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:

• 

  Disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By meer - August 10 - 12:22 pm

  Bought car for wife. The front seat bolsters are too high, uncomfortable on long ride. Ok, for smaller wife. Gas mileage is only 24 mpg. Service manager actually said it would get better after break in period, (car is 7 mos old). The tire pressure fluctuates way to much. Im always putting in air, Service mgr said this normal due to weather. Also had rear quarter panel pop loose from wheel well. Overall Im disappointed in the car. We went from a Chrysler Concord with 194,000 miles on it a 3.5 V 6 that got 27 miles to the gal on trips. GM needs to readdress their business goals. I wanted to buy American but got burned.

• 

  Love it...but oh my! - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By garihee - August 9 - 7:48 pm

  Love this car for its great lines, 350, availability of aftermarket parts and its ability to move in the snow. Unfortunately, were on our 4th transmission this one a warranty replacement for the new one we put in when the second one went south. The next time it eats a set of rotors Im going to spend some real money and buy a pair that should last. Theres also a sensor in the power steering that goes sour routinely and makes for some exciting wheel play on snow and ice and is in fact, a serious liability. Anyway, glad to have mine and no intention of letting it go its one of tomorrows classics!

• 

  Chevrolet got these right. - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kolbpilot - August 9 - 7:44 pm

  I basically agree with all the positive comments about these series (95-04) Blazers. Ive driven quite a few vehicles in my life and this second hand, high mileage Blazer I bought continues to impress. Mine has been reliable, so far. Original exhaust, 210,000 miles.

• 

  Transmission Needed Replacement at 81,000 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By larryillinois - August 8 - 9:10 pm

  Transmission failed at 81,000. Transmission fluid flushed and transfer case fluid serviced at 47,000 miles by Chevy dealer at a cost of $235.00. Service representative told me that the seal between the transmission and (I believe he said) the transfer case failed and the transmission fluid went into the transfer case. Caused transmission fluid to be three quarts low from the internal leak. Even though no fluid ever leaked out of the vehicle, the GM representative said it was my fault because the transmission fluid should have been checked at each oil change. The transmission failed while I was driving down the highway. Total cost of GM remanufactured transmission $3,922 installed.

• 

  3rd Aveo and loving it! - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By bbben - August 7 - 4:32 pm

  I am not sure if some people get lemons, but we are on our 3rd Aveo and have never had a significant problem. I have had both LS and LT models. I now have an automatic LT sedan and average 30 mpgs combined city/highway on a regular basis. I drive normally most of the time but I suspect some people who complain about MPGs just really drive their cars way too hard. I get excellent deals from my dealer and commute 60 miles a day making this car a real money saver. Due to the lower cost of the car I spend much less overall on this car than my friends who but imports in the same class.

• 

  Thank God for a good dealership - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By 1badstroker - August 7 - 11:29 am

  Bought my 2009 HHr in 4/10 and it has had more problems that all my cars I owned in 40 plus years. The pass. side power windows quit after about 4 weeks of ownership and the drivers side front and rear floors were wet. This water caused the wires to corrode and the ecm to go out which caused the windows to get no power. The dealer fixed this under good will. Then after that the dealer fixed another short and then after a time the key would not come out of the ignition. The dealer replaced the shifter and the ignition switch and that has corrected the problem. Since then I had to replace the battery and front brakes. All good now.

• 

  Okay SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By ap21ril - August 5 - 6:24 pm

  I bought this used in 2008 with 28,000 miles and just traded it in with 52,300 miles. I liked it and thought it was fun to drive.

• 

  So glad to be back in a Trailblazer!! - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kayakcrazy - August 5 - 11:07 am

  First - my husband and I own a small used car lot. Ive driven LOTS of cars/trucks, but can honestly say that the Trailblazer is my perfect vehicle. It can tow a HUGE load, handles any conditions (snow/mud, etc) gives a great view of the road and theres a TON of cargo space. Yet it has a nice tight turning radius (easy to park) and plenty of horsepower (can pull Hubbys race truck on the car hauler trailer if need be). Mine has 120,000 miles on it and still runs and handles great!

• 

  GREAT CAR - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By oleg5 - August 4 - 9:42 pm

  Had many cars before that! my wife drives 2008 Rav4 and i had 2000 Honda CRV before that. did not had any isues with the car. got it for 6000$ with 90000km. now i have 140000$ and had replaced only back bearing. very good car! geting 22 in a city and about 24-25 on high way! my wifes Rav4(V6) getting 20 in city best!

• 

  Good Hauler But Had to Go - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By rangermutt - August 4 - 1:09 pm

  I purchased my 99 Tahoe 4x4 LT used in 2001 with 64,000 miles for less than 1/2 what it sold new. I traded it in this summer with 154,000 after I got tired of replacing parts for the second or third time including: Anti lock brakes went out at 60,000 driver window motor 3x driver outside door handle 3x blower fan intake manifold gasket air conditioner pump power steering sensor 2x radiator water pump vanity mirror console latch distributor rotor 6x (I was stranded on the interstate last Thanksgiving when the rotor failed again). The straw that broke the camels back was a misfire on the #4 cylinder that neither I nor the dealer could remedy.