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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  Dont buy - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By dawn - October 7 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd Venture. Ive had the WB van for 4 year and all its been is a money pit! The upper intake manifold was replace at 5 years old 68,000 miles, transmission was replaced at 88,000 miles, air shocks, brakes front and back and O2 sensor all replaced within the past few weeks. Now the muffler has a huge whole which is $600. to replace, the low intake gasket is leaking, oil is leaking(had a oil change 500 miles ago and now theres no oil in the van at all). As I talk to other Venture owners and the dealership where I get it worked on at this is a common engine issue! I cringe every time I get into the van! This van as doesnt hold its value and tens to rust out at the sliding doors.

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  Dont Buy One Unless You Are A Mechanic! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Beeka79 - September 29 - 2:00 am

  Worst vehicle my family ever owned, bought our van w/ 33,000 miles and never imagined we were buying a money pit! It has been a few years since we got rid of it, but I remember a tranny rebuild, intake manifold gasket failure, a bad compressor, ABS problems and others w/ brakes, power locks, wiper motors and blinkers going out constantly. Traded it for a Honda at 60k miles. Would love to give GM another chance. But this van failed my expectations. Bad bad memories of this van!

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  Traverse - Stay Away From It! - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By sad Travese owner - September 29 - 2:00 am

  Where to start, after only a few weeks of owning this thing its started having problems. 1st thing it will literally jerk you off the road! It jerks to the right it jerks to the left. Once it shot me completely into the opposite lane! That being the worse problem the Cruise control works when it wants to an shuts off when it doesnt want to, the speedometer drops 20 miles at random. When you shut the doors it sounds like the window will break. You cant have the back Windows down unless the front Windows are down because its so loud, it makes a chopping sound and vibration. And dont crack the Windows in the rain it will dump water all over you. The airflow coming in through the vehicle smells

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  Some driving issues - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bob - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Opted for the v6, gas mileage is poor, performance is just ok, small trunk opening, cant get anything in it without twisting and turning the article, seats are uncomfortable, visibility is very bad, took rear seat headrest off, put them on front seats because they are smaller, stored the front seat ones, when I looked into the rear view mirror all I saw was headrest, looking forward with the large a pillars is outright dangerous, XM radio poor reception, constantly get disconnected with blue tooth, its useless, my 2007 Impala ltz with 3.9 v6 was peppy and great gas mileage, nice car but this could be better, hard to get in and out, low roofline always hitting head getting in and out

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  Needed new alternator at 98,000 miles - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By WCS_in_SM - September 27 - 2:00 am

  Updates "Smooth Ride" 7/22/09 and "Needed new engine at 71,000 miles pm 8/22/09. Car would not start. Got jumped, went a mile, car died big time. Towed to dealer. $816 for new alternator. Battery is still OK. If you buy an American car new, get that 100,000 mile warranty!

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  Last Chevy I Will Buy - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lostjedi71 - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Bought 1 year old with 27 K. Have had nothing but problems. 4 recalls. $1800 spent replacing computer modules at 90K. Very uncomfortable ride. Fit and finish are poor with huge,uneven gaps. Heavy body sway. Feels like a boat but less safe. The large space has come in handy a few times. I wish I could afford another vehicle.

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  Not happy with GM - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By sharon - September 23 - 2:00 am

  I have only owned my equinox ls awd for 2 yr in the first 6mo the stabilitrac went and the abs sensor went the windshield wiper motor in the back went, fix it all and now it will not pass state inspection, emission problem and the stabilitrac went for a sec time, I also have electric problem in the drivers side door what else can go wrong GM should help we the taxes payers help GM, I will not buy GM vehicles again "very unhappy".

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  A BIG mistake! - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Connie - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Such a disappointment! I owned it for 6 months & traded it in. Blows all over the road on a windy day, cant imagine how bad it blows around in the winter months. Loses all power going up a hill - by the time you get to the top you could walk faster. Low tire pressure light keeps coming on even though pressure is right. Radio is poor. Cup holder is a joke. All in all just feels junky.

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  Think twice before you buy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Jennifer - September 17 - 2:00 am

  2 years ago we purchased a 2006 Chevy Impala. This is by far the worst vehicle I have ever purchased. The car has mechanical malfunctions all the time, some the repair shop could not even figure out. I had to have sensors and other parts replaced well before the time that they should wear out. The paint job is shoddy too. My husband takes very good care of our cars. This Impala has the pin-striping coming off with each wax job. We only use extremely good car care products, like Mothers car wax. I feel the paint job is inferior and not the wax. Not happy I will be paying for this waste of money vehicle for the next 3 years. I have even tried to turn it in as a trade on a different brand

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  No more chevys for me - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By jjc_babs - September 14 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 2005 Impala used in 2006, with 20,000 miles. Since than I have had to replace the water heater, radiator, cost of 1300.00. Dealer did not volunteer any additional information about this issue. Since than my speedometer and RPM gauge cluster went out another 600.00. not to mention my traction issue that was another 700.00. Oh, and when they say they checked your fluids I think they just look at them because at my last oil change 2 months ago they never said I was low on anything. I found my coolant to be low.And I dont understand how they overlooked an interior light other than the miniscule lights built in the mirror I will never buy a Chevy again.