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:

• 

  Faulty timing belt and shifter. Lemon! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By AshleyFeucht - July 12 - 6:55 pm

  Timing belt broke at 47K miles (well before the recommended 60K replacement). As a result, I had to spend $2,170 to replace the belt and cylinder head. Also, shifter sticks when pulling out of park. These are two VERY common problems. GM refuses to compensate me and I plan to organize a class action lawsuit and/or take GM to small claims court. The only reason this car is still on the market is because not enough consumers are complaining. If you have the same problems, please speak up!

• 

  2ndRowMidSeatUnusable - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By mcspat - July 11 - 1:49 am

  Purchased this car in order to carry a crowd. The middle seat of the second row is unusable for more than a few blocks unless a small child is using it. Even a thin person will have the seat belt boring into their hip very uncomfortably. I have had it in to the dealer and they said that it was a design flaw and nothing could be done-- their words exactly. I just went and sat in the 2010 and it is the same way.

• 

  Bad truck - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By davescustomart - July 9 - 12:51 am

  My Colorado now has 60,000 miles on it, The clutch is gone, the 4 wheel drive just quit working I have rusty water in my oil. The ignition has a mind of its own. The heater works when IT wants to work. Overall BAD TRUCK! too much money not enough truck.

• 

  Sick of GM. - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Detailer - July 8 - 6:32 pm

  Way overpriced $30,000.00 4 cylinder, lt1 package, basics pw, pb, air, etc. Cheap looking inside, smaller than previous models. Best of all nothing off sticker price and no rebates, wow!

• 

  Buyer beware - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By F_U_Malibu - July 7 - 6:41 pm

  Ok this car is junk, why did they make this? Someone gave me this car. For free, all I had to do was fix it up. Leaking coolant, malfunctioning ignition switch, new starter, new head gasket, struts go every couple months, intake gasket went, blower only works on 3 and up, signals dont work, omg the list goes on and on and on, not to mention Ive only had this for a little over a year. Dont buy it, or take it for free. Worst car ever built, I will get my vengeance Chevy.

• 

  Never Again - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Tony - July 6 - 9:36 pm

  This Vehicle looked sharp once I brought it home. unfortunately thats when all the issues started. Dealerships were not helpful at all. Everything had a price to fix. Interior dash lights out only lights half of the odometer/fuel gauge etc. ABS and TC light have been on for 4 years have asked to have it checked. $105.00 to look at the problem (not warrantied, should be a recall) Gas guzzler, cant get 450kms off a tank, city or highway. Turning radius poor. Going back to Honda

• 

  Dont do it - 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Cassie - July 5 - 10:21 pm

  I owned one of these until the transmission died while I was going down the highway at 60 mph. The transmission had never been good, the car had also had a problem with the starter. When it was new it was in the shop every other week getting another problem fixed. It is cheaply built. While the engine did make it to 170k, it didnt do so reliably. If all of Chevys new cars are built like this Cavalier was, I wont ever buy Chevy cars again.

• 

  Worst Car weve ever had. - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By colemyst - July 3 - 3:24 pm

  Three years old 6000 miles on it and this is what we got. Continual noises, squeaking, chirping, clicking, grinding squealing noises, taillight filled with moisture, shifting stick slips, steering column needed to be change twice, power steering motor needs to be change - now recalled, bushings replaced, surge tank faulty, list goes on. The car probably wont. Car still has noises even after mechanics works on it, saying it was fixed. HA They must be trained to say it because they all do dont they?

• 

  Cant afford it anymore. - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Broke - June 20 - 12:45 pm

  In the 2 years I owned this car, I had to put in over $4300 in repairs. Power window regulators, Intake manifold gasket, struts, strut mounts, struts again, brakes twice, steering box/rack. Both rear door handles (exterior) broke off, one by my daughter. Not my best car ownership experience. GM man for 25 years. I give up, so now I drive a Nissan.

• 

  Sorry I ever got it - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kathy52 - June 19 - 6:06 pm

  Car was fine for a couple of months and then the tires went bad had them replaced. Then the rotors went bad had to have them replaced. The company said the cram was manufactured wrong that is why I have to keep replacing the tires. Koons said they must be crazy that there is nothing wrong with the cam but the tires are on a slant. so you tell me