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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  First 500 miles - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By Twocoast - January 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought this 99 at the end of 2002. So far so good, I see reviews of a gasket problem and hope that is an anomoly.

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  TRACKER, NOT WHAT I BARGAINED FOR - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Corey565 - January 8 - 2:00 am

  I BOUGHT MY TRACKER 2 YEARS, AND I WISH I WOULD HAVE MADE A MORE INFORMED DECISION. I DONT LIKE THE WAY IT DRIVES. I CALL IT MY SUPED UP GOLF CART. IT SOUNDS REALLY NOISY WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE RESALE VALUE IS NILL. I OWE 2500 MORE ON IT THAN WHAT IT IS WORTH. THE COMFORT LEVEL INSIDE IS NON-EXISTENT ALSO. THE SEATS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, AND YOU CAN REALLY FEEL EVERY BUMP. I STILL HAVE 3 MORE YEARS LEFT ON THE LOAN, IM COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL ITS PAID. A LONG AND EXPENSIVE LESSON....RESEARCH YOUR PURCHASE BEFORE YOU BUY. NEXT TIME GETTING AN ALTIMA.

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  Love My Cav - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By OhioGuy45701 - January 8 - 2:00 am

  I no Im not alone in saying that I love my Cavalier...there are so many on the road, that I simply cant be the only fan! Affordable, reliable, and full of standard features that are pricey options on similiar-class autos, the Cavalier is built for both power and budget. Choose the LS trim for better cloth seats and power features.

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  Im buying a ford !!!! - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By p/o owner!!!! - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 97 chevy 1500 suburban from a used car dealer that is very well know with 46000 miles on it.With in a year and puting 12,500 miles on it the transmission went out($3345.00)the front rotors went bad ($674.00)front tie rods and arms went bad (est.$568.00) I just had the fuel pump go out and computer go out ($933.00)water pump and the list goes on !I must say that the short that happened on the fuel pump and sending unit was in the GAS TANK ! the wires melted ! and if Im not mistaken red hot wires and gas dont mix ! So in closing Im trading this car in as soon as I can !

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  Bat out of Hell...whos too sick to fly - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By MarioZ - January 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 1994 Z28 with 27K miles on it. The car has got to be hands down, the most fun you can get for 8K. But man, the repairs on these cars are KILLER! I had a distributor go bad in this car and it was over 1000 dollars to fix ( part was 640 and labor 440). Then the starter..( another 520 with diagnostic), then the water pump ( 640 dollars), then the intake manifold gasket ( 300)...This car will eat you alive financially..but whne it runs..its the most fun you can have by any means. If you plan on buying one, you are rolling the dice. Its a thrill to drive ( and gamble) but theres a good possibility it will cost you thousands over the life of the car.

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  Safety - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jimrs - January 6 - 10:00 am

  This is the worst truck that I have owned to date. Bad vibration in the steering wheel. New tires or balance helps for a few hundred miles than its back. Gas pedal sticks and is hard to drive in tight spaces. 80,000 miles on the truck. Most of the milage was on the interstate where it was not a problem after I reach 70 mph but between 62 and 70 you cant hold the wheel from shaking the whole truck. I have heard that this has been fixed in the newer trucks. I am thinking of trading for a Toyota.

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  Dam nChevy POS - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By memyselfandI - January 6 - 2:00 am

  What a rude awakening. I have been driving Chevys all my life and I will never buy another. The paint job sucks. I tried to haul a carpet (yes a Carpet), and it really scratched up my paint job. I returned to my dealer to complain and was told that it was not warranted and that Chevy would call it excessive wear. Hauling a carpet is excessive? it is a pickup right. Anyway, after 4 phone calls and numerous threats to sue GM they finally agreed to fix it. All they did was spray some touch up paint on it and then wouldnt even give me the damn warranty receipt. The Morale of the story is to NEVER, EVER, Buy a Chevy.

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  Lemon from Hell - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tom O - January 2 - 2:00 am

  This car has had two fuel injectors replaced, in-tank fuel pump replaced, fuel filters replaced, light sensors replaced(they dim the instrument lights), wow and it was only two yers old with only 35000 miles. After a short 60 mile trip, the car would not start. Had to be towed for repairs. This has been the least dependable car weve ever owned and I have owned 15 cars myself. This car is unreliable and its not worth its good looks and nice interior to even own one of these cars. Booo...Hissss Tom O

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  Piece of Junk!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bill Polinchak - January 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Malibu in 1999 after I graduated from college. It was used with 25,000 miles. Since then the alternator failed at only 48,000 ($440). Ive had the brakes done twice ($1000). The A/C switch failed, it was replaced and then failed again. And now the water pump failed along with an engine gasket, a $1044 repair. I will NEVER buy another Chevy or GM product ever again!!! My next car will be a Toyota Camry. I tried to be a good American and bought an American car ... that was a mistake. Shame on General Motors!!!

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  Early Disappointment - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By WaveSailR - December 30 - 2:00 am

  I picked up the truck and drove 1300 miles to DC. The truck drove very nicely on the highway and had no problems accelerating at any time. The drivers side headlight was way out of alignment (pointing at the sky) and a spare bolt was found near the front windshield wiper. Twice during the drive, when the vehicle was placed into reverse,the whole truck felt like it backed into something. I think its a transmission problem, but its pretty major. An issue I am waiting to take to the dealer for service. The truck drives and handles very well. Pleasure to drive. Just a little hungry for fuel but way better than my old 1994 blazer. same engine