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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  2010 Traverse LT - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Mike - August 10 - 12:39 pm

  Overall I like the vehicle however, Chev lies about MPG. I have the AWD and although I realize it wont be as good as the FWD it isnt anywhere near what its supposed to be. Took it on a trip to NC mostly HGWY driving MPG is a paltry 17.5 a gallon - personally I think thats poor. I will be trading ASAP when financially feasible. Now I know why they are offering 0% financing for so long on this vehicle. If gas mileage is important run from this vehicle.

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  Not Reliable - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Karen Anderson - August 6 - 7:05 am

  Have had for 2 1/2 years, Purchased with 22,000 miles, thought I had a winner until 46,000 miles when all heck broke loose, by the time Im done with repairs I could have bought a New vehicle. Latest repair $2500 for a new transmission at 50,000 miles, call into GM but I guess they are hurting more than I for money, Strongly suggest NOT TO BUY

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  All things that gone wrong - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By deaun - August 5 - 1:53 pm

  My family has always been a Chevy patron. I liked the looks, drive and amenities of my Impala, but in the last 2 years I have had to replace the catalytic converter$739, the solenoid $875(when I took it to the transmission dealer they had been told by the GM company to start carrying this part as it was defective) the intake manifold ($783)wheel bearing, I will never purchase another GM car.

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  Very disappointed - 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Anna Cozzone - August 5 - 8:36 am

  The driving would be great if it did not stall in the middle of driving down the highway or road! They do not want to admit there is a BIG problem. There are other people with this issue!

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  problems - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By mark f - August 5 - 6:52 am

  If you check the internet, you will find a lot of gripes about this van and I experienced them all. electrical include brake lights shorting out, turn signals failing, power sliding door going out,and radio lights burning out. Mechanical include brakes constantly need serviced and the head gasket goes out at around 120,000 miles on almost ALL 3.4 motors. My buddy is a mechanic, he says he works on the head gaskets a lot, can do it in his sleep now. Cost $700 to replace head gasket as they have to plain down the aluminum heads to fit properly. Then you may as well replace timing belt and oil pump since you are that far into the motor, talking around $1100 now.

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  Lots of problems in a short time - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mike - August 2 - 9:27 pm

  I have had this vehicle for over a year now. When I got it, it had 85,000 miles on it. I love the way it drives and handles, tows great as well, and is comfortable. When I first got it, I had to replace the fuel pump $300. Next, the number 5 cylinder= $3300. Now at 94,000 miles I have a transmission leak on the line, transmission shifts hard and may need to be replaced.

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  Dependable but Disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By bab - July 31 - 10:23 am

  I traded in a fully loaded Chevy Impala for this car when gas went above $4 a gallon. The Impala was getting 22 mpg city and was very very comfortable. With the Aveo, what was advertised on the window sticker, is not what I got. I usually get between 25 to 27 in the city and 30 on the highway. I should have kept my Impala. Aveo alarm goes off for no reason. I looked this problem up on the internet an nobody could get dealer to fix. One guy said to lock it with the key instead of the fob and that has resolved my problem 99% of the time. Now the hood latch is broke. Cant open back up at all. Ive kept this serviced as required over the years so Im praying it lasts me 4 to 5 more years.

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  Much improved but, painful at pump - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By motorhead - July 30 - 8:45 pm

  Ive leased 3 Sbans since 00. The new 07 re-design is the best one yet but beware of the horrendously bad gas mileage and related GM lies. Ive never been able to average more than 10.2 mpg in NY metro area driving. As far as FLEX fuel, theres none to be found anywhere. I felt the pain mostly when fuel went to $5/gal in 08. The 4- cyl mode never works unless going downhill, with a tailwind and completely empty. Problems with 4 door latches that cut your hands open, noisy seat belt tensioners, broken fuel door latch, poor carpeting (easily soiled), start-up knocking engine noise (rockers or mains not getting enough oil). Not keeping this one either, GMAC wants $34K and will not budge.

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  Check the undercoating - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By laurel - July 30 - 6:07 pm

  I noticed last year that the black undercoating was just peeling away from the rear tire walls..and a few months later from the front! what the hell? of course its no longer under warranty, and got no where with gm. so there is no rust proofing left, am waiting for it to rust out from under me, being in the northeast, it will happen. Im thinking I should sell it before that happens and buy a toyota. Im sure the 7 year rust through warranty has a catch, so we will see. The dealer will charge me a couple hundred bucks to fix the problem. Im not sure what to do at this point but there is my rant!

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  Never again - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Texas Sam - July 28 - 1:55 pm

  I have bought many new GM products and have been pretty pleased but this 07 Tahoe is the biggest bag of crap I have ever owned. Every month my dashboard gets another crack in it, AC/heat does what it wants to do, power seats are a joke at best, wires for rear defrost have come un-soldered from the window, it locks and unlocks when it feels like it, a new battery every 9 months to a year and the latest is $2k spent repairing the rear end because of incorrect ring and pinion alignment. This bag of crap has only 45k miles on it. Way to go gm! Never again!