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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  Hit and Miss - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Dawn Coley - June 9 - 10:35 pm

  Bought this used from a dealer. Were told the noise from the back when you turned off the engine was the air compressor, yes this has a compressor. Turned out they lied, the shocks had a leak. Have never been able to afford to get these fixed, because other more important parts were needing fixing. One repair after another for the first two years. Since I was broke from all the repairs could not afford a new car. The upkeep and repairs are brutal. Now at 100,000 miles all sorts of stuff breaking down. Keyless entry and locking mechanism stopped working. Gas gauge doesnt work. When it needs repairs very expensive because design of engine area many parts have to come out to repair what is broken.

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  Frozen Doors - 1995 Chevrolet Corsica
  By KC - June 9 - 6:08 pm

  Old Corsica is getting worn out and needs replacing. Will miss the great heater/AC & good ride (although road noise was bothersome) plus the cheap upkeep. The third alternator has lasted 9 years. Had to replace rear struts & lower manifold, no other big problems other than the doors freeze up in freezing rain/sleet (design issue). Worried that I wont be able to find another car this reliable. Doubt I can find another one in better condition with low mileage but plan to try.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Scoop - June 9 - 2:34 pm

  I find this vehicle is very fun to drive. My passengers have commented on a very nice ride. Feels bigger than it probably is, but things like parking and space in your garage it is really no more than a reasonable footprint. Head and leg room are excellent. My dealer was very good about finding and swapping a vehicle of my color choice since the one I ordered was taking much more time to get than we anticipated. I would buy it again based on the first 3,000 miles.

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  Too many problems - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dayna - June 9 - 11:26 am

  Granted, I bought my car used from a used dealership Im reading all the above problems from all other consumers and find Im having the same problems! Struts! Radio locking up! The metal lining on interior doors chipped and very sharp! Power steering! Shakes when I go to a stop like its going to stall out on me and now the car wont even start! The engine light just comes on!

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  Junk! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By usereks1187 - June 9 - 10:01 am

  Bought car when it was one year old, spent so much time in shop I got a second car so I had something to drive. All the interior trim has broken the front end has pretty much fallen apart steering is awful had many transmission problems. Dealership service along with GM customer service is the worst I have ever seen. Do yourself a favor and a big headache get something other then GM.

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  General - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By crack07 - June 9 - 12:44 am

  I dont drive the car a lot. Im a Farmer and drive my truck more. Had a large issue with leaving it outside a few time in heavy rain and it flooded the floor boards, I mean water standing. Took it to the dealer they say its fixed but its been in the garage for all heavy rains since. Only have 39,000 on it now. But it gets good mpg and you dont lay down to drive it like most cars. Other than the water issue I have had only on issue they replaced the radio but all seems good now just wish I would have got the 100,000 pwr train warranty I got on my 07 silverado but that came free on it.

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  Favorite truck - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By uncle dave - June 8 - 6:50 pm

  Bought with 89k miles on it. Now pushing 128. Only problems other than general maint. were universal joint at 110k and tps at 127k.Have had more people comment on this truck than my BMW.With 4 cyl. its no hot rod, but it gets me to work every day without fail and averages 21-22 mpg around town. Will drive it till it dies or I do.

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  My Beretta - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Mae - June 8 - 5:15 pm

  I bought my Beretta used 6 months ago. With one previous owner, it is still in terrific shape. Though it has a decent number of miles on it, it is very reliable and fun to drive. I really appreciate the speed and acceleration. Very few problems so far. With new tires, a new paint job, and a little chrome, my Beretta easily compares to any new car.

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  Great vehicle - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rob - June 8 - 4:25 pm

  Very roomy for a family of 7. Great for long trips with the DVD system and interior comfort. Tons of storage space..for a family of 7. Gas mileage is excellent for the vehicle size we averaged 14.7 over the first several years. Powerful engine that can handle mountainous roads with ease.

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  Disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Nicole - June 8 - 3:22 pm

  I ordered a new 2010 AWD LTZ Equinox. It was beautiful when it arrived. About 2 weeks of driving the engine started reving up to scary RPM. Took it to the dealer and they said it was the TRANSMISSION. It has been 3 weeks now and no one seems to be able to get a transmission to replace mine. Contacted GM and they do not seem to be concerned either. So for now I am disappointed I bought an Equinox and a GM vehicle. So I wait for the dealership to try to replace my transmission and I am going to have to make a payment on something I have not been able to drive. DISAPPOINTED!