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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  Stay away from this car - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Cromagnum - December 7 - 1:46 pm

  Car would not start 2 times, had it towed. Constant light surging, even with cruise on. Cold starts result in hesitation on take off, even once backfiring. The dealer naturally says they cannot duplicate these driveability issues. Big mistake getting this car, it will be gone soon. Oh, the car is 3 months old.

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  Dealer has my car more than I do!!!!!!!! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mindyj - December 6 - 2:00 am

  I wish I would have never bought this car. WORST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE! The dealer has had the car as much as I have if not more. Car stalls on me when I put it into drive.Dosent happen all the time so they say can not duplicate it. Supposed to be fixed every time that I get it back but still have same problem. Power windows have gotten stuck. Cigarette lighter and power volt have both been blown. Say it was my car carger but it workes in every other car. Oh yeah they say a cigarette lighter is not the place for a car charger. Odometer light went out. Clunking in steering when I turn. Been to dealer at least 10 times.

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  S-10 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By tahenline - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Thought I was buying a decent quality, economical, dependable little truck. WRONG! 17mpg, gutless performance, windows dont seat properly when I try to close them (screeching wind noise), hyper-sensitive ABS brakes, seatbelts that lock in place and dont permit any movement, backache-generating seat, cheap/chintzy plastic all throughout the cab, tires that crumble, PLASTIC(!) intake manifold, clutch mastercylinder, fuel tank and shock absorbers. Vehicle appears to have been manufactured from recycled beer cans and plastic coat- hangers. Keep hoping it either burns to the ground or somebody steals this piece of rolling trash. Never again, GM!

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  the worst buy - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SEGNOR - November 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is a joke I have four set of brakes and rotors a new fuel injection and now it needs a new intake gasket and the signal lights work half the time and forget them working when it rains. I will never buy chevy product again. And the gas gauge--dont work. THIS CAR IS JOKE!!! DONT BUY TOO MANY PROBLEMS I plan to trade this spring--I feel sorry for whoever buys the POS!!!!

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  Comfortable, but poorly made - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Airborne! - November 22 - 11:21 am

  I have a love hate relationship with this vehicle. I love how it drives, feels and looks, but hate its overall quality and dependability. Since 2004 this vehicle has slowly fallen apart due to cheap materials and design. I have another non GM vehicle I have had since 2000 which has fared so much better and looks so much newer. Starting with the big ticket items this vehicle has had 2 new engines and 2 new transmissions, neither under warranty of course. The engine due to main bearing failures and the transmissions due to the fact that one seems to lead to the other.With at least this model of Suburban it seemed like they started designing and building a good vehicle and then gave up at some point and put whatever cheap stuff they could to cut costs. Things that they know you would be touching or handling 50 times a day like the stereo knobs have become broken and badly worn. The electronic controls for the climate system have gone wacky and replaced a couple of times. The overhead DVD system has fallen out of its mount twice due to poor design of the bracket and screws. And not a big deal, but what is with Chevy and offset steering columns on these vehicles? Another very annoying issue is the seat belts. This was the model year that they added the bell to remind you if someone in the front does not have on their seat belt. The thing will jump all over you quickly and incessantly. I have no issue with this except the seat belt themselves can tell you they are latched via the warning sound stopping and then you hit a bump or move around and the belt suddenly becomes unlatched while driving down the road. Not well designed or very safe. The great part is it drives like a dream. It drives much smaller than its size with decent handling and acceleration. Breaking can be a bit weak, but acceptable. It also looks great. At least to me it is one of the better looking Suburban designs. The interior, although very cheaply made overall, has huge space for people with tons of storage room. On a long trip this thing is a dream. Well except for the gas mileage, but for this size of vehicle it is acceptable to me. Overall I would never recommend anyone buy one of these used or even new for that matter unless you plan on buying a new one every 2 to 3 years before they start to come apart. GM seems to design for "initial quality" these days. That is why you hear all the best initial quality awards on TV and in magazines. They design them to last just long enough for you to lease or buy a new one in 3 or so years. If not for the fact I can find other similar vehicles that last much longer then that would be ok.

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  Never again, GM, Never! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By quidproquo - October 24 - 11:53 am

  My first and absolute last GM product, ever! It would be easier to list what hasnt broken or worn out prematurely than what has, with GM never taking any responsibility! (Quick list-Tranny imploded, water pumpx2, brakes a total joke, wheel bearingsx3, rust everywhere! and no, harsh environment except a heated and cooled garage, transaxle, now engine is bad have babied this truck from day one (Synthetic oil changes every 1500 miles), never towed or off road, never remotely abused or driven hard, Pure junk. I have bought new 6 Japanese cars, 5 American and two German cars and understand there may be some problems upon delivery, but to not stand behind your product I have found only with GM.

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  Concern Customer - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By darnellf5@gmail.com - October 20 - 10:44 am

  Purchase 2014 Cruz Diesel in 2014. Five months after purchase the check engine light came on, I thought this was odd. Well, I have had my car service 10 times. Spoke with GM about the problem but have not received support. Please reconsider before you buy.Maybe all the Chevy Cruz Diesels are not alike but I ended up with a bad one. I have had a Chevrolet car before with no issues.

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  if you have money to spend - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By maggie1 - October 11 - 2:00 am

  first 1200 (1996)miles blew a transmission seal, then air conditioner wouldnt work while 105 in Nevada. Costly tows (reimbursed) due to warranty many times in the garage due to transmission problems, replaced transmission in 2002 and the extended warrantly goes back to the original date of purchase not the date we had implemented. will not buy another GM blazer type vehicle, especially this kind. I have talked to many other owners and yes they too have had tranny problems.

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  It smells like a sweat sock - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By callAAA - September 28 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car a few years ago at 88000 miles. Since it rolled onto 90000 there have been thousands in repairs. A strange leak has also appeared that from my research is common in all beretta and corsica models. It will be years before I EVER buy another chevrolet. American cars be warned ... keep putting out crap and you will lose customers.

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  I hate this pieace of crap car.. - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By dymondeyz23 - September 23 - 2:00 am

  i have had to replace basically everything on this car.. and it only now has 60,000 miles... i also ended up having to replace the engine.. i dont recomend this car... i have never had so many problems w/ a car until i bought this one.. car has been in the shop since the 1month i bought it... replaced... major electrical cords, fuel pump, belts, computer sensors, dents easy, head gasket, overheats, motor barrings... etc...