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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  Wiley - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Wiley - April 12 - 11:55 am

  I posted a review in November of 09 and I must admit that I thought highly of the car. In fact I loved it. That changed quickly. I was having problems with my brakes squeaking, now my steering wheel is making noises and when I make a right turn, something is scrubbing. My car has been in the shop for three weeks and I dont think they know whats wrong with it. They say they may have to replace my steering column. They call to ask was my car vibrating, I told them no, so I guess it is no. I have never had this many problems, especially with a brand new car. I will have had my car for 2 yrs. come July and Im having all these problems now, thank God its still under warranty.

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  Cheap transportation - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By dleebold - April 11 - 8:45 pm

  Bought aveo used with 21,000 miles. Had new front brakes and rotors installed because the rotors were warped. So far its been a good car. Fun to drive, easy on gas, and Im 6,2" and its easy for me to get in and out. For a small car, interior has a lot of room. Easy to get around in snow. I would buy another.

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  So far, so goo. - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By AveoDriver - April 11 - 8:35 pm

  Overall, I love my Aveo. I keep reading negative reviews and find it very frustrating. Its an economy car, not a corvette. Im just over 33,000 miles and have had no major problems. I changed the tires at 31,000 and leaves have got caught in a tube underneath the vehicle, creating a noise when the AC is on. The dealership cleared everything out on both occasions quickly and without cost. The interior has plenty of space and you can fit quite a bit when the seats are folded down. The fuel efficiency is great and the manual transmission is fun to drive. Ive been on several 8+ hour road trips in this car and have been very comfortable. So far so good. I hope this car lasts for many years.

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  Its a fun car - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By CAMARO - April 11 - 8:09 pm

  Its a very fun car to drive, except for the big front end makes it kinda hard to see when topping a hill. Fun to hot rod around in except for when its refueling time. LOL. I havent had to do too much work. All Ive had to do is replace trans, radiator, and sway bar links, oil, tranny fluid etc. But now its time to replace the car its self, I got in a wreck and tore up the driver side fender and the front clip, and headlight mount. Im looking for a new one, preferably 1989 to 1991 iroc or rs,

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  Love it - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By love my Impala - April 11 - 6:45 pm

  I have 116,000.00 miles on my Impala, bought it new. Other than normal wear and tear, I have had no issues. I am actually considering buying another one for my next vehicle. I love it!

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  Unreliable - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By elizabeth - April 11 - 3:57 pm

  Replaced all 4 door locks, fell inside door twice within 4 years. Seat belts recalled just added cheap plastic to keep from twisting. Part that retracts seat belt fails after a few uses. Safety not Chevrolets concern. Factory failed to seal gasket. Radio quit after a few months wouldnt turn on, daytime running lights didnt work within first 12 months. Mpg in town I have a car now getting same gas mileage as my aveo. Not reliable at all toward the end had in shop 3 out of 4 days. Front wheel bearing went. This car was babied and fell apart at 40,000 miles. Better have deep pockets. Not an low maintenance car.

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  Buyer beware, no help from factory - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By I. Escoto - April 11 - 2:05 pm

  Some GM 2002-2006 V8 motors have factory defects in the cylinder heads. See service bulletins, always adding coolant, loss of coolant and no signs of coolant leaks and heater blows cool air are all signs of possible defective heads. Problem starts small than gets worse with miles. Hedricks Chevy of Fresno, Calif. misdiagnosed my Tahoe and now that extended warranty is out it could cost me over $3000.00 to repair. Poor GM and Hedricks customer service, with no help from factory. I lost my faith with Hedricks and GM customer service. I spent over $45k for this vehicle and expect engine to last over 200k miles with normal service, not get stuck with factory problem. BUYER BEWARE

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  Great reliability, Bad build qualty - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By R1der2002 - April 11 - 11:43 am

  Dont get me wrong i love my Tahoe it has not broken down on me yet but the interior squeaks a lot, the fit and finish of the materials is not that great either. Would I buy it again though, yes like I said it has not broken on me yet and actually for its size I get good MPG I get 17.6 city and 21.8 HWY. I do not know what is wrong with everyone elses Tahoe lol

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  2007 Chevy Equinox LT - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DHS - April 10 - 10:00 pm

  I purchased this vehicle used 6 months ago, have had no problems at all so far. The sliding rear seat is a brilliant idea that is very useful. Rear seat room is excellent. The center console mounted window switches struck me as odd at first, but I have come to love them, they offer very easy and visible access. Performance is acceptable, fuel mileage is better than I expected. My only complaints are that the transmission seems unsure of which gear to use, (5th or overdrive) and hunts between 40 and 50 mph, the sunroof whistles above 60 or so, and the front seat cushions seem a bit short. However, these issues do not negatively affect my appreciation for this vehicle.

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  The more miles the more problems. - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Lindz - April 10 - 1:23 pm

  I bought my Equinox about a year ago and loved it at first. It drove smoothly, it was comfortable to travel in for a little bit. Then my anti-lock braking system started to take a crap on me. Took it into the dealer said that it was a computer chip malfunction.They replaced that and I didnt even hardly get it out of the parking lot before it did it again. Took it back again and finally figured out it was something in the wheel. I hate the interior I spilled water on my seat and it stained it! All the buttons are wearing off and I just took it to the shop again because something to do with my radiator that could have potentially burnt my engine up! The more miles the more problems it seems.