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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  Be careful - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By OSCAR - September 8 - 2:05 pm

  I recently got a 2005 impala with 118,000 miles for 7,300 dollars. At first it ran well but once i bought and i turned it on in the morning and tried to leave i couldnt i had to wait for it warm up. when its cold it wouldnt run so if youre planning to buy an impala make sure it runs when its cold. other than that its a great car to have and go out with.

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  Oh, my. - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Oh, my. - September 8 - 11:01 am

  I got this from my mother who purchased it new. I prefer a different brand, but had to keep her from driving. Im having same problems as others. Ive had to have the AC button fixed several times. Youd think that Chevy would offer some kind of rebate or recall to those of us who have to have it fixed since this is a problem with most of the 03s, but they dont. Once is bad, twice is inexcusable. I also have trouble with the brakes when it rains. Glad to know others are having the same problems. I thought it was just me.

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  Trouble - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By colorsendinink - September 8 - 10:10 am

  i just bought this car with 71,000 miles and its already giving me problems. i took it back to the dealer 3 times to get it repaired because it overheats all the time. the car has no power whatsoever. one good thing about it is the gas mileage, thats awesome because i have a long commute to school every day.

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  Scared to be in the car - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Terrified - September 7 - 8:24 pm

  Got car 2006. had recall on it. things keep falling apart that have been fixed numerous times. the car doesnt start half the time but how convenient the dealer never could "duplicate" the problem until I showed them then I was told nothing was wrong. car feels unstable and Im terrified for my children to be in the car. Im afraid it will stop running when Im driving. Getting rid of when I can. GM doesnt care about having their customers ride in safety. Do not buy this car

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  Somehow i love it - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By plsgofaster - September 7 - 6:27 pm

  My dad gave me this car a year ago. Its performance isnt impressive 0-60. In quite a while (10.3 sec) it was comfortable until the padding "parted" around the frame of the seat. The build quality is sub-par the interior made of the worlds cheapest plastics is coming apart piece by piece. The power locks work 30% of the time the Windows barley work, but the engine keeps going. Im getting 160 miles a tank the mpg is dreadful. Its expensive to insure because its a sports car even though it barley moves. However the exterior is a triumph in styling 10 out of 10. I cant explain why but I love this car and I love driving it. Maybe its the t-tops.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By AD - September 7 - 5:33 pm

  Comfortable to drive except for arm rest is too low. Exterior and interior looks nice. Ok gas mileage, average @24-26mpg. At just 20,000 miles, the timing chain, timing chain tensioner, and serpentine belt needs replaced. Dealer tech stated service bulletin issued for timing chain. Had recall for control panel completed but backlighting still dims periodically. May regret purchasing.

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  After 13 yrs, it is still going - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By opitmus01co - September 6 - 8:58 pm

  I bought this car in 1997. I have had no problems with it what so ever. I has currently 159,000 miles on it. It is good in snow, and handles well. This is my 4th cavalier, as we go back to 1984 when I bought the wagon version. I wish they still made a wagon. Hubby and I have both owned one each. I am in the market for a new car, and I will give this one to the kids to drive. It will last a while longer.

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  Cant Believe GM made this Car - 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Edwin - September 6 - 8:39 pm

  First GM vehicle in over 30 years and I am pleasantly surprised with the great quality , fit and finish - perfect paint and zero squeaks and rattles. Has been to dealer for a wheel balance but nothing else. Performance from the big V8 is wonderful - terrific low-end torque coupled with ferocious acceleration - gas mileage is 18-19mpg city and 26mpg highway. Brakes , handling , and shifter are quite nice - even better than a 911. Did not consider Porsche due to many past problems and very high service and maintenance expenses. Overall I am very pleased with my Z06.

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  5 years and running like a champ! - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By LinRichards - September 6 - 4:52 pm

  I bought my car used with 64,000 miles on it five years ago. I LOVE THIS CAR. So reliable, I have not had to do any major repairs on it. I have of course changed tires, batteries, flushed the transmission. But there have been no other real problems. When I drive on the interstate or above 70 mph, it does eat a lot of oil. Im thinking it might have an internal oil leak. I need to get it looked at. But the miles per gallon is incredible and I absolutely love this tiny little car. I like that it has nothing automatic on it, thats how you can keep the cost down. BUY IT PEEPS!

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  1996 Chevy Blazer - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By valbabe19 - September 6 - 1:21 pm

  I bought this car when it had about 168,000 miles on it. I needed a beater car to get back and forth to work..and trust me its a beater. I have had nothing but issues with it since I bought it. I had to replace the wheel bearings w/hub assembly, shocks (front and back), brakes, thermostat (twice), and now I am having major issues with the coolant system and the access tank running dry.