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:

• 

  You would think for free I would like it - 1998 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Anonymous - April 22 - 2:00 am

  I got my 98 Blazer for FREE so you would think I would be thrilled, right? Wrong. It is designed and built poorly. 3 mechanic visits in 6 months for various problems at $400 each. One to replace the serpentine belt, the others were for an oil leak and a transmission fluid leak. It is good in snow, does poorly on dirt trails and is only so-so on the sand. There is very little ground clearance for a 4WD. Tremendous amount of body roll and gobbles gas. Not fun to drive at all. Good for long trips. I am planning on trading it in for a foreign car/truck. My last American car was a 72 GMC Jimmy, which was more fun by far. I am going to wait another few decades before giving GM another chance.

• 

  Mines for sale - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Steve Lovas - April 18 - 10:00 am

  Poor drivability. Engine has great top- end, but low-end power is short and has noticable dead spots. A/c performance is poor, steering very sluggish. Dashboard looks cheep. Front door armrests are too low to be of much use. Distorted windshield.

• 

  what a piece of junk - 1998 Chevrolet Suburban
  By gimmeatoyota - April 18 - 2:00 am

  total mistake. dealer un helpful as well as general motors. currently on the 5th set (you heard me) of brake rotors. brake booster failed conviently out of warranty. water pump failed also just out of warranty. 3 shock absorbers literally fell off on the way home from the dealer. replaced alternator at 40k. fuel milage is horrific and it even failed emmissions!! the ride is ok but it rattles going over rough roads so much that you think the doors are falling off. cheap plastic trim and dash too

• 

  1997 Venture - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By Abraham - April 16 - 2:00 am

  Numerous electrical problems. Power door faild constantly. Rear window wiper stopped working one month after purchase and the dealer never could find the cause. Many squeaks and rattles.

• 

  very poor car - 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By skoniecz40 - April 3 - 2:00 am

  This car has been nothing but mechancial failures and headaches, I wish I never purchased it!

• 

  Cavalier - Outdated and old. - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By tman7773 - March 29 - 2:00 am

  The exterior and interior design looks about 10 years behind every other compact car. The brakes, manual transmission, acceleration and steering all feel cheap, rough and weak. All 4 brakes went at 35,000 km and had to be replaced when I started feeling a warp when braking. I hit a ground hog while driving and that resulted in a $650 replacement of my radiator. When the car idled it idled rough and I was told by the service techs that there was nothing wrong with the car. The vents that aim the air popped out place now and again. The odd time ( 3 times) Id hear a horrible racket in my vents, and out would pop a dried up whirly bird helicopter from a tree.

• 

  none - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Eug - March 27 - 2:00 am

  Will never buy the car again

• 

  Do not buy a chevy - 1994 Chevrolet Corvette
  By geoff - March 27 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car with 66k miles on it and it has been one problem after another. The water pump went out,the alternator needed to be replaced it backfired continuasly, it has small electrical problems. The car had a bad torque converter in it, it turned out chevy put the wrong one in it.Ive had to get 4 tuneups and now im trying to sell it before it costs me more money.

• 

  too much maintenance - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Thumbsdown - March 25 - 2:00 am

  In 5 years have put in over $3000.00 worth of repairs. Transmission rebuilt at 60K miles and again at 93K miles. Many problems with U-joints, upper and lower ball joints, and idler arms. Engine makes a high-pitched squeal when idle and when stopped. No passenger side air-bag.

• 

  Never again - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By not satisfied - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Sorry, but I have nothing good to say about this car. If it werent for a company vehicle, I would not purchase one. Many brake problems and other problems that cost me a lot of dollars over the 3 year life. Enough said!!