product. My husband says they were drunk when they built my car. Non of my family or friends will buy this product after watching us shell out so much money on such a sorry product. Chevrolet should be ashamed of themselves.

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  ZR2 Blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By tornado - June 13 - 2:00 am

  Horrible vehicle!! Its been in the shop 7 times in the last 8 months, 6 for the same HVAC problem and once due to a transmission casing issue. Customer service in 3 states has been horrible, the customer service line provided in the manual is of no help. Ill never buy another Chevy vehicle again!!

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  impala sucks! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Shelley - June 11 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2001 white Impala LS, fully loaded for $27,000 & it has been my nightmare ever since! Ten months later and the transmission has gone out THREE times! You have to schedule an appointment, 25 miles away, to have it looked at. Let me tell ya, Ive been doing a lot of reading up on Illinois lemon laws. The 0% is what got me to buy the car and I will never, ever, ever buy a Chevy again. I have tried numerous times to trade it in and its true about the value of it dropping as soon as you drive it off the lot. 10 months later and it books at $12,000 less than what I paid for it. Dont buy Impalas!

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  Great Comfort, Terrible Workmanship - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By mlpaper - June 11 - 2:00 am

  While I enjoyed what the SUV offered in comfort, size, and handling, I was disappointed in the quality. Beginning at 3,000 miles, we had the following replaced, speedometer, windshield wiper motor, power chair, handle to recline passenger seat, heating vents (had to remove the dashboard), compass, and rear tire mount handle, among other items. We had problems with the differential fluid leaking, the radiator leaking, and now the heater core. Most of these items were covered under the warranty, but the aggravation and time spent at the dealership were not. While I will always own an SUV, I will never buy another Chevy.

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  Dont buy this car. - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JJ - June 10 - 4:40 pm

  I bought this vehicle new from the lot. The window moldings kept popping off, a defect which was confirmed by the dealer. The front seat is too small for me, I am 510". It is made for "soccer moms". The pedals are too close to the seat, and the steering wheel is not telescopic. Adjustable pedals wont push them back. The plastic on the sideview mirrors was separating, and the battery died, twice. I did not leave any lights on.

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  Is it American quality or just bad luck? - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By PE - June 5 - 2:00 am

  We purchased a Chevy Venture less than two years ago and have already had to put nearly $2000 in repair costs into it. At 38000 miles the ignition switch failed while I was trying to leave the grocery store in a snow storm. After waiting three hours for the promised emergency road side assistance, I ended up walking 3 miles back to my house. At 48000 miles the AC condenser developed a leak. Currently in the shop and only costing us $1000. We had a Ford before this and had same bad luck. My honda is the only thing we have never needed repair work on (this with 140,000 miles). Should I try Dodge next?

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  2006 Chev Silverado - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By buyToyota - June 2 - 8:33 pm

  i really believe there should have been recalls on this truck. All of the following repairs were needed in the first 36 months i owned this truck: ABS went out; front axle seals continue to leak; rotors were replaced on both sides; nearly lost control of the truck on the highway when the front wheel bearings gave out; the 4 wheel drive automatic switch broke and shut down the 4x4 function; the drivers side door panel came loose and the entire panel had to be replaced; the plastic hinge for the center console broke off, etc etc.. Again, i believe that there should have been or should be a safety recall on this truck. Buyer beware. Thank goodness this is a leased vehicle and i return it.

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  Bad Chevy - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By a. hickman - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car brand new in September 1999. Two month later I had to replace the rotor. Half way through the year I replace two tires. Give I put a lot of miles, but I have been in the shop a lot of times replacing belts, alternator, and etc. Right now Im having trouble shifting into gear on a cold start but dealer cant find anything wrong. The car is very noisy and I lost value because of the drop in price. Im switching to Toyota. No more Chevy.

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  Less than impressed - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By madmabs - May 30 - 2:00 am

  After 3 years of leasing this car I am very glad to return it to the (less than professional) Dealership. If you are thinking of buying a Malibu Dont. It has developed a squeak and groaning noise from the front suspension. The brakes are sub-par and had to be replaced after 2 years even though I am not heavy footed. The paint finish is substandard and the interior also. Do yourself a favor and check out a Honda Accord

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  Im sellin it! - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Localboarder22 - May 27 - 2:00 am

  When I bought this truck I thought it was the coolest thing. Yea little did I know that durring the time I owned it, it would be in the shop 7 times!!!! Thats right 7, different problems every time. I baby the hell out of it and it still breaks. I will never own another chevy as long as I live. I am purchasing a Dodge now.