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:

• 

  Good Little Truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Zach - February 12 - 7:38 am

  I have had the truck a couple of weeks. I had to take into the shop after having it for 1 week. It ended up need a new head cylinder that Chevy paid for. Other than that the truck is great. It does everything that you need to do for around a house. If you want something that will towing a lot then get a full size. If you are not going to tow get this truck!

• 

  Best suv weve ever had - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By pands from mo. - February 11 - 5:16 pm

  We love the interior, everything is Handy. The awd has gotten us through several bad snow storms. The leather heated seats are very comfortable and plenty of room for trips. Couldnt be ant happier.

• 

  Decent Car - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By nc3e - February 11 - 3:04 pm

  We purchased this car almost 8 years ago, and it has been very reliable over the years. The engine runs strong, although it isnt the most powerful engine out there. It gets better fuel mileage than I anticipated, and with 189,000 miles on the clock, there are no interior rattles or squeaks and no exterior rust. Recently, we have had problems with the vehicle overheating and the coolant leaks at various places (gaskets are rotting). The steering and suspension can be a little frightening, at highway speeds there is noticeable vibration and grip around turns isnt good, even for a car of this size. Brakes always feel weak, even when replaced, and will begin to pulse on long trips.

• 

  many,many problems - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By bill norton - February 11 - 1:12 pm

  Couldnt put gas in tank. Rear defogger quit. Remote start quit working, dealer says $800 or more to fix because check engine light is out. Had to replace front and rear pads and rotors at 40,300 miles. Just replaced muffler at 53,000 miles. Had clonk noise in steering and rear end fixed. With Windows down they rattle when you shut the door. I called gm on the remote start problem and this lady was very short and said gm could not help with any problems! Why would I buy another gm product if Im going to have these kind of problems and no help from gm!

• 

  Your Basic Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jon - February 10 - 2:31 pm

  I bought my 2004 Chevrolet Impala in 2008. I was reluctant to buy it because of the intake gasket problems on the 3.4 litre V6 engines GM made. So far I havent had any problems with it. What I love about this car is its simplicity, and comfort. It has responsive acceleration, and the controls are simple and easy to use. The steering is tight, and the car overall is solid. I bought it with 57000 miles on it. I now have 98000 miles on it. I have been impressed so far.

• 

  GAS Gauge & electrical issues - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Shaniqua856 - February 8 - 11:10 am

  on my 2nd fuel gauge replacement issue. Something failing in the gas tank saying Low Fuel (Always). I cant afford to replace it again @ $500 in 4 years of ownership, so using the "fuel used" meter to tell me when to fill. This has worked very well. Buttons on the radio & console wear very quickly & fuses fail continually so you just deal with it. A great deal of maintanence. When will there be a recall on the Fuel Gauge issue?

• 

  Very comfortable vehicle - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Robert Worsena - February 8 - 5:34 am

  Really love the automobile. Would have liked better hidden storage areas and brake system disk brakes needed thicker disks. Had to have disks ground down twice in 3 years. Otherwise a great vehicle.

• 

  Fun-Tastic - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Vanna - February 6 - 7:42 pm

  I really enjoy driving this car, its roomy (my tall family members can sit comfortably in the back), the seats are comfortable and it handles EXCELLENTLY on snowy MT roads, although unlike 4/AWD cars, I am unable to stop on snowy/ice covered hills. I had test driven other higher- end Malibus, but this was the only one that didnt have the weird rattley windshield that the others had. The interior is a little plain, but the car is very affordable and is perfect for young adults. Despite it having a small engine, it is still a pretty zippy car. If youre looking for a basic, safe, easy, & fun to drive car, the Malibu is a great choice.

• 

  nice car - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Ken - February 6 - 5:43 pm

  This car has been a very good car so far. It has 19000 miles on it and it is a 2008. Some of the editors review i totally agree with. The interior is a little on the cheap side but the seats are incredibly comfortable in the front even on long trips. I have the xfe and the gas mileage is superb. The braking mentioned by the editor has not been an issue but i dont drive on a race trac. The tires have done extremely well in the snow this winter. Over all really good car. Extremely comfortable and smooth on highway trips

• 

  It Keeps On Going - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By ddrhj - February 6 - 3:01 pm

  This is my first and only car, but it has been a great one. After 115,000 miles, its reliability and performance are still wonderful. The fuel mileage has hovered around 30 miles/gallon over the life of the car and the maintenance has been extremely minimal.