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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  Feels like its falling apart - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By 04chevy - December 14 - 5:56 pm

  I have put over 63,000 miles on my Suburban since buying it off lease. Unfortunately, it has been a constant source of problems. Starting around 60- 70,000 miles, things just started falling apart. I replaced multiple suspension parts, a window regulator, a fuel pump, water pump, and some other miscellaneous items, and I am now faced with a transmission job costing over $2500. All this with only 93,000 miles. The interior is about as bad as they come, with badly fitting plastics and cheap everything. The gas mileage is horrible. The power is nice, and the towing capacity is also a plus, and mine seats nine. These cannot, unfortunately, outweigh the cost of poor reliability.

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  Not bad for an entry level/commuter car! - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Shirl - December 14 - 3:08 pm

  This car has worked perfectly! Large roomy trunk with folding back seats. Fun to drive. quieter than the ford focus I test drove. We did have a problem with the A/C actuator switch which I still have yet to fix. Makes clicking noise for 2 minutes when car is started. We will fix when actually broken. Cheap part but labor intensive as the dash has to come out. Great on gas mileage. 36/28 in Colorado! My only real complaint would be that the body easily dents and scratches. This is an entry level car. Great for College bound kid or as a commuter car. I have had no major issues 3+ years! :)

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  Its A Piece - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By SmlTwnGirl - December 14 - 11:00 am

  I loved this car for the first 4 months, you couldnt get me out of it. Then I started to not like it so much. The car had 5000 miles on it when I bought it. After 4 months it was in the shop 3 times within 2 weeks for the same coil problem. I then took it back to get the A/C fixed, my cruise control fixed, my emergency break replaced, I needed to have a new programmer installed, and just recently got it back due to another coil problem. It will now be going back to the shop for an exhaust leak. The clear coat is also chipping off the front bumper. By far this is the worst car and I will never own another GM or Chevy vehicle again. Wouldnt recommend anyone to buy one!!!

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  Nothing has changed - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By JHB - December 14 - 8:47 am

  I have a 00 with 3.5 liter 240,000 miles on it. Father has 07 with 3.9 liter. These Impalas may have changed body design and engines but still have the same problems. The VERY common probs with these cars are Transmission failure Intake gasket manifold failure (most common) Intermediate steering shaft failure Cars with pass lock have problems consistently. Headlight switches have failures fairly often. Water pump will start leaking between 36k and 55k. Radiators will split at the side tanks around 125k Brake rotors tend to warp prematurely. Tire pressure monitoring system is horribly troublesome. New designs, new engines, same ole problems

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  2005 Chevy Work Truck 5 speed Manual - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim - December 14 - 1:06 am

  A review 3 years down the road for my 2005 Silverado. The old warrior has done great 24-25 MPG highway. Dependable. Comfortable. I drove this truck on 2 500 mile trips non stop with no driver fatigue. This truck was the bottom end 13206 price leader back in 05 when they couldnt give them away (like now) It had 3 issues- the steering shaft- finally got fixed free at 60000 miles/ the heater control assembly, at 36000 miles, and the recirc emissions valve on top of the gas tank at 36000 miles. The truck still has its original tires , brakes and shocks, all in good working order. Clutch works fine. Now its trade in time. Again, Silverado

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  08 Impala LT 3.5 Liter - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By JW - December 13 - 9:14 pm

  Factory Goodyears on this car were a joke. I bought the car at 14,000 miles and drove the car to 18,000 miles and had to replace the Goodyears. (Why does Goodyear keep getting OEM Contracts with the big three ?) I have Michelins on now and they are wearing excellently. The car is smooth. The V- 6 could use a little more umph for my taste but not bad. The mileage is excellent. I average 30 to 32 miles per gallon in the Impala. I had 2 Ford Focuses and didnt do much better than that. This car has a huge trunk and feels great on the highway.The remote start that is standard, and the stereo system for stock is very nice. Over all I am pleased and would buy again. Buy used for the best deal !!

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  09 Chevy Express Passenger Van - 2009 Chevrolet Express
  By adabatch92 - December 13 - 6:29 pm

  Ive been driving several different vans of this model ranging from 06 to 09. The engine has very good power, and the AWD system really helps it grip the road. However, the gas mileage could be better, the best Ive ever gotten out of it is 17mpg (on 87 octane gas). I dont like the traction control system, which just shuts off all power for several seconds if you lose traction, this can be quite unnerving when pulling out on to a busy intersection. I do like some of the features, such as the on board tire pressure monitors and the oil life %. On the whole, a good van. Only problem Ive had was a oil filter gasket leak, which as probably an installation fault by the garage.

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  Awesome!!! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Mitchell - December 13 - 5:41 pm

  Purchased vehicle in October of 2006, and I love it. This is my first SUV. Was looking at a Ford Explorer and other SUVs, but no other stacked up against the Trailblazer. We have had no major problems with it. No major check-ups. Drives great and looks great. A lot of room inside for the family. Runs smoothly and has a lot of power. Very reliable and I would highly recommend the Trailblazer to anyone who would ask!

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  Great car - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Mauigirl - December 13 - 3:41 pm

  I bought my 98 Prizm in 2005 for $4000. It had about 60,000 miles on it then. It now has 130,000 miles on it. It has been the best buy, the most reliable car. Interesting to read the other reviews about the door handles snapping off. Mine has done the same and I am unable to find the replacement part. The Chevy dealer is asking $200 for it. The A/C recently went out so I may consider selling as I live on Maui, although Im tempted to see how long I can keep it running! Just wanted to add my two cents about this car. I have loved it and it has been very good to me!

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  Great Car for the Money - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By BentCoinReturn - December 13 - 9:56 am

  Ive had this car for over two years and have only changed the oil until today. The original rad is rotting at the bottom and starting to leak... thats not too bad for a 10-year old car. The only com[plaint I have with this vehicle is the unusually wide turning radius... My 2001 Grand Prix turned a lot tighter than this...