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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  Overstated MPG - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By lolaponi - November 17 - 9:55 am

  I just bought a 2011 Equinox. I have been driving a V6 mustang for 11 years that gave me 18/22 and when I was looking to replace it after 11 years I decided on the Equinox due to its 22/32 MPG. I bought the 4 cyl engine thinking it will save in gas . . . big mistake! I should have just gotten the V6 as it is driving my normal drive I only got 19 MPG 80 % highway driving!! This overstating of MPG is a rip off to the consumers!! At this rate, I am no more better in gas mileage with my mustang who can zip in and out of traffic!! I will give it this winter to rate how well this AWD will do in the snow and ice before I complete this entire review

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  2004 chevy aveo automatic - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By brenneman00 - November 9 - 11:42 pm

  I bought a 2004 chevy aveo. around 56,000 miles, the timing belt broke once. so i got a good deal on a wrecked aveo motor and i replace the whole motor $800 including motor and labor. Around 17,000 miles more, the water pump dropped, breaking the timing belt once again. then i paid $1000 and had to have the whole motor rebuilt. and there is still a bunch of problems. i do not recommand this car at all. its been nothing but problems.

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  Expen$$$$ive repairs imminent, traded it in - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By steve395 - October 23 - 2:12 pm

  I purchased a 2006 Impala in 2007. I was originally drawn to its style, power, comfort, very quiet ride, etc. I got a good price for it because it was a former rental. I bought it with 28,000 miles and traded it in at 99,600. In between that time it was pretty reliable. Right after the warranty ran out, I had problems with the steering system popping.I began to notice other problems at 75,000. The paint had the durability of nail polish. The drivers side visor hung down. I never could get the brakes to stop pulsating despite changing rotors. Random warning lights came on. Finally - no heat at idle. Head gaskets. Dealer wanted $1,900 to fix.

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  I Dont Know What to Do Love and Hate Relationship - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By contemplating - October 20 - 7:18 pm

  Ok here is the deal, love my car its great for tall people but I have been having problems! First had to replace an electrical problem with the key ignition which cost $530. Car has several leaks when it rains replaced that too, battery keeps draining had to fix the a/c another $150 and now again the a/c is not wanting to turn on and the power windows dont want to work and I keep having the check engine light on, I do not know what is wrong with it and I am tired of fixing it, almost reach half of what the car was worth when I originally got it and that was back in June 2011!! Im lost....

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  New wheels - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kiki24 - October 20 - 11:06 am

  i am a very pleased driver and owner of my fab new car that is perfect for me!!! its sleek and cool and cute just like me ). and i love my dealer that sold me the car. mike c at barbabrino nissan in wallingford, ct

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  Not as good as everyone says it is...Lacks Reliability - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By faith7430 - October 8 - 4:03 pm

  I have less than 5000 miles in less than 3 months and the car has been into the shop at least 10 times already. The actuator motor was replaced in under 1000 miles, the entire computer went out in less than 2000 miles, which left me stranded in the middle of the night away from home, and there has continued to be one thing after another going wrong with this vehicle. Too bad GM wont stand behind their vehicles cause all I have gotten from them is the run around and a "maintenance package". I just want a reliable vehicle and I didnt think that was too much to ask for when I purchased it.

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  Unsatisfied with Malibu - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By vectorer - October 8 - 2:23 pm

  Overall the car is not completely bad. It is a great car for highway trip, Extremely comfortable for 4 people, good trunk space. the 4 cyl engine is very good on power and economy, cannot imagine the car with the V-6. Great looks in and out.

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  My baby - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By cobraswa818 - September 17 - 12:19 am

  I love my camaro ! 220,000 mile and its in hirrble conditions. Tell you the truth? dont buy this car if you want to spen money. Parts are expencive and gas sucks. Why do i still own it? because i love my camaro and i will own it and put more money then its worth because to me its worth so much more then any thing else.

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  Suburban is dead at 137k - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By camperrc - September 14 - 2:53 am

  I bought this suburban with 123,000 Oct, 2007. Dec 29th 2009 fuel pump died 130,500. Jan 17th 2010134,000 head gasket rotted away. 137,752 cracked cyilinder. I paid 14,000 for a suburban to get me just over 14000 miles. Complete waste of money! Truck is worth 300 to 500 as it sits right now. The other autos (non GM) I have owned never had any of these problems and I drive most of my autos to 200,000 miles.

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  Burning Oil - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By bigwavedave1 - September 6 - 10:45 am

  I gave a good review on this vehicle after 5,000 miles we only had a few minor issues. No we have 44,000 miles on this vehicle and here are the issues we have had. First and most important at 40,000 we were driving 50 miles away from home when I started to hear a knock. The vehicle was out of oil GM neglected to tell owners that they have had a proble since 07 with some 5.3L burning oil. The worst is it burns it so clean you can not see it. (Bulletin No. 10-06-01-008B) The dealer charges me for an oil change and tells me to drive it and watch the oil level. Now we have to drive it and pray it does not blow up. Also all the door handles and locks have broke. Trading for a F150 Ecoboost