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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  wont buy a chevy again - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By lcanfield - August 24 - 5:37 pm

  I have my aveo for 4 years now and only have 32, 000 miles on it. I have had nothing put issues with this cars electrical system. First my tire pressure light comes on all the time, now I have my oil light come on and off. I was told by the dealer that it is a sensor problem and they cost 257.00. Now my check engine light is on. Of course this is the same problem. This sensor will cost 357.00. So far I have not fixed them and not sure I will. I will have the car paid off in may of next year, then its so long piece of crap car.

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  Avoid Suburbans with 5.3 engine - 2009 Chevrolet Suburban
  By boomer1971 - August 18 - 9:48 am

  Hey everyone have had on going issues with my truck and wanted to share my experience . I have a 2009 Suburban with the 5.3 liter engine. I have been to the dealer 4 times with engine related issues. Me and my family have been left at the roadside by this truck. The truck has had the engine rebuilt at 38000 miles by the dealership and continues to consume oil at 41000 miles. I have no confidence in this truck any longer. Ive requested a new engine or buyback. Best GM has to offer is $2000 certificate towards purchase of another GM product. Avoid the 5.3 liter versions of the Suburban/ Tahoe/ Yukon as many have had engine problems.

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  Stylish but Disappointing Quality - 2013 Chevrolet Camaro
  By witchknowscars - August 9 - 8:13 pm

  This car is full of flaws. Many of them I noticed immediately on my drive home from the dealership. First thing the next day I took the vehicle back for service and was told the car needed to be broke in. Really ? A clunky front end and steering wheel wobble needs to be broke in ? This car was broke before I even bought it. Is it normal for a car to stall / shut off after a hard left turn ? The people servicing these vehicles are just as incompetent as those designing & building them. I own 7 cars, and this one is by far the poorest quality with the worst service. This vehicle is a typical GM S-Box, the only good things are the engine & transmission, rest is junk. Buyer Beware !

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  so unhappy - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By 50570 - August 8 - 8:17 am

  I just brought a 2010 equinox and I been having problems with this suv sense day one which is crazy I feel like its not worth me making payments on. When I start it up it shakes until the vehicle idol down on top of that I keep hearing poppin sounds from the rear end sometimes when I go over a bump or just when Im driving. The check engine light came on and the next day it was off. I took this vehicle back to the dealership 5 times and its still not fix they was supposed to pick it up yesterday and they have not pick it up yet, Im so disappointed with the dealership as well as vehicle. I feel they should put me into another car or fix this thing cause Im unhappy with it. What can I do.

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  this car sucks and so does gm - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By crapmalibu - August 6 - 9:18 pm

  Bought my 2008 Malibu in 2011 . And since I pulled off the lot I have had problems . Catholic converter gone shocks gone brakes gone sensors gone steering horrible and so on the list goes and I have emailed and called gm after I tlod them I had to pay $1500 for my exhaust system and they dont even care and it was at there dealership . So much for standing behind your product . That new hyndia sonata is looking very good Im about to go foreign for the first time in 13 years. Good bye gm [non-permissible content removed].

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  The Value Mobile - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By sbe79 - August 5 - 10:50 pm

  Purchased in 2/2013 with a mere 38K on it. Had been garaged constantly and rarely driven in inclement weather. Basically, it was nearly mint. All in all, the car feels extremely cheap. It does not feel or drive like a 2003 of any type, it feels much older. It is a true budget mobile that offers no thrills or extras -- its a wonder these ever sold at all up against the competitively priced Civic or Corolla. My wife drives it as an errand runner -- and she runs a lot of errands. It has so far proven its dependability. Even though it feels like I could karate chop most of the interior, I think I could drive it at least part way across the US without issue.

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  Good "mom" car - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By mrpetrankov - July 26 - 3:38 pm

  Im 16 and i got my mothers 2004 venture about 5 months ago, when she had it she liked it very much. Overall its been a good car for me but it has bad car computer problems. We had to replace the whole computer system about 3 years ago. ($750) which wasnt worth it because about a year ago the gas gauge just stopped working which would be $500 to fix which is not worth it to us because we dont want the car anymore. But then again it has been a good car not including the computer problems.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By littlejen - July 16 - 8:44 pm

  I got have a 2010 traverse. At first it seemed like a great car until about a year ago when it started falling apart. It is the worse feeling in the world having a 3 year old car that is always broken. At 65,000 miles we had to have the replaced warranty covered it, but not having my vehicle for a week was annoying. It costs 190$ to replace the headlights, they have to remove the front end to do it. Cosmetically its falling apart toggles and buttons are coming lose. Its currently in the shop again. As Im driving down the road today the gas gauge starts flip flopping like a fish out of water and it wont shift gears. Lithia has my car more than I do.

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  Good and Bad, more Bad than good. - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By murrieta123 - July 11 - 12:55 pm

  I purchased the car used in 2010 with 104K miles for $1300. It was in great shape, no mechanical issues. I kept really good care of the car. Interior Issues: Dash is made of cheap plastic. It started cracking and falling apart. right now its barely hanging on. im thinking of just taking it off and buying one of those carpet covers that they sell to cover it. Its very ugly and embarrassing to have friends see it. Mechanical Issues: none, thats why i put up with the crappy interior. The car is sluggish, it wont burn rubber so dont try. Not for those who have the need for speed. I drive slow so i dont care about that stuff. I do not recommend this car.

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  Nothing but trouble - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kmoore2 - July 10 - 11:10 am

  My wife insisted she wanted this car when we bought it in 2008......why did I listen. We are at 112,000 miles and the gas gauge is broke, speedometer broke, voltage meter broke, #6 cylinder has lost compression and now the engine needs replaced. Just replaced the clutch fan on the trans. GM should be embarrassed they produced such a piece of junk that worked great for most people for the first 3 years, just in time for the warranty to run out. Know issues with the gauges but they will on pay half on the gas gauge to fix. Same on them. I will never by another GM product.