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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  comfy with extras, but serious flaws - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By busdriverjosh - May 27 - 8:53 pm

  We bought this used and had a transmission solenoid go out in two months. Soon after the ABS and AWD started to quit. You can turn the ignition off to reset it but its still a pain. Also, the wipers have a design flaw that allows the area to fill with snow and ice so the spring breaks if its not cleaned out before use. We like it and it has a lot of room and great features, but its just not reliable.

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  regrets regrets,never again!! - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By leecan75 - May 27 - 9:23 am

  i bought this truck after i totaled my ford escape..i love it at first..8 months later...well car just shuts off for no reason,thought it was the battery but its not.we got stranded at a mall had someone try to give us a jump and nothing,so called roadside asst and then the truck just turns on before tow arrived.and now the ac is not working at all.not to mention the inside it CHEAP CHEAO CHEAP oh did i mention, CHEAP! no one know whats wrong with it so its just sitting in my driveway.after looking up the issue i found hundreds of complaints with the same issues..please stay away..

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  Not looking forward to warranty running out - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By b0ds - May 26 - 2:44 am

  My wife and I purchased this car new back in 09. Its good on gas and not too bad for road trips. A taller person like myself might find themselves hunched over to see out the windshield though. The ignition went bad within the first year. One day we just couldnt turn the car off, the ignition had locked up and you couldnt turn the key to shut it off. Had to pull the fuel pump fuse to kill the car. Weve had to have the brake rotors and pads replaced a couple times. Most recently we had to replace a leaking front strut. All this before the car reached 27k miles. Havnt had to pay for repairs, but the warranty ends soon. I would not purchase another one.

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  You get what you pay for - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By kelcic - May 26 - 12:15 am

  I have had my Cobalt for 5 years now, and I have put about 70,000 miles on it. Around 45,000, the brakes began failing. Around 60,000, the transmission began failing. Just recently, it has begun violently shaking whenever I brake or accelerate. The car has served me well, and I havent had to replace anything yet. Once the transmission fails, though, the car is totalled. I have manual locks and windows, so I have not had any problems with the doors locking me in or out. This is a good car for first-time drivers, but if you want a long-lasting car, I would avoid the Cobalt.

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  Nice, but a lot of problems.... - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mig66 - May 24 - 8:34 am

  My car now has 76k miles on it. All of these problems started before 60k miles. Heater regulator door went out-30k miles, rear shocks-36k miles, front shocks-40k miles, starting issues since the day I bought it brand new, on fourth set of rotors and 2nd set of calipers. I have never had these kinds of brake/rotor problems with any other car I have had(Honda) and currently have(Hyundai). I change the oil every 3-5k miles and have put new tires on at 45k miles and a new battery last night.

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  Wish I never owned it. - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By charleym3 - May 23 - 3:47 pm

  My wife and son drive this car. The carpeting is too short on both sides, tacky. After 55000 miles Ive had to change the master cylinder, rotors once pads twice and one caliper. One of the sway bars is broken. The anti-theft system malfunctioned and cost $450 to repair. I hate this car. After the sway bar is fixed, its up for sale. It is fun to drive.

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  Should have shopped around more - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By eliz34 - May 19 - 4:01 pm

  I made a big mistake buying a Cruze before shopping around a bit more. The ride is so jarring on bumpy roads (which alas I must drive over) that I get headaches and stomach aches - and this has never happened in any other cars. I suppose if someone is looking for this, then it would be okay. Also, the seats are surprisingly uncomfortable even the Carmax appraiser said so without my prompting. The driver needs a right armrest. Also, the auto-lock is on the center console instead of on the door, and this gets very inconvenient if you have cargo to deal with in the back seat. I will be taking a hit with my downpayment and looking for a different car. Sorry, Chevy.

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  Problems after 50K miles - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By soclant - May 17 - 3:10 pm

  In March 2011, with 57,000 miles a small plastic tab in my shifter assembly broke and I could not remove the key. $357.87 plus disposal fee. I have the old one. April 6th front door handle broke, also plastic. Not happy

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  Too many repairs for a brand new car. - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By hdryder - May 2 - 1:22 pm

  We have a 2009 Cobalt Sedan W- Auto Trans. Purchased brand new. It currently has 38k miles on it. This is the worst GM car I have ever owned out of the gate. Within the warranty frame its had numerous failures related to cheap parts: Power steering motor recall. Steering column replaced because of a rattle. Ignition replaced because the key could not be turned off. The most recent is a issue yet to be diagnosed for certain but we are experiencing an erratic slapping noise coming from the drive train. I suspect its a noise that originates inside the transmission. This car has long term durabilty questionability. Be prepared to spend $$$$ after the warranty expires. Its very cheaply built.

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  Disappointed - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By time2go - May 2 - 10:21 am

  Less than 2 weeks ago I purchased the 2011 Equinox. The ONLY reason I traded evhicles was for better gas mileage. The "sticker" said the Equinox would get 22mpg city and 32mpg highway, DO NOT BELIEVE IT! Now I have been told by Chevy Corp. that it will take at least 3000 miles before one could Possibly see that kind of mileage. But, understand, you are not tole that up-front. Buying the Equinox in one of the worst decisions I have ever made. I will not encourage anyone to buy a Chevy productt ever again. I am totally disgusted and disappointed. Whatever hapen to "truth" in advertising. No wonder dealerships have such a bad reputation.