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:

• 

  Please Recall for Brakes/ABS and A/C - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Please Recall - August 23 - 2:00 am

  I brought this car new for my wife in 1998 with V6. So far (at 103,000 miles) the engine has performed well. There are a few problems with this car: A/C switch, ABS, front brakes, alternator, squeaky noise. If not for these problems I would recommmend it. This is my second American made car and I am a little scare to buy another one.

• 

  very fond of the blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By irisheyes - August 23 - 2:00 am

  We bought this car when we moved to Colorado and we have had an awful lot of fun with it. Really really tough and reliable in the snow. Always felt safe in bad conditions in city and country. Like a rock. No trouble with baby seats and so on, it was good when the kids were really little for all their stuff in the back. We did some very long trips in it and it never let us down. Since it got old the handling has gotten very squishy but the car is still solid enough. We will be sad to say goodbye.

• 

  Indiana Johns Review - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By IndianaJohn - August 21 - 2:00 am

  I like the overall design but, stupid things have gone wrong. Three trips to dealer to replace back window lock. Door bushings failed. Front wheel bearings failed. Power steering pump failed. Oil lines failed. 4-wheel drive engage module and motor system replaced twice. All of this before 50k miles. I drive a flat smooth 4 lane road for 95% of the milage. These things should not be failing.

• 

  high mileage problems - 1990 Chevrolet Beretta
  By eric s - August 17 - 2:00 am

  Although the styling is real nice, there have been too many reliability problems with the on board computer system for a recommendation. I experienced problems with stalling and shutting off after extended highway driving. This does not represent too much of a problem if you are in town with plenty of opportunities to get a quick tow. However, if you are not armed with a cellphone and are in the middle of nowhere, as was my experience, this little auto will leave you high and dry if it decides to act up. The exterior bits are also inferior. The side molding comes off after a few years and the rubber handle to the turn signal tends to slide off.

• 

  Its a money pit!!! - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By loyd629 - August 17 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has needed more repairs than any other car I have ever owned. I too have had problems with oil leaks requiring high cost repairs. AC, engine, transmission problems. Each time I say I will sell it, another costly repair is required and then I keep it only to get back a little of what I put into it. I am very good about doing the routine maintenance so it is not that I just let this car go. I wil not buy one again, nor would I ever recommend it. --I also get poor gas mileage.

• 

  not worth the money - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By malibu junk - August 17 - 2:00 am

  constant electrical problems. knocking in engine on col start. dealer claims inherant with the 3.1 engine. chevy malibu ls

• 

  bland - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By cosmok - August 15 - 2:00 am

  pretty boring car. our 1990 civic is more fun to drive than this car. The quality isnt all that great (after having a few Japanese cars: those that have Hondas and Toyotas... dont switch to GM). The build quality isnt something to brag about, seems GM came out with this car too quickly and cut some corners. Perhaps the newer models will improve on many old flaws that us, the customers, have had.

• 

  problems with dexcool and manifold gaske - 1997 Chevrolet Venture
  By no more chevys - August 14 - 2:00 am

  bought new. had to dealer 3 times for muddy antifreeze. Now the manifold gasket is leaking, and waterpump. all problems noted on other reviews. I love driving it, but cant stand the maintenance problems. 6 years old, only 53,000 mi. Why cant chevy build a vehicle to last. Im looking into Toyota next time.

• 

  hated it - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By jkh6148 - August 14 - 2:00 am

  for me - strickly a younger persons truck - engine and transmission were loud - off road tires areloud and throws slush/mud/water up onto itself - making it impossible to keep clean especially in winter

• 

  truck - 1995 Chevrolet S-10
  By jet - August 9 - 2:00 am

  this truck runs very good and gets good gas mileage and so it goes.