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:

• 

  Not so good. - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By jc0187 - December 6 - 10:38 pm

  Ok, bought this car from my father. I have replaced the O2 sensors. The cadalitic converter is going out, and the a/c no longer works. The back passenger window does not work. I do not like the interior-very uncomfortable.

• 

  Great! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By dexterm - December 6 - 8:37 pm

  We purchased this SUV about 2 months ago and love it so far. We have been on a couple of road trips and it fits our family of 4 perfectly. It is roomy, drives nicely and the kids love the DVD player.

• 

  Wont Buy Chevrolet Again - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By M. Spoagis - December 6 - 6:30 pm

  Bought the Malibu new and now have 7050 miles on it. At 7000 miles exactly the drivers door lock stopped working. Visited dealer and now have an appointment to have door lock motor replaced. I am amazed that something could go wrong at only 7000 miles on a car that was named "car of the year". I have had many cars over the years. I had a vehicle I bought used from Hertz and didnt have any problems for eight years. Prior to buying the Malibu, I had a Mazda for ten years that only had regular maintenance. I am completely disappointed with the Malibu. I am now worried about what will happen next. Maybe I should sell it before warranty expires.

• 

  Mostly Like it - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By GM - December 6 - 4:36 pm

  Fun car to drive for the money, great on gas,I get about 28 mpg on high way. Very comfortable for the size. I have put about 10,000 miles on the car so far and still like it a lot. I have a small sailboat and this little car is able to tow it without a problem. Two issues I do have is the small windshield makes it hard to see stop lights turn green and to replace a headlight is very awkward, removing front tires to get at the bulbs.

• 

  Chevy Traverse is Dependable 7 Safe - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By ChevyLuva - December 6 - 11:36 am

  I have owned several new cars, many makes and models and so far the Chevy Traverse is my absolute favorite. It is dependable, safe, modern and roomy. It also looks classy and expensive while still affordable and realistic to own. It perfectly suits the single driver and accommodates the soccer mom transporting kids and groceries! I absolutely adore my vehicle and cant wait to drive it in the snow.

• 

  Great truck - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mxboy614 - December 6 - 3:40 am

  I have driven this truck everywhere. I race motocross for a living so it has gone all across the country and never let me down. I also tow a 22ft enclosed trailer with me for races and the truck never lets me down. Always has enough power to tow up hills.

• 

  THE MONEY PIT!!!!!!!!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Erica - December 5 - 4:26 pm

  I have had issues with the security sensor going hay wire, I have installed 2 water pumps in the past 2 yrs, breaks are an annual thing because they are being warped somehow, my battery keeps dying due to some kind of short that has not been found so I had to purchase a battery charger and charge my battery every 2 weeks to make sure I can crank the car and now my transmission is slipping and slamming when I reverse. This car rides smooth however between my annual expenses I have had more bad days then good with this car. Once I get the transmission fixed I am getting rid of this car unless I can get rid of it before then.

• 

  No complaints - 2002 Chevrolet Venture
  By Telling the truth - December 5 - 3:11 pm

  Bought new. In 90,000 miles, Ive only had to replace a power steering pump. Everything else has been routine maintenance. The original tires were noisy, but thats easy to fix. We love it, and dont know what well get when its time to get something else. I think a lot of people just like to complain. Not everyone is having bad luck with these vehicles.

• 

  Got a Really Bad One! - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Guido - December 5 - 2:45 pm

  This was a dealer car that we purchased with 10,000 miles on it and it has been a money pit. We have replaced: right front hub sensor, brake module, passenger side window motor (we rarely raise or lower that window), metal transmission lines (rubbing together caused leaks (they are not supposed to rub together), idler pulley, tensioner pulley, gas tank sensor, high pressure oil lines, radiator, alternator, electronics for 4WD and, the engine (as a result of the tensioner pulley seizing). There is more, but not enough space to continue. Perhaps we just got a lemon however, to be safe I no longer purchase GM vehicles.

• 

  Really like it! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By The Dan - December 4 - 10:25 pm

  The Traverse rides great. It is quiet, sure footed, accelerates acceptably, and has very good fit and finish. I would highly recommend the Traverse to anyone. I have two complaints. It doesnt always know what gear it wants to be in and will sometimes have a bit of an acceleration lag when you have slowed down but then press the gas (like when the light changes from red to green). I will press the gas, then press the gas some more until it figures out what gear needs to be in and will then accelerate excessively. The other complaint is that it is surprisingly large and takes some getting use to.