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:

• 

  Nickel and dimed by this SUV! - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By breakdownchevyblues - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Bought this SUV 11/96 used with 26,000 miles. Reliable up until 68,000, nothing but major problems since! Had to rebuild the transmission, manifold, fuel injection, muffler(twice), O2 sensors(more times than can mention). After 90,000 miles power just doesnt seem the same and no one can figure out why?? Side view mirrors break off too easy (use metal instead of plastic). Power windows break down often and are pain to fix. When it is running good it is great (bumpy ride, however) but overall wish we had never bought it (got SUV fever in the mid 90s)...

• 

  Good Car - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jarret - September 24 - 3:10 pm

  This is the first new car I have ever had. Good car for the $15,000 I spent after taxes. I have a middle of the road model with power windows and air conditioning. One irritating problem is that after owning the car for five months, I am now hearing a sound of something loose or rolling around in the front engine/tire area of the car whenever I make a moving right turn and sometimes a moving left turn. I took it to the dealer, and they claimed that only one of two mechanics who looked at the car could hear the sound. They stated that did not know what was causing it and could not fix it. I dont understand since sound is obvious, and I am continuing to press the issue with dealer.

• 

  I love my Maibu but disappointed. - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By JQ - September 23 - 11:55 pm

  Ive had my Malibu for a little over a year and I loved it from the moment the salesman pulled it up for me to test drive it. Brand new with on 3 miles. Ive been on a couple road trips and loved the smooth ride and comfort. The my link and XM radios are among my favorite features. I have always disliked the start stop function and wished it was a way to disable it. Doesnt seem to save much gas and I hate the feeling that my car has stalled. A few days ago when Id come to a stop and the feature engaged as normal, I let my foot off the brake and my radio cut off for a few seconds, then came back on. I thought nothing of it at first until it did it a second time but this time the check engine light came on and now Im alarmed. I take it into the dealership to find out the auxiliary battery that powers the features in the car while the engine is shut off is drained and needed to be replaced. Ive only had my car for exactly 13 month and this battery needs to be replaced? Luckily its under warranty but what happens when the warranty is up? Will I have to replace this battery every year? Will it cause electrical problems? I also fear that the starter will not last because of the constant starting. As much as I love this car this lack of reliability has disappointed me and makes me worry how this car will hold up after its a few years old. I know a battery is nothing and hopefully nothing else happens that is not covered under warranty.

• 

  Not total happy with my Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By laurie28 - September 23 - 4:36 pm

  I bought my Maxx in late 2004. Steering issues every year. GM kept replacing steering. Finally used a "redesigned" component that solved the problems. Tire rods replaced. Recently had loss of power steering. started working after I stopped the car. Chevy will not check it out at no charge. New brakes after 1200 miles. Back seat lever broke off. Driver seat power adjustments broke. Remote start quit working. Key fobs with new batteries still wont open or lock doors. Hatch back wont open and when to Chevy 3 times to get it fixed. One thing. Great handling and acceleration!! I wont buy another GM vehicle. Ever.

• 

  Look out when the warranty expires - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By M Burrier - September 23 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle was purchased new and has always been regularly serviced. Only minor problems were experienced until the milage clicked over 30,000 miles. Im now at 50,000 and trading it in for a 2003 Honda Accord. Ive already had to replace the brakes, repair a coolant leak, replace the AC/heater fan motor, replace the turn signal switch, a front headlight housing that allowed water in, and the driver-side seat belt. I agree with the previous reviewer that stated his Malibu was slowly falling apart I feel the same way. I am not hard on my cars!

• 

  Itsnot the same as a Honda CR-V! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jim Paule - September 22 - 4:29 pm

  i have never achieved the 29 mpg highway that I should get with the AWD version. About 27 mpg is tops with about 19 mpg in town. I have been subjected to 3 recalls from the factory, the first involving a timing chain replacement at 31,000 miles. The car drives and rides very good, even on long trips and gets through bad weather in our hard NW Ohio winters. There is a momentary engine rattle when starting on cold mornings, but the dealership states that this is OK and would be covered under the factory extended 120,000 powertrain warranty as a result of a recall. All said and done, I would buy a Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav 4 the next time as I will be vary leery of this car after the 120,000 mile warranty expires.

• 

  No confindence - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By Burned by a Chevy - September 22 - 2:00 am

  This van has been nothing but trouble ever since it went out of warranty. Both power window regualtors have failed ($850 a pop), the front wipers failed ($300), and true to form the head and manifold gaskets let go. Of course Chevy will not do anything to help with the gasket repair, even thought the problem is caused by the Dex-Cool. GM used "normal" gaskets in the Venture, check out how much heftier the replacments are before they install them on your Venture.

• 

  2000 Astro van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By jmns41 - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Love to drive it, but internal mechanisms are breaking down...made cheaply.

• 

  Worst purchase Ive ever made - 2017 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Kc - September 21 - 10:50 am

  Ive had this car not even a week yet and its already in the shop for repairs. Im not satisfied with this car and wish I could go back and get my Subaru back that I traded. This car completely stalled out on me while I was at a red light causing me to have to push the car onto a side steet where I sat for a half hour before it would restart. Its now in the shop for who knows how long because the car is so new theyre having problems getting the part witch theyre saying is the module of the car that has to replaced and that its making all the signal lights come on and what not. This is a brand new car with only a hundred miles on it. What else is going to go wrong with it? This is ridiculous. I told them I wanted a different car, something and I got no where with that. They gave me a rental to use until they can get my car fixed. I wouldnt recommend anyone getting this vehicle.

• 

  Dont waste money!!! Trust me... - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By nuendo84 - September 19 - 2:00 am

  had a 97 model, Dexcool in a car is something you dont want- thats the new antifreeze. Person I bought truck from didnt change it because youre supposed to be able to go 60k with it- NOPE! let one little trickle of air (from a radiator cap), or green antifreeze,or let it get old and kiss your engine GOODBYE! ALSO- the suspenion after 40-50k starts to suck. Shock was leaking, tie rod ends were dead, I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER CHEVY ANYTHING AGAIN! Had bad problems withe a 1995 Formula Firebird LT1 at 80k miles!