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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  lots of problems,many repairs required - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By mlh - March 10 - 10:52 am

  I have never owned a car that has needed so many repairs. Since purchased in Sept 05,it has been in for repair at least 12 times! Things like the roof almost blowing off.They tried to fix the problem but didnt. Then it was replaced with a new roof. Shorty after that,a recall for this problem was quietly announced. The list goes on:Door latch replacedrepair window so it would close tightly (twice)repair an reinstall door panel headlight assembly replacetrunk latch replaced alternator bearing had to be replacedproblem with front right wheel assemblybad paint. No room left here to list other problems. With extended warranty,I have to pay $200 labor for each repair.

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  A Great Car ! - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Cari - March 10 - 1:26 am

  I did not plan on keeping my car this long. But it just keeps going and going and going. It has been a great car with very few repairs needed. I am still waiting for a reason to get a new one. Not yet !

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  2001 Chevy S10 ZR2 - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By MkLoe - March 9 - 3:55 pm

  This was my first car and I enjoyed it alot. I bought it with 112,000 miles and put about $300 worth of work and it runs great. When I tell people the mileage they are amazed that it is so high for the shape it is in. The all black with the big silver rims makes the truck look great!

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  2004 silverado - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Tree - March 9 - 1:46 pm

  After 13,000 miles I notice the trans slipping a little. the dash bubbled up the size of a dime and the painted plastic paint is coming off on the dash behind the steering wheel.

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  SS coupe alot of car for the money - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Tom - March 9 - 5:29 am

  The cobalt SS is one powerful piece of machinery. The handling and power you get is unmatched of any car at this price range. One free year of OnStar and 3 free months of XM radio really sweeten an already good deal. My friend is a real snob about cars and hates American cars. After showing him a lot of SS reviews and giving him a ride in my new car he has had to admit this is a good car.

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  Silver Bullet - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 00SS - March 8 - 8:00 am

  This car is balanced well. It feels like a muscle car when I want it to, with the exception that it actually corners. I havent had more fun driving a car, including my old 70 Nova! Its very tame when tootling around town, the gear changes are smooth and throttle response is outstanding. Whether youre cruising the strip, or blasting down an old country road, the car responds. Easy to drive, and power on tap. 60 MPH @ 1450 Rpms in 6th gear means I get decent gas mileage (around 23-24mpg highway).

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  So Far, So Good - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By AZhhrOwner - March 8 - 3:20 am

  Ive had my HHR for a few days and put a couple hundred miles on it so far. I just got back from 6 hours of driving around in Phoenix traffic, and Im pretty happy. The ride is fairly smooth, the seats are comfortable, and the stock sound system is great when playing CDs and okay on radio, but the antenna seems weak. Its got enough power to safely merge into Phoenix freeway traffic, not an easy feat as the average in town speed is somewhere around 80 - 85 mph. Its no racecar, but it is peppy and fun to drive. I also enjoy all the stares from people trying to figure out if its a PT Cruiser or what? If the Phoenix market is any indicator, the HHR is gonna be a hot seller.

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  Dont buy one - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By crackmonkeys4hire - March 7 - 6:48 pm

  The car is OK except that the electronics failed in less than 2 years. Good thing I bought that warranty. Now the plastic around the base of the seats have broken. Overall Im not very impressed by Chevrolet vehicles.

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  Might be another Malibu Lemon - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lana - March 7 - 5:19 pm

  Bought this chevy for my daughter, and after one week, she became stranded, when it wouldnt start. Upon a mechanic checking it out from place of purchase, said it could be the pass key. Wished I had read reviews before our purchase. Now, were going to hurry and pay it off, and find another. Money is tight these days, and who wants to buy a car,and then have to worry if youve got a lemon or not? There are few reviews in here that list zero problems with these malibus. I just dont trust this car with my little grandkids!!!!

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  OK, just OK - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By DKiD - March 7 - 11:40 am

  Car drives OK. Mileage is way down from listed numbers. I do like a lot of things about this car but mileage is not one of them.