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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  Very, very poor gas mileage. - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By disatisifiedd - April 26 - 2:10 pm

  I bought this car because of the gas mileage.and that it was the best value around. I have never got over 21 miles per gallon, and have also only gone only 255 miles on a full tank of gas. Very disappointing with the price of gas today. I also know that driving differs with each person, but at least 1/2 of my driving is on the highway (60 mph), and that I recently gave my old Elantra to my son (at 100,000 miles still gets about 30+ miles per gallon. The car is also sluggish, does not drive like a new car.

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  Not What You Pay For - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By kanani4274 - April 18 - 2:27 pm

  I purchased my 2008 Chevy Impala new July 2008. I thought it was a bit pricey coming from a Chevy Pickup, but, needed to get away from high gas prices. This vehicle IS fuel efficient. It is hard to believe that this is a Full Size vehicle. The cab is extremely small for full size. I have two major complaints: #1 The suspension from the factory is junk and they know it. GM will not replace or repair this. I had to spend $1200.00 to fix a manufacturer defect after going through 3 sets of tires in under 40,000 miles. No thanks to GM. #2 The A/C-Heater System is JUNK, once again, GM knows of the problems and they will not repair or replace it. With that, I will NEVER purchase another GM vehicle.

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  GM is horrible - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mint51 - April 13 - 9:28 pm

  General Motors=Generally sucks your money= "money pit" I have never been so disappointed in a vehicle. I am only stuck with this vehicle because it has sucked so much of my money. But it is truly junk on the inside. They truly sacrificed quality, and did a "slap-stick" job on the inside...and the cylinders might as well have been made with plastic.. my TB is an 2005 73k miles...highway miles..well maintained..and i am already having to shell out money for prices similar to buying a new engine for a "new car"because GM admittedly made the cylinders with poor quality metal material..but would gladly provide a new set for extra $$$...stay clear of this crummy investment of transportation

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  Too many problems - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By irritated2011 - April 10 - 11:31 pm

  I bought the car off of someone who still had all receipts from maintinence and was told that there were little to no problems. However, Im discovering that this car isnt that great. First off- the center console. If stuff falls between the seats, have fun getting it back. Next, location of cupholders isnt great. The power jack (cigarette lighter) is in an awkward place, too. Sometimes when I start it, I have to tap the gas. Also, had brakes replaced/worked on probably 5 times, starting off with a tapping noise when stopping and a HORRIFFIC grinding noise when stopping in reverse. Ive only seen one other review about that.

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  Watch the wheel - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By retzoid - April 9 - 7:36 am

  I purchased a Cruze in Feb.2011..Was very satisfied at first now totally dissastisfied. The transmission down shifts very hard . Huge air leaks( wind noise) around front driver and passenger doors. The worst problem is that the dealership has had it for two weeks now. There is a problem with steering column drooping and comming undone for no reason...was told it was a bad column, been replaced 2 times now andwas told it is worse now than at first. No one will tell mewhat is really going on...find it hard that it takes 2 weeks to get a bolt. A representative from Detroit tried contacting me today...Not sure what about...will update when I find out what is going on......Car has less 1000

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  Disappointed reliability - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By golfer60 - April 8 - 12:41 pm

  Bought my Cruze last October. Always buy American so I gave GM a chance. Overall rate in most category is fine. Not too crazy about reliability. I have 5000 miles on it. At 2000 miles the thermostat stuck open. No inventory at dealer so I got a rental for three days. Yesterday, at 5000 miles, couldnt open the drivers door from outside. This took 1 hour to fix at dealer. Have to say the dealer is trying hard to please the consumer. Overall gas mileage is 31, highway mileage is 33, kind of disappointing. Will buy a Ford next time since my 06 Mercury Milan is running great with 75000 miles, still with original brakes.

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  shafted by gm - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By noxsucksthegas - April 6 - 8:41 pm

  like most everyone here iam going to talk about the piss poor mpg . like some i have talked with gm @ 1-800-790-5700 for the past mounth 1/2 . just to find out that my nox is in the avg. est. fuel rateing at normaly 23.5 on the hiway which i disagree because thats just above city avg. on hwy. driving . my opinion gm has a problem with that 4cly. or maybe they shouldnt put that 4 cly. in the equinox. anyway they wont admitt they are wrong. the new redesigned gm that runs deep SUCKS. the old gm whould at least listen and try to help you. out with the old in with the new.

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  Nothing but trouble - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By gmck25004x4 - April 6 - 2:18 am

  I bought my wife this car because it had the 3.8 and it was so beautiful. I hate Luminas and I didnt consider this a Lumina. It looked different with the package on it...however...it smelled like a Lumina, acted like a Lumina, and it was in the shop once a week like a Lumina. Interior is very uncomfortable. Hard for a real man to back into the cockpit without hitting his head and his butt. Seat is too low to the floor. Knees and legs groaned to get out after 200 miles. Gas mileage in town is 21 and on the highway is 27.7. It still got 21 on 30 mile trips. Had to go on 200 mile trips to get 27.7 Go figure... Intake gaskets and plenums are easy to go out on this. If you smell antifreez

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  Back Hatch Problems - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By shannon32 - March 17 - 12:46 pm

  Well I bought this tahoe brand new and have had several problems with rotors where worped at 5,000 miles then windshield fluid would just come out for no reason. Now I was driving the back hatch came open which I think this should be recalled and when I pulled over it shut and now it wont open the motor is trying to open it but it stops and then shuts again. I have to turn off the power and open back hatch and hold it with my hand because it wont even stay open by it self. The front dash started to crack for no reason. My tahoe is in exellect shape as far as how I keep it I wash it about every other day and it is in mint condotion other then the factory things that keep happening to me.

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  Fuel Pump -- Bad MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By uncles - March 7 - 6:23 pm

  Purchased in December, 2010. At 3,500 miles, the fuel pump went out putting fuel into the oil. Currently waiting for the repair. Because this is a new vehicle, the pump will not arrive at dealership for 3 to 5 days to be completed. Never got over 21 mpg even though it said we should have 32 mpg.