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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  Not worth the price Chevy is charging. - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Breezyww - October 18 - 7:37 pm

  This van doesnt have enough power to merge quickly onto the highway. The captain chairs dont have armrests and not enough room from the edge of the seat to the side wall. The air vents are hard to direct the air to blow directly on the driver. The third row bench doesnt stow away and almost impossible to remove and put back in, as a woman I cant do it alone. There isnt enough room behind the third row for all of my groceries and I have to stack them on the third row seat. Too many blind spots, especially for short drivers and when the the third row seats are up. This alone has caused me to be in 5 near accidents in 6 weeks.The DVD play skipped on our last trip w/ an new DVD in it.

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  DealerBlazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By JimR - October 18 - 2:00 am

  With all the problems with this SUV, it should be called a DealerBlazer. Its been in for problems six times in the first year. Now it is currently back at the dealer because the four wheel drive would not work. The dealer got it to work and couldnt get it to turn off. Nothing but major electrical problems, ranging from the four wheel drive to the seats, mirrors and alarm. Back window leaks have been fixed 4 times. Poor handling and seat comfort as well. Dont waste your money. Avoid it. For $36000 its a big waste of money.

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  Unreliable Car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Laura - October 16 - 4:15 pm

  I have had my cars engine, transmission, tires, tierod & axel, water pump, belt all replaced in less than a year of having it & in one week it had to be fixed twice! It is now getting worked on as I am writing this. Do not BUY Berettas. They are NOT RELIABLE! Trust me.

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  Wouldnt buy another one. - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By ajbrumbaugh - October 14 - 11:29 pm

  We bought our 2006 Trailblazer approximately 3 years ago, so the vehicle would have been 3 years old. Since that time we have had to replace the switch for the windows because they quit working. Now the motor acts like it will give out anytime. The heater fan at a cost of $400, the fuel gauge quit, which is quite the production because they have to drop the whole fuel tank. Chevrolet does have a recall since they have had this problem often so they will reimburse you for half. My check engine light comes on every so often along with the "skid" light. When they decide to they dont go off for awhile. Now it is rusting on the doors.

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  3.1 L V-6 Disaster for GM - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 3.1 L V-6 Disaster - October 14 - 3:09 am

  Bought car new in 1998. Many repairs right from start. Fuel injectors, AC switch,4 Break pads, alternater, Lower manifold gasket ($650), more fuel injectors, purge valve, fuel pressure regulator, trottle control valve.GM should junk this motor before it drives them and me into bankrupcy. My next car will be foreign like my friends who laugh at me. I have 63000 miles

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  Dont buy Chevys - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By B.D. Dalton - October 12 - 3:19 pm

  We bought a new Venture van in July 2002. Immediately following the expiration of our 3 year warranty the air conditioning went and all of the brake components failed without warning and needed to be replaced. It looks shiny when its new, but if you want a vehicle that will last look elsewhere. This long time GM customer will never buy a GM vehicle again.

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  Good News & Bad News - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Pch1972 - October 11 - 10:16 pm

  Good News: Has lot of power, and its comfortable for 3 kids, and 2 dogs. Bad News: 1 week after purchase, the air bag light kept coming on. Needed a new sensor. Then the OnStar would not work properly. Had to have that fixed. This winter, the molding on the hatch broke, last month, the starter was stuck. Luckily this was all under warranty. Not too happy with my Blazer being in the shop 4 times since the purchase of it 5 months ago.

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  4 Broken Driveshafts 2 rear ends - 2006 Chevrolet SSR
  By BROKENALLTHETIME - October 11 - 1:47 am

  The truck is a blast to drive. However mine has had 4 driveshafts and numerous amounts of rear end problems. Transmission slips and rear end knocks and leaks fluid. Not what I expected for a $45+ truck. Motor is solid and fun to drive but rear ends and drive shaft cant handle extra output

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  $60,000 Suburban with cracked dash - 2012 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Ollie striby - October 6 - 2:58 am

  I bought this SUV new in 2013 even though it was a 2012 for $60,000. I got a standard 3 year warranty from the dealership, Bob Steele Chevolet. Within a few months of warranty expiring my dash cracked in 2 places. Over the instrument panel and most seriously beside my airbag. Chevrolet company just said it was not a safety issue and could help cause I was out of warranty. NO WONDER THEY ONLY OFFER A 3 YEAR WARRANTY! The dealership tried to be sympathetic and said they would see what they could do but it wasnt their problem, they had MANY customers with the same problem! I find it hard to believe that THOUSANDS of buyers with the same problem can be wrong. There is even a Facebook page for Chevrolet Boken Dashes! Dont think because you pay a great deal of money for a SUV its going to be better than the cheaper one, or the company will treat you better. My family has always owned chevys, now because of their indifference to customers and REAL problems with their vehicles, my future cars will be imports! Dont buy ANY Chevrolet without checking online about defects they refuse to fix or even recognize. This is a problem with many models over many years! Sad when a company puts money over safety!

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  Venturous - 1998 Chevrolet Venture
  By La Popola - September 28 - 2:41 pm

  It was my first time buying a minivan and it was quite a good experience. I loved the room that came with it. Overall, this minivan is go for only a period of three years. After three years things dont feel the same. The brakes are a common problem when they start to squeak (something the really bother me). The electrical system was among small things that started breaking down, i.e, power locks, radio buttons (not due to abuse), power windows and back windshield wiper. The gas mileage was very poor if driving everyday. However, it was very reliable for the first three years until I went into my fourth year when things started breaking down. I would recommend it if you have kids...