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:

• 

  Like it a lot! - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jojodancer - June 12 - 3:17 pm

  Interior could use some spicing up, it handles very well, kinda BAD on gas averaging 19.5 mpg (city & highway)but I guess that comes with those SS badges. Very fun to drive! Did have some issues with the intake manifold gaskets, be sure to have them checked out b4 purchase or be SURE to get an extended warranty that covers gaskets and other small inside of the engine parts.

• 

  Buyer Beware - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By michaellrar - June 12 - 11:08 am

  Bought it for the "fun factor" and was disappointed. It has massive blind spots. Also thought I purchased new and the dealership sold me a demo and did not tell me. Found out after I got my papers in the mail. The controls for the window are in an unsafe place (they have since fixed that I heard). The drink cup holders are a joke at best. I am a big guy so the seat belts take an act of congress to fasten. And did I mention the wimpy armrest that points down when lowered. The tires have the constant tire pressure monitoring system so I am constantly refilling the tires. Needless to say I only drive it about 6,000 miles per year and that is when my daily driver (a 2002 honda civic) is being serviced.

• 

  Dont BUY!! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jabbab - June 12 - 10:35 am

  I bought my 2004 Aveo back in 07, was a good car and great millage. That said, if the timing belt goes, or, in my case, the pulley, youre stuck. The timing belt is worthless in this vehicle, and if it goes, and you drive on that, just for a foot or two, you vales, engine, everything is destroyed! Do not buy this vehicle. It looks cute on the outside but is crap on the inside especially the engine!

• 

  First 1 ive owned after driving several - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By little joe - June 11 - 10:26 pm

  Most of the variations of the impalas Ive driven have been very good and dependable. The one I have just bought recently seems to be very dependable. It has been well maintained other than rock chips all over the hood, (former owners lived on a dirt and gravel road). It has a lot of miles, mostly long distance highway travel. The paint seems to be original and other than being enamel instead of lacquer, it has a quality paint job. The interior is very pleasing to the eye, except for the carpet. The exterior and steering wheel that should be a dark Gray or black color. Id buy all I could find of them if I could afford to (most would be used for passenger transportation in a shuttle business).

• 

  The Hippo - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Army Strong - June 11 - 2:40 pm

  Yes, it is excellent on gas, and I drove 3,000 miles in 4 days and it went the distance, but I think it was definitely pushing it. Its not an SUV, I think my passenger hubcap is about to fall off. The stock tires are bad even new. Theyre dangerous to drive on windy days. The bulky frame of the car with such small Windows leaves enormous blind spots especially on left turns. There was no carpet in the back storage area for mine, so with even the slowest turns, everything sled around. The brakes are absolutely horrible! Theres a huge delay and they squeak like crazy. And the intake is a little noisy.

• 

  98 cavilier 4dr - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Joe - June 11 - 12:06 am

  I have recently come to own a cavalier. Now Im no stranger to understanding a good car from a bad one, and this one is certainly on the downer list. I can respectfully say deigned interior well, decent on gas. But lacks in power and suspension is weak. Car wasnt abused too badly but will look to get rid of this horrible lil car as soon as possible. I do not recommend this car to anyone. These cars were designed poorly. For a 4 dr it should have more power so that when you do have passengers it doesnt sound like the engine has to work so hard. Driver and maybe one passenger, thats it.

• 

  White one - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By landiran - June 10 - 5:26 pm

  I got a 99 suburban ls White. I got it in 06 with 120,000 miles. At first I hated this truck, it was in the shop often. So far intake gasket, 2 fuel pumps, water pump, fuel injection system, and brakes both rear and front. I just thought it was an older truck in need of some TLC. I was right now that the list of things have been done 2 it, it runs like a champ and now has 192,000 miles on it. I dont plan to ever get rid of it. I will always drive a suburban, wouldnt have it any other way. Whatever breaks I hope I can afford to fix it.

• 

  This Truck - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ashlie - June 10 - 11:33 am

  I bought this truck almost brand new in 2006. Within 2 months the struts went out. Then the radiator then to top it all off for no reason I had to get a new motor in 2009. I dont understand how one truck can have so many problems. I dont understand how people are so happy with this truck.

• 

  800 miles and tranny trouble - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cowboywong - June 10 - 9:11 am

  I was happy till after 800 miles win the transmission intermittently shifts unusually at low and high speeds. Its scheduled for the second appointment to get an extensive test drive. I feel the service dept is trying but they indicate there are no codes and the 6 speed transmission is unusual in nature in that it doesnt shift right/normally. It is also very intermittent but my confidence is pretty much gone in the drive train. In addition the ignition/ steering wheel locked and had a couple of other incidences with the ignition switch, again intermittent problem, service could not duplicate the issue.

• 

  How many times do you have to fix it? - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By unhappy - June 10 - 3:41 am

  I really like this crossover, but things brake down on my uplander when least expected and how many times it needs to be "fixed". My wheel bearings, handle for the hatchback door broke costing me almost $60.00. Oh dont get me started on the brakes, I have no clue how much money I forked over cause the braking system. Shoddy, and no one seems to know how to fix it. The engine runs fine. It is everything else that is pain in the rear. Sliding doors wont lock or close correctly or even work with the fob! The back wiper motor died at the first snow fall, because rear wiper switch located on left side steering, where frozen fingers touch and turn on and not realize it. Windshield is problem to fix.