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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  Alternator & Battery Problems - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By waginc - May 3 - 2:00 am

  I wanted a truck so bad and finally was able to afford a used 96 Tahoe LT. I sold it last month after putting in 3 alternators and 4 Sears Gold Batteries in less than 1 1/2 years. I called Chevoret and they told me they would be happy to sell me a new one and did nothing for me in regards to the recurrent problem. It would last for 2 months than stall and quit.

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  Z24 Owner prosective - 1993 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Caviler - May 1 - 2:00 am

  Good over all, love the power the car delivers with the v6. Easy to spin tires causes to loose control of vechile. Slim to nil on the blind spots because roof is high. Basic interior but over all good car.

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  $$$$uburban - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By 737Captain - May 1 - 2:00 am

  In the last 12 months of ownership: FAILURES: two transmissions, alternator, brakes, ignition, fuel injection, water pump, rear axle bearings, air conditioning. Repair costs: $6800. Mileage now: 74000.

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  Fuel be gone - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By croast - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Fun truck to drive, but I was unprepared for the amount of gas this vehicle drinks. Now that gas is $1.68 per gallon for regular unleaded I am wishing for better MPG. I am averaging about 12 mpg in city driving. A little less than advertised. In addition, the car has developed several rattles that the dealer cannot seem to fix. I guess that is to be expected from a GM product. I sure hope gas prices come down!

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  Nothing but engine problems - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By maysi111 - April 29 - 2:00 am

  This car has been burning oil since the day I bought it. I used to put a quart of oil in it once a month...now I put a quart in every other day. I made the dealership aware of this problem from the beginning and it was always that the valve cover gasket was leaking....I cannot tell you how many times that has been replaced. The starter has been replaced three times....the car was recalled for the gasket leaking antifreeze and was never correctly fixed. I also add antifreeze as well as oil now. The transmission fluid started leaking a couple of months ago and the air conditioner will cost over $800 to get fixed.

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  Exception to the Rule? - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By eddiebug - April 28 - 2:00 am

  My prizm is a one owner, used, 1998 Geo Prizm with 34K miles from a Toyota Dealer. The car had been previously leased so the presumption is that it was well maintained because of lease constraints. The car promptly lost seven quarts of oil in 2000 miles without burning any smoke. The dealer says the oil rings are collapsed. The dealer told me the problem had been traced back to one of two factories that produced engines for the Geo Prizm. The cross-hatching in the cynlinder walls allegedly was faulty and caused premature failure to the rings. When I called Toyota they said no technical service bulletins had been issued and my problem may not be covered. I will not buy a toyota again.

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  Suburban - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ground sub - April 21 - 2:00 am

  I drive 12-15K mi per year with about 5K miles/yr towing a 30 ft travel trailer. I have had good reliablility except for some rear axle noises (clunk and whine). Vehicle is tough on tires and brakes but this may be due to towing.

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  Good cheap car - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JenniE - April 18 - 2:00 am

  Ive used this car for my commute for the past 3 years. So far its been very reliable. Sure, theres normal wear and tear on brakes and such, but for the price I paid for it, its been great. The cars at 80K now, and I have not had any problems with it yet. Im not planning on getting rid of it until at least 110K.

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  Big Red Review - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Big Red - April 17 - 2:00 am

  The ZR-2 package makes for a nice looking vehicle. My problems to date have been with build quality. Things seem to fit together poorly and the paint had a major factory flaw that I didnt notice until I brought the vehicle home. GM would not stand behind it and the BBB Arbitration process is a joke.

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  98 Malibu problems - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jmahonis - April 14 - 2:00 am

  Front brakes get wobbly way too soon (rotors warped). Had to have rear bushings replaced twice, an ABS speed sensor went bad, and, worst of all, something like front strut mounts had to be replaced. Most of these items are things I never had to have service on with any other cars.