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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  Couldnt wait to get rid of it. - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Keith - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Great car, fun to drive, but it is NOT an everyday car. Its HUGE, difficult to see out of. If you blow a tire you have to have it towed -- no tire only a blow up kit. Got rid of mine after a few months. It is a gas hog, but you should expect that. I liked it, but I could not wait to get rid of it, and sadly it does NOT hold its value for it to be one of the most talked about cars of recent times. I will admire them from the distance now, but never will recommend that someone buys one.

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  Just purchased - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By chas - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased in October 2010. A very pleasant and quiet driving experience especially on smooth roads. Much less quiet on bumpy roads. The car handles beautifully. I am already getting 5 MPH better overall than with my 2003 Buick and i am looking forward for even better mileage as i break it in. Average now is 27 MPG. The bucket seats are not as soft as i am used to but i think i can get used to them. Bluetooth and on star are excellent features and i am already using them.

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  Impala Review - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sw - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this vehicle brand new with on 26 miles on. I had all maintenance performed at the dealership & still do. At 70, 000 miles the vehicle started experiencing problems with the ABS & Traction Control while turning or slowing down at low speed. Also the instrument cluster stopped working i.e. speedometer, thermostat gauge, engine Rpm monitor. I had the thermostat replaced under warranty. GM should invest in better parts for a more reliable vehicle. Other than that I travel daily through 3 cities & the veh gets good mileage on the hwy.I would purchase another one only if GM modified their parts! This is the 2nd GM veh I have owned both brought new with the same problems, no more!

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  Loved my Trailblazer - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mrsgaylonj - October 31 - 2:00 am

  I currently have 97,000 miles on my car and in all that time the ONLY repair/maintenance Ive ever had to do was new tires, new left motor mount, front brakes and a new wire for the passenger side front headlight. All these that I just listed were done w/in the last 8000 miles. Ive had 0 tranny issues. It is super comfy, fast, durable, handles well. We just had a baby so just traded it in for a new Escape, but I will miss it. It has by far been my favorite vehicle Ive ever owned!

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  Not too sastified - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By dstevens1204 - October 31 - 2:00 am

  i own a 2006 chevy cobalt lt coupe for 2 years now. pretty much, the main problem is that the cd player never want to work, the engine light keep coming off and on.

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  Vibration - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By dissatify owner - October 31 - 2:00 am

  Driving at 50 and up mph with the windows open in the back, the car vibrates so bad your ears pop and hurt. Took it to service dealership and was told all Equinox have the same vibration. The mpg it gives around 22 miles per gallon not 30/32 mpg. It has a very bad blind side that you got to be extra careful. If you are a passenger in the back sit, it is very uncomfortable. The service department at the Chevron dealership gave very poor service. Be should to open the back windows if you are test driving the Equinox at 50 mph before you buy it.

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  A+ engine in a base model not good - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By tbssdarkwing - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I had the rear compressor replaced, rear air ride adjusted, a bunch of trim pieces replaced, radio, driver side speakers, shifter was loose, power steering pump replaced, oil pan gasket replaced, rear differential is grinding, alternator replaced, all weather stripping replaced, steering sensor replaced, and rear bow tie fell off lol come on GM!! what is going on? I love Chevy, but the SS should of had their own parts and much more top of the line not "LS" or "LT" versions. Either you have an SS or ya dont.

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  Very Nice Car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By JD - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I just bought this car today so I havent had much time in it but after reading some of these reviews I will have to disagree. I think its a great car! The radio sounds great, ample trunk room, quiet ride, great instrument panel, AC/heat works great, very comfortable, plenty of inside room (we had 4 big adults and a kid in a booster seat comfortably). Overall so far it seems like a very good car. Like I said though Ive only had it a day but Im really liking it. The gas mileage is a big seller as well! I have a feeling this has been a very good purchase!

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  Power Steering motor recall - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Carol - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I noticed steering issues with my 2007 LS Cobalt. The dealership replaced it at no cost to me since there was a recall. It has made a huge difference in the feeling of control when Im driving. I dont drive much so I wasnt sure if I was just imagining this lack of control or not but I feel a lot safer now.

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  Nearly Perfect - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ryan - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I have owned to 2010 Camaro 1LT for around 9 months now, and I still have a smile on my face every time I hop in the car. The power is amazing (now SAE certified 312 hp, instead of the original rating of 304 hp), especially coming from a V6. GM knocked it out of the ballpark with the design. I have had people lean out of their cars on the highway to gawk at the car, people talk to me and ask to see inside it at gas stations, and been given thumbs up by other people driving their cars and motorcycles. I seriously feel like a rockstar driving this vehicle.