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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  Best Car I Ever Owned - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By tom abernathy - December 1 - 2:00 am

  I recently hit 200,000 miles on my 2006 Chevy Cobalt. The only thing I have had done to this vehicle is change the oil and tires. This is the best vehicle I have owned and I will continue to buy Chevrolet.

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  Another GM Failure - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Charlie - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Clunky to drive, lousy gas mileage for the size (lucky to get 22 mpg), power windows starting to slow up at only 5 yrs old, and saving the worst for last: the Passlock system causes the car NOT TO START AT ALL. Google it if you dont know about it. Very unsafe, very unreliable. Has left my husband stranded and late for work many times. GM wont offer a recall even though they know this is common and their fault entirely. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR.

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  No Problems / Perfect for us - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Paul H. - November 30 - 2:00 am

  We have owned this vehilce since new and used it to tow our 35 Travel Trailer extensively a boat & a U Haul Trailer. It has been perfect for this and has never given us a moments concern or worry. Without a doubt the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned - carried building materials Christmas trees helped my daughters family move from Florida to Georgia including putting the ride-on mover on the truck bed with no problems. We have now done over 125k miles and I am still on the original brakes. We had one recurring warranty issue with the front steering rattling but this was fixed by Chevrolet on the 2nd review.

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  American Beauty - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By David - November 30 - 2:00 am

  Bought our 2003 Sub LT new in 2003. 130,000 miles later still going strong. GM has a real winner with this truck, and the LT has all the creature comforts for the long rides to the beach or skiing (and running around town). Some drama along the way: Seat memories early on, AC failure around 50K, fuel tank sender issues but darn thing is so much fun to have around we have kept her even after the family has grown up. My wife now drives a Lexus RX (and all her friends too) but I cant let this gem go.

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  Love it! - 2010 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Krista - November 30 - 2:00 am

  We were interested in buying a larger car for our growing family. Salesman was very helpful. He brought the Suburban down to my home in Utah County so I could see it and test drive it. Throughout the week we talked often on pricing and the type of car we wanted. He was always very patient and helpful. Krista S.

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  Worst Car Ever! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Worse Car - November 30 - 2:00 am

  I am currently leasing this car and hate it....I have had issues with the locks not working on every door, and issues with the drivers side door not opening from the inside or outside. The doom light has been making noise and every time I take it in they can not find what is wrong. Now I need new brakes and rotors and my car is only two years old. Plus there is a knocking noise in the steering wheel. I hate this car.

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  Great For an expanding family - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Junior - November 30 - 2:00 am

  When I found out I was going too have another child, I needed to upgrade my ride. After 2 months of research, the Traverse won. (I went through all of makes/models from BMW to Cadillac.) I bought the 2LT with dual sunroof/dvd/nav combo. I love the ride and the feel of the truck. My family loves the roominess of the interior. After driving it a month, the fuel economy is lower than advertised BUT thats the only negative thing I have to say about the truck. You will love this Chevy.

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  Avoid Neglected Corsicas - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Threetails - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I got this car in 2004 as a daily driver. The previous owners hadnt taken care of this car. Mine has a tendency to blow spark plugs out of the block! This has happened to me twice. My car has a host of other problems including anti-lock brakes that lock, bad weather seals, and a tendency to overheat in traffic (even in sub- freezing weather). This car doesnt like extreme temperatures and the steering system creaks and groans in the cold. It can be a very forgiving car when something does go wrong and you can usually limp home even when its something major like a torque converter. If you buy a Corsica, find one that has been well cared-for and youll have an OK car.

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  Chevy Tahoe Door Lock Problems - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Tahoe Door Lock Prob - November 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had four Chevy SUVs in the last ten years and planned on buying another one soon. However, on my 2005 Tahoe I had to replace the fuel pump which I learned was located in the fuel tank. Cost me over $800. And recently, two door locks on my 2008 Tahoe (drivers side) quit working. Cost me over $600. And looking at this website, it looks like GM has a real problem with their door lock design. I feel they should do a recall on their door locks. It they do, and do so soon, and give me my $600 back, Ill be buying another Tahoe. Otherwise, Ive had enough and will start buying another brand...

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  Serious Paint Problems! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By elean - November 29 - 2:00 am

  I grew up driving camaros and was very excited when the new models came out. Drives wonderfully but the paint job is horrible! Did they only spray one coat? Im keeping my fingers crossed for a paint recall. Ive seen several other 2010 camaros around town that are all equally scratched up. Weve only had the car for 5 months, 1,400 miles, no accidents, and there are chips everywhere. All you have to do is look at this car funny and the paint will chip!