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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  Disappointed!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By not pleased - April 24 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle about a year and a half ago and have had endless problems. The Transmission shifted rough. I brought it into the dealership and they said there wasnt a fix for it at the time of production of my vehicle, but sold them anyway "As Is." I had the computer reprogrammed which helped some. Also there was wind noise, driver floor and accelerator pedal vibration, weather stripping falling off, rain water leaks on the entire driver side into the vehicle, squeaks and rattles, seatbelt locking up, and breaking wasnt smooth. The vehicle would lunge just before stopping. Should have gotten the Lemon Law on this one!

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  Disappointed - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By bisugreen - April 24 - 2:00 am

  Poor quality. My last minivan was a Lumina APV. Quality has gone down with the Venture. We had numerous problems with the windows - scratching sounds and grease from inside door. Numerous trips to dealer to get fixed. Several problems with dash lights like air bag, ABS, Check Engine. Cup holders on floor are flimsy. Rear hatch plastic handle broke. Replaced brakes just after warrenty expired. Replaced manifold gasket. Mechanic said this was very common. Dealer was nice enough to cover the cost of the manifold gasket even though we were past the warrenty. The change engine oil light is very tricky to reset.

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  Stay away from the 2007 Tahoe BUYER BEWARE - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Not happy in OKC - April 23 - 7:17 am

  First let me say from the time I was 25 until now which Im now 53 years of age ive always driven Suburbans or Tahoes. I brought this car in 2008 . I have never had so many little details add up to big details from a vehicle but this one takes the cake. The interior by 6 months was ruined. Peeling door handles that cut you , seat belts that just broke, lights that flicker on and off, air conditioner that just quit blowing then will start back up again, the dash is cracked in 3 places but I have always used sun reflectors to keep heat away from dash, and a cd player that works then doesnt work. The outside the cargo came off in mid drive and had to be remounted, the day running light has had to be replaced a nto less than 12 times since I owed meanwhile the other lights have been just fine. I drive around town only to find other Tahoes with the same light out, I even asked another owner how many times they replaced theirs and they said it went out like almost every month so they quit replacing after 15 times. I believe there has to be a major issue going on with that. First month I owned it I took it back and spent 2500 on an emission problem. Not sure if that was even the issue. That was also supposed to covered on warranty and low and behold it wasnt. Im a single mother of 3 and needed a reliable car and it has preformed for me but not in the way Im used to these vehicles performing. I have had to take it to the shop so much I just decided to get my own mechanic because taking it to the dealership has been extremely expensive each time. Im one to get all the fluid levels drained and restored every year and my vehicle gets changed on time. I know that vehicles are expensive to maintain but never have I had to spend so much on one vehicle in order for the car to preform. I love Tahoes and Suburbans and I dont know if it is just this year or what because the last one I had was a work horse and lasted me well over 259,000.00 miles. I really cant trade it in because the dealership is now saying this car isnt worth anything so Im just stuck with it. If I decide to go out and get another vehicle I will lease it and I think I will be choosing a different SUV. Makes me sad because I have always loved my other SUV from Chevy but I think this is becoming a norm with their cars

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  Gets the job done but American quality - 1995 Chevrolet Suburban
  By odelrio - April 22 - 2:00 am

  We bought the 95 Suburban used in 4/00, it had 90k miles but in excellent shape. Three years and 30k miles later, it has had electrical (ignition and instrumentation) problems, brake problems, stereo quit twice (bought a GM replacement and then finally a Pioneer) and the interior plastics have cracked and are falling apart (brake release, hood release, and seat belt guides). The gas mileage on the 5.7L is ~9-11 MPG without exception. Both dealerships and performance shops feel the mileage is not out of the ordinary. The size and comfort of this vehicle is easily its main virtue but expensive to own and anything but worry-free.

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  okay - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Verrell Haywood - April 22 - 2:00 am

  A lot of issues, except with the engine and transmission.

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  what else can go wrong - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By waterboy19812001 - April 18 - 2:00 am

  It is a fun SUV to drive except for the time when i had to replace the front rotors, fix intake manifold gaskets, new fuel pump, etc. Other than that it is a reliable car with a nice look.

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  Its ok...... - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By davis - April 16 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car in 07/02 with 104,000 miles. Its a very roomy car. I get about 23 mpg. The air conditioner and heat are awful, not much blowing power. The brakes could be better, hard to stop the car quick. But what more can I expect for a used car.

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  Issue after issue - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By waschevguy - April 15 - 11:31 am

  I have to many issues. @ 40,000 miles went through a set of lower ball joints, 45,000 ran out of oil, 55,000 lost a bearing in the font end. GM made me pay $100 for the ball joints. GM replaced deflector plate to prevent from running oil, GM replaced the bearing. I have stock wheel and tires nothing special. Now have 80000 and going through oil again, the passenger window does not go down. The dealer put on a oil consumption plan and last time over 900 miles it went through 2 quarts. Im thinking about calling GM, does any one have any suggestions or ideas. My truck is almost paid off and I dont really want to start over.

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  Dont buy a Blazer - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Paula Kays - April 13 - 2:00 am

  After 50,000 miles major things start to go wrong!

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  Poor Performance Impala - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By kj123abc - April 13 - 2:00 am

  When my husband and I found out we were expecting our first child, we decided to purchase an Impala LS for reliability. What a poor choice we made. It had to be towed for problems twice within the first six months, and it has been nothing but trouble ever since. Both the coolant system and the electronic system had multiple problems. Chevrolet has not stood behind the product at all. This is my first and last Chevrolet.