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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  Bad all around - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By godessann - December 18 - 11:58 am

  Bought this minivan for animal rescue. Recall on our dash of all the gauges. Thought it was going to be over. Now my light and stereo stay on when turned off. Have to manually turn them off. My back hatch cannot be opened due to electrical problems. My doors do not lock because of electrical issues. Now it is making noise under the hood and no one can find the problem. The door panel on the drivers side gets caught everytime you open the door. This is a terrible van. I regrete every buying it. I will never get another one. As soon as it is paid off we will be getting rid of this death trap.

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  buy a bike. it will save you gas, money, and your life... - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By xoamandapanda - December 16 - 6:57 pm

  I had been driving a 1997 Ford Taurus which randomly broke down on the road and I needed something safer than that, so we bought this car. Last night, I was in a horrendous car accident. The entire front of my car was taken off even at 7 mph (an Acura MDX slammed into me- not my fault). I was not hurt and neither was my passenger. My airbags did not deploy and Onstar never called. I called to complain to Chevy and all they could do was say I wasnt hit in the right spot for the air bags to deploy. The pick up is garbage and I am often beeped at for not being able to accelerate. I also get about 16-18 mpg city. I use a gallon of gas each day going 20 miles. I will NEVER buy another Chevy.

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  Buyer Beware - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By zabora - December 16 - 5:57 pm

  Bought my 2003 impala from a reputable dealer with only 41000 miles on it. Originally bought for my wife as a family car, but it has been so unreliable that she wont drive it anymore. It has been absolute trouble since I bought it. First the intake manifold gasket went. Then, the electronics stopped working properly. No signal, no heat control, no air control. All failed at different times. Then the front end started having problems. Tie Rods, Rotors, and now finally today, the steering rack. Completely failed going down the road. Could not power steer at all. I have always been a chevy man, and have lived with typical chevty problems but no more. This is my last car from them.

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  Last time with GM - 2003 Chevy Blazer - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By randyxgm - December 7 - 1:42 pm

  I have purchased GM vehicles for the past 20+ years. My last new purchase was a 2003 Blazer the vehicle has been a lemon from day 1. I have always taken care of my vehicles and done the recommended maintenance. Heres a list of some of the problems Ive had with this car: Trans line leaks @3000 miles, car shuts off for no reason @ less than 20,000 miles, power windows work intermittently, small side rear window leaks during rain, making seatbelts wet, fuel gauge problems, wipers dont park, wheel bearings needing replacing @ 40,000miles, rear brakes seized up, U-joints needed replacing @ 70,000 miles, Rear differential seal blew-out @ 100,000 miles, Trans died @ 150,000 miles. GM sucks!

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  2009 impala is a nightmare - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
  By mouse71 - December 1 - 9:45 pm

  I purchased my 2009 impala lt2 in 5-09. It has been a nightmare took it off the lot at 20 miles before i hit a 1000 miles took it back because it wasnt holding air in the tires. And now it has 88,000 miles with going on putting the 13 set of rotors on it. I took gm to court and only receive $3500.00 with warranty on rotors till 100,000 miles but every 3000 to 5000 miles im getting new rotors. my suggestion do not buy. sad part about it gm dont take care of their retirees my whold family works for them and they didnt do anything about it.

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  I should have bought a Subaru ! - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By icemate1 - November 30 - 7:49 pm

  New car with nothing but problems. First couple of months the windows would go down y themselves and the car would fill with snow to the steering wheel. After that, had to have the ca.r jumped every week or two and the dealer found out after a year that the radio was comming on by itself and staying on until the battery was dead. Problem with key unlocking the car. $80 key for new car, what a rip off. Wiper expensive and they wear out quickly. Junk ! Started out with 31.2 MPG when new but now only 25 MPG. ?? Engine light now on and computer says bearing sensor and timing problem. Whats next ? Highly recommend you buy anything but GM car

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  Wish I hit reverse before buying Traverse - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By mom2x2 - November 28 - 10:12 pm

  I have been into the dealership 13 times in the past 2 months...nothing but issues with engine and powersteering. Was happy with car but this has thrown me over the edge. Do not feel comfortable driving my family of six in this vehicle. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone. BEWARE

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  what happend ? - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By meer - November 17 - 7:00 pm

  This car is a pain in the A - - -. I have already voiced my dis like of the seats. And mentioned the annoying "low pressure" warning about the tires. After receiving and E mail advising the tire pressures are low, I check with my tire gauge and sure enough one tire has 15 lbs, another has 20 lbs., another has 12 lbs and the last has 25 lbs. WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY. !!!!!!! I have never had this problem with any car I have owned. Question: Are the tires crap? Are the wheels at fault, what is going on ? And the fuel mileage is still only 23 to 24 mpg, NOT 30 !!!!! My Nissan gets 32 mpg around town. What a piece of junk. GM should be ashamed. I have contacted GM customer service and they just

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  CHEVROLET COBALT 2006 IS A LEMON & needs to be recalled !! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By rednozepit83 - November 17 - 4:05 pm

  I have had my 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS since 2008. I bought it used with 22,000 miles on it. Since I have had the car it has been a disaster! I have spent a few thousand on repairs not including the repairs that were done under warranty. The 1st month the sunroof motor went bad. Then the wiring to my dome lights needed to be replaced. The OEM stereo needed to be replaced at 30,000. Thermostat went bad at 40,000 miles. Both 02 exhaust sensors at 50,000 miles. The Intake & the Exhaust camshaft actuators. Catalytic converter at 60,000. BOTH back window motors bad at 65,000 miles. ALL 4 Fuel injectors bad at 75,000 miles and im sure more to come.

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  JUNK!!! Do not make a mistake!!!! - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By franktiregod - November 17 - 1:58 pm

  I bought a one owner 99 Trailblazer with just under 98,000 miles in 2009. WORST MISTAKE I EVER MADE!! Here is a small list of the things I had to replace on this junkpile. 1. Upper and lower balljoints. 2. Compete a/c system. 3. Computer 4. Heater core 5. Compete exhaust system including catylitic converter and wiring pigtails. 6. Alternator and belts 7. Upper ball joints-AGAIN!! 8. Radiator. The list goes on an on. And this was a nice CLEAN one owner truck! I got rid of it yesterday. I didnt sell it to an individual because if I did, my conscience wouldnt let me sleep at night. I bought my wife a Mazda 3 hatchback. Screw the "american cars". Thanks unions!