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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  Great car, auto light control issue - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By Eric - October 11 - 4:06 am

  I have had nothing but sheer enjoyment from this car since I purchased it. The engine is very well powered for a 4-cylinder, road noise is much quieter than a lot of other models, and MPGs are good considering the amount of storage space and the fact you can easily fit 4 large adults in the car. I read there used to be an issue with stone chipping on previous models, however 2008 comes with a thick protective film on the surfaces at risk from stones and that film seems to work great. Even the film doesnt show signs of impact. Only issue has been my auto light sensor failing. Sometimes it wont allow parking and interior lights to come on with headlights. Manual override doesnt work.

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  Problems with my blazer - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mary - October 10 - 1:43 pm

  I had problems with my blazer,before the warranty was up. Took it to Wilson Motors, they said they couldnt find anything wrong with it, Its in my front end , & when I turn corners it really makes noises, like the front end is going to fall off, & just after my warranty was up, my heater went out , I smelled burnt wiring,so,need a new wiring harness, now when I roll my window up,power windows, the headlights flicker.Im afraid my car will catch on fire.& had a humming noise going on, thought it was a fan , or something, took it in ,the mechanic replaced something on it, said that happens alot with these vehicles & with the wiring problems, he said that happens alot with these vehicles.

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  Dis-Satisfied - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jlyn89 - October 10 - 1:32 pm

  Where do I begin. Ive had nothing but problems w/my car. The RMPs dont idle right. It makes shuddering movements while driving & while stopped. After 1 month of having it, I had a transmission problem and other tiny problems. Buying this car was the worst decision I made. Dont expect a race car, because this car lacks power, very much. Dealership would not fix my car, so I got an attorney & General Motors agreed to buy back the car, so now Im on the hunt for another. But I will tell you that this car was a pain in the neck the whole 3 months I had it. But I loved the way it looked outside & especially inside its such a nice looking car, just doesnt run the way its supposed to.

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  My Y2K truck after 37K miles - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Germanator - October 10 - 2:00 am

  It has been 3 years now that I have owned my truck and it has held up very well. I have customized it and pumped a bit more power out of that 4.8L V8. It definately has some kick to it. Nothing has been wrong with it after 3 years and 37K miles. This is a great truck. I will keep it for a few more years.

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  A Sweet Ride, My Monte - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By sleestak - October 10 - 1:40 am

  This car gets looks everywhere I go. Very big trunk. Nice stereo. Power everything. Lots of car for the money.

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  08 Black SS - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mike - October 9 - 11:18 pm

  I needed an AWD truck/SUV and opted for the TBSS (rebates, standard features). No regrets, drives great, enough power to scare you and pulls a 20 bassboat like it isnt even attached. No problems or issues in 20k miles. Only problem is no matter how I drive I cant get over 16mpg, 50 or 100 doesnt matter. Low 14 high 16, but with everything onboard and the performance not to be found ANYWHERE else in a SUV, period, Im nit picking about the gas mileage. Love the vehicle.

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  Exceptional - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By carguy45 - October 9 - 11:57 am

  This is my first car. It is almost 15 years old and is still running well. It has about 180,000 miles and had no major work done. It gets 13mpg around town. Its great around town, but I would not trust it on long trips. A few years back we drove it constantly back and forth on road trips. The paint is showing wear. Door hinges on driver and passenger side need replaced once and awhile. This thing goes through brakes like nobodies business. Ive replaced spark plugs a number of times and power steering hose needed replaced. Interior is made with really cheap plastic. Plus every time you hit a bump the truck shakes like a carnival ride. Other than that it is a great truck for being so old.

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  Good Van - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By TT - October 9 - 11:44 am

  I usually like pickups but this van was a compromise with my wife. It is enjoyable to drive looks great compared to other minivans. The kids love the DVD player with remote headphones. The engine has plenty of power for its purpose, a passenger vehicle, not a race car. The only problems I have had are with the keyless entry remotes not working and the starter slips during humid or wet weather. This has not ever prevented the van from starting.

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  Shoud have been better - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By galoot - October 9 - 10:00 am

  The spark plug wires started going bad at about 20K miles. At about 40K and 5 trips to the shop they were all replaced. After a recall notice i waited for another 1 to go bad. So i had the dealership replace all 6 wires. After going in 6 times chevy has replaced all the wires twice. It didnt cost anything but, after 6 trips i got pissed off. If you have to pay to have the wires replaced on the Z34 it costs a lot because they have to take the intake off to get to the back 3 wires. Another problem is the alterator. It went bad at 51K and agian at 104K. It is under the engine. So it gets hit with dirt and goes bad. Only a shop can replace it. The engine has to be lowed to replace it.

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  Very Poor Resale Value!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dissapointed - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Overal it is not a bad car. It has power to move, and the interior is laid out nice. However, I have had to have the rotars on this car replaced 3 times so far (that is front and back). I have had the pad replaced probably about 5 times (also front and back). My major beef is how can a car that I purchased brand new in 98 for about 22K be appraised for 4.5K only 3 yeras later..? Yes I do put excesive millage on the car, however I keep it in immaculate condition (inside and out). The turing radius on this car is very poor at best. The paint job scratches and dents very easily.