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:

• 

  Coulda been better - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By talbin31 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  Several problems damper this otherwise fine vehicle. Lots of wind noise is the most apparent at speeds above 50 MPH. Front passenger seat belt locks up continuously. Fuel range...listed as 400 miles per tank...yeah...maybe if you drive the highway at 55 mph...otherwise expect mid to low 300 miles from full tank. Back seat uncomfortable...especially around foot area....other than I like it.

• 

  Very Disappointed! - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Steve - March 25 - 6:12 am

  This was by far the worst vehicle Ive ever owned. I sold it with 68,000 miles on it. The battery leaked, and it had ECU sensor problems. After having the transmission removed and repaired once, it needed to be replaced. Then, that transmission failed. It wore out three sets of front brake pads and a set of ball joints, aAll in 68,000 miles. This vehicle was driven to and from work daily, not hard miles.

• 

  Chevy Saddness - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Pmont - March 22 - 10:00 am

  While vehicle was still in warranty I noticed that the vehicle was using oil when cranking. Dealer oil consumption tests showed the engine was using 1 to 2 quarts of oil for every 3 to 4k miles driven. Chevrolet said usage of up to 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles is within spec. They are essentially saying use of three to four quarts of oil between my normal changes is within spec. Chevrolet was not interested in any goodwill deal to repair the deficiency. After purchasing many GM vehicles over the years, I must say I am extremely dissappointed in Chevrolets lack of customer service and desire to back up their products. Thats my last Chevy.

• 

  21 visits to the dealership - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Barnes - March 20 - 10:00 am

  I love to drive the car when it is running. That said, I have been back to the dealership on 21 occasions with a variety of bugs. The dealer sent me to Chevy who said that if I dont qualify for the lemon law, (same issue each time) they dont have to do anything. Good Luck if you buy a 2006 Impala.

• 

  Fix it before the warranty expires. - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Medic274 - March 1 - 4:48 am

  When I heard that Chevy was bringing back the Impala,I was excited. Went right out and bought one without researching it. I got stuck with a 2001 model that had just about every problem mentioned on all the forums. I had to get the brake rotors turned at 12K! Again at 20K. I should have insisted on the manufacturers recommended fix of replacing the rotors with aftermarket hi-performance rotors. The steering column clunked. My dealer "fixed" it by injecting grease into the joint boots. That lasted about 2 weeks. The ride was stiff and noisy. Good points? Seating was comfortable, and the 3.4L engine ran flawlessly.

• 

  Buy warrantee - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Chevrolet Venture L - February 26 - 11:35 am

  With less than 45000 miles I have replaced 4 wheel bearings, the left front was replaced twice. Now my light is on telling me I probably have another bearing going out. Ive had a tie-rod replaced, and most of my driving is done on paved streets. The side doors never sound like they are shut tight. In my opinion they are under powered for the weight they are pulling.

• 

  WET ROADS - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By wv nurse - February 24 - 10:00 am

  The performance of this vechicle is terrible on wet roads I wrecked mine while doing 45mph. Seats need more padding. Back seats need more leg room.I hate the milage I get 21mpg. This car use to be fun driving, but now I am afraid of it since hydroplaning across 4 lanes of traffic. The exterior is good looking but could use a few improvements. The build of the car is very sturdy after wrecking the only injuries I had was a cut on my finger. As far as reliability, this car has been hard to handle on wet roads since I purchased it. I owned a 2001 SS before the 2002 and never had this problem.

• 

  Fine for basic transportation - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Paul M - February 24 - 9:27 am

  I purchased a 2010 LT2 back in Nov 2009. Tons of problems within the first couple of years and the dealership I purchased it from refused to honor the warranty. Heres a few issues I encountered during my ownership: 1. The A/C didnt work the first time I tried it. Had to take to a second dealership for them to fix it. 2. Dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree about a year later. Engine almost kept stalling while waiting at lights. Turned out to be some loose wiring. 3. Screw popped out of the steering column which helped to shut the turn signal off when straightening the wheel. 4. Power steering recall. 5. Ignition switch recall. 6. Poor handling. 7. Bad visibility. 8. Virtually no room in the back seats for adults. 9. Rock hard seats with little support. 10. Cheap plastic everywhere. 11. Poor build quality. 12. Car makes a weird creaking sound after a couple of minutes of being parked. The list goes on. This car is not one to buy if you can avoid it.

• 

  Great car if you like squeaks and rattles - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kamil - February 21 - 8:07 pm

  Purchased the car in 2004 and got a good deal since it was an left over 2003. I was satisfied for the first several months then problems started occuring. I took it in for service several times and these problems still exist. Love the acceleration and the Getrag shifter is nice, but the crafstmanship that went into it stinks. My biggest complaints are with the heating unit since it makes strange noises, starting problems, the passenger seat moves when vehicle is in motion and NOISE. Whenever I go over bumps or train tracks the dashboard squeaks and rattles. It is a little embarrasing sometimes.

• 

  Problems, Problems, Problems - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By ECRISS - February 19 - 2:36 am

  I have loved everything about this car up until about a year after I bought it, Within the last four months I have had my tire sensors replaced numerous times. I have had my tires replace at no charge through the dealer, the steering shaft was replaced a month ago and today I had both front tie rods replaced! Something not of the norm at 24,000 miles. Poor, poor gas mileage! I was originally looking for an Acura, but wanted to stay American. Guess I made a wrong decision.