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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  Not too bad, not too great - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jimmy - April 16 - 10:02 am

  I like the car overall. My car is fire engine red, but not gaudy looking. Its very classy, comfortable and I get lots of compliments. As I read the reviews, I noticed several others with the same problems Ive had. Drivers door leaks in the rain (very minor), door moldings have peeled up twice, and the tire sensors had to be replaced. Overall, it has been a good car, but there are just a few fairly simple design features that could use some improvements. It is a pretty classy car though!

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  Good Car Made by Cheap Manufacturer - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By thom - April 15 - 11:16 pm

  This is a good, basic car that I now regret purchasing. Be aware that even the upgraded "LT" does not include ABS brakes. I didnt even think about this until I got it home. It simply did not occur to me that in 2008 a large family sedan would ship without basic safety features. GM should be ashamed of themselves for this kind of reckless penny pinching. Additional penny- pinching becomes more evident as you drive the car more. Features that most people consider standard in every car, such as a folding back seat, are optional in the Impala. If purchasing, make sure you verify what is included, down to the most basic safety and convenience features that you probably take for granted.

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  Company Car with 65000 miles in 2 years - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Denise - April 15 - 4:26 pm

  I have had my company car since January 2005 and absolutely loved driving it. I put on 65,000 miles and just replaced the tires. Had an initial clunk from the front at 15,000 miles which was replaced. No further issues to date.

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  Good so far - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jeff - April 15 - 9:46 am

  I was looking at all the usuals. But I could not afford a VW, the Mazda only had like a 2yr 24,000 warranty, the Toyota dealer would not give me the time of day, and the Accent was too small. So between the Focus and Cobalt the Cobalt won. Mine is stripped, no add ons. Good ride, but cheap tires. Getting 30-33 MPG. Decent interior, but cheap plastic on the door sills. Big trunk. Roomy for a compact car. 11,000 miles on it and no problems except for a flat tire. Had a bit of molded rubber on the bead, dealer fixed. It will get out of its own way, but not a hot hatch. Cant beat the price

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  1-Owner 130k Mile Review - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Jack DeJong - April 15 - 9:31 am

  This car has been in our family since we bought it in 2003. Extremely comfortable on short and long road trips (9+ hrs). Absolutely zero problems with it mechanically, save for a few wheel-bearing issues. The electrical gremlins typically get you with older GM models, but this is to be expected and is nothing major to worry about. Plan to drive it until it breaks.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Keep it simple - April 14 - 2:56 pm

  I usually do not do this because all vehicles can have problems however, we love this car. We can get 32mph highway and 25 in town. It has the larger engine and has great snap. It is fun to drive. It has been very reliable (47k) I really like the fold down seats. Two minor complaints. more cup holders in front and the leather model should have a auto/rearview mirror. MN.

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  07 Cobalt LS 5sp updated - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By ken - April 13 - 9:21 pm

  This is an update from my 9/13/07 post. This is a great little car. Fuel economy is 34 to 36 on my mostly highway commute at about 60 mph. Got 40 mpg on trip once. Seats are still comfortable. Shifting is not as crisp as when new. Never been back to dealer for any warranty service. Oil change is super easy with the front cartridge filter and oversize filler cap. Tires will need to be replaced before next winter.

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  1990 Suburban 1500 - 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
  By bigmike - April 13 - 5:44 am

  I just bought a suburban with about 160,000 miles on it. It runs well and i hope to get many more miles out of it. I like the feeling on knowing that no one wants to take me on when it comes to cutting off on the highway!

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  DO NOT BUY THESE IMPALAS - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By upset - April 12 - 9:33 pm

  I bought this car back in 2003 with only 18k now it has 104k and the transmission is about to go out, security light has been on for 2 years now, problems with oil pan gasket, leaking antifreeze, oil. The Chevy dealership couldnt program the remote control to the car! (couldnt believe it) abs sensor has been change 3 times horrible car. Please do not waste your money on this trash!Get Honda or Toyota.. Trust me!

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  Silverado Z71 - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Megachange - April 12 - 12:53 pm

  Ive had this truck for almost a year and a half. The following is a list of problems: check 4WD light came on, multiple squeaks and rattles in the center console and dash, driver side seatbelt locked, and its pulled to either the left or right side since I got it. This truck also has a ticking noise after its warmed up. Took it to the dealer and was told thats the way the truck was designed. He said something about a exhaust knock. (I DONT recommend Vandergriff Chevrolet in Arlington)