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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  Chevrolet Blazer - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Pam Watts - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I have had nothing but problems with the suspension on this vehicle. It was put in the shop two different times, for a week each time. Problem never corrected. Struts and shocks were replaced, but htis wasnt the problem. Vehicle creaks and squeaks when you hit any type of irregularity in the road. Sounds like the chassis will come apart, also embarrasing. Mechanics say they cant find the problem. Out of warrenty now.

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  My Own Personal DeathTrap - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Kitten - January 31 - 10:00 am

  This wasnt my idea to get this car. My parents bought it for me and i wish they hadnt. Ive been to the dealership 3 times since ive had it and i only have 7,000 miles on it. Both back tail lights went out. MY Trac Light go off everytime i hit the slightest bump. Oh and stopping in the snow or rain is a joke. It feels like it wont stop and thats just scary.

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  No grunt! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By WingPi1 - January 31 - 10:00 am

  The 4.3 V6 is a total disaster when it comes to engines. No power and poor fuel milage. Hey, I could have gotten a V8! Other than that, its a nice truck. My wifes Corvette gets to 60MPH in about 4 seconds and tops out at 176 MPH. ON trips, weve gotten as high as 33.5 MPG. Around town, she gets22-27.

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  There are better cars out there - 1997 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Nate B - January 30 - 2:00 am

  well this car is pretty suprising in the power department w/ 200 hp/tq. Terrible handling car in every situation but the sun. very light backend so its easy to slip on just about everything. i got car w/ 20000 miles on it and had lots of problems and replacement parts. decent gas mileage. actually can carry alot of cargo (very suprising). dont try to take road trip in this car. very uncomfortable for long periods of time. backseats are pretty much useless and uncomfortable. read on

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  Im so ready to trade this in - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MoJo411 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought my malibu at 28K miles. The car is reliable, starts up every morning w/no problem. BUT I have replaced brakes 3 times, rotors twice, had to put new battery and altenator in, replace windshield wiper blades twice, get a/c fixed (and it still isnt working right) replaced taillights 3 times, and my a/c switch now only works on 3, 4 and 5. I have spend too much money on this car, probably more than Ill get for it at trade-in time.

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  First Timers - 1998 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Mark Cuccaro - January 28 - 2:00 am

  I drove this vehicle daily back and forth from worcester, ma to warwick, ri (52 miles one way). i estimate that on average i drive about 150 miles/day. it had been very reliable until i got up to the 120,000 mile marker where things started to get very expensive. as far as just "underhood" work goes, EVERYTHING from the head gaskets up i have replaced at least twice. blew the tranny and t-case at the same time around 145,000. but other then that, it was great

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  Poor Quality Build - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By poor_quality - January 27 - 6:42 am

  Purchased a new 2010 Silverado and after 200 miles the interior noise became unbearable on the highway. Sounds like the rear passenger door of the crew cab is not closed. The door is closed, but the cab vents behind the rear seats are allowing for loud road noise. Wind noise can be heard though the weather strilling around the doors at hiway speed. Went back to the GM dealership to complain, and even though they admited that my vehicle is louder than most vehicles, I was told that "they all sound like that". I find this an unacceptable answer. The dealership offered to Duct Tape over the cab vents, but this would make closing the doors difficult.

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  Devastatingly Disappointed - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mmc601 - January 26 - 5:55 am

  Decided on my first Chevy after my dads 93 has over 470,000 miles. Even the original door lock activators still work. I bought my 08 Chevy with 37,000 miles in 2010. Now, dashboard is cracked, vent selenoid went bad, and driver side door lock actuators front and back are bad. Further research has revealed that these problems are COMMONPLACE for this model. Seems that the 08 model is a huge debacle. After learning this, I will try to dump it. What a huge disappointment!!!

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  My 3rd Astro - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By Jim of Fort-Laud. - January 24 - 2:00 am

  I have owned an 85 and a 91. My most recent Astro is the worst one yet. I miss the comfort of the seats of my other vans I have deflated the back support completely and it is still uncomfortable. I cannot adjust the AC vent to prevent the air from blowing right on me it is the same for the passenger. The rear suspension is too soft I had to reinforce it. I have spent a lot of time at the dealer (leaking roof, brake light, door lock, rear axle, brakes, power windows, etc.). Like my other Astros, the idle is rough, the rear brakes are weak, and the check engine light comes on.

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  Okay but not great - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Frenchguy - January 24 - 2:00 am

  Brakes are the achilles heel of this vehicle. Like all of GMs mid-size cars (Had a 99 Alero with the same problem). At 28,000 miles the discs had to be turned and the pads changed. The Alero was worse, in 35,000 miles the brakes were repaired three times. I just dont get the sense that this car will last as well as my 98 Protege.