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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  No more GM - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Disappointed - September 12 - 11:19 pm

  Nice looking truck, lots of power, very comfortable, but trouble started early. Repeated problems with the transfer case that should have been fixed under warrenty, but turned into a parts changing excercise. The transmission now slips and clunks. The shaft in the steering column wore out. A rattle under the vehicle that can not be located (not a heat shield inside the exhaust?), the climate control can not hold a consistant temperature. Im trading it for an Infiniti while it still has some trade in value.

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  LT Coupe w/automatic poor mileage - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By richard dallas - September 11 - 2:16 pm

  Traded in my 2003 Cavalier for this Cobalt. After reviewing all information on competitors, foreign and domestic, found this to be the best for the money. I got it loaded with all the bells and whistles including leather interior, XM radio with Pioneer sound system and the automatic transmission. It is by far the most fun car I have ever driven! Its sporty and fun to drive with the tightest turning circle,easy to park. My only complaint so far is the poor gas mileage. I am only averaging 19-20mpg. I only do city driving though.

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  Peterview - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By petejr - September 11 - 1:37 pm

  This vehicle is a perfect fit for parking and driving in NYC. There is plenty of room inside and also my vehicle came with a cover over the bed which keeps out rain and any harsh weather. The black color is eye catching and an attention grabber.

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  2003 Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jim - September 10 - 3:57 pm

  After owning a 96 Cavalier coupe, and putting 175,000 miles on it with no problems, original everything, I had to get a new one with the awsome ecotec. Performance mods are endless. even better than my first!

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  Decent Car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Decent Car - September 9 - 3:24 pm

  Replaced brakes four times in five years. Now have 140,000 miles still mostly reliable. Have had problems with drain on electrical system. Brand new battery will die if car is not started every day. AC switches off and on until car is warmed up. Have replaced water pump. Serpentine belt tensioner fell off while driving when car hit 139,000. I have always done my maintenance so it has been mostly reliable. Now that mileage has gotten high it is time to get a new car.

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  "Competition Yellow" paint competed w/my wallet - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dscarchick - September 9 - 9:46 am

  I bought my yellow Monte Carlo SS used in 2007 and owned it until 2012 when I threw it on my bankruptcy with only 3 payments left (I had good reasons). When I 1st bought the car it was a blast! so much fun to drive, so much get up n go, so roomy for being a 2 door car, decent gas for a supercharged V6 etc. Then the issues started. I went through 3 catalytic converters which were NOT covered by warranty and there was no explanation as to why they kept going out. Then I had issue after issue with the cooling system. A radiator, 2 temp sensors, 2 cooling fans, water pump, hoses later, it STILL ran hot. Then driving home one day I heard a POP and there went 3rd gear. This car was unreliable...

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  Good, but falling apart - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By J-Rod - September 8 - 6:39 pm

  This car is great on gas, and the engine is running very solid. The only problems I have experienced was that the radio decided not to work after 20,000 miles, which really displeases me about this car. It is the little things I can tell why this car is priced as is, you get what you pay for. I am not bashing the car...it is a reliable car, but the manufacturer could have put in a little more attention to detail.

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  Supposedly reliable... - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Savannah - September 8 - 4:32 pm

  My husband and I bought our first "new" car, thinking that it would be dependable for me to drive to work. In the past 3 months we have spent around $1,500 in repairs. The A/C is cutting on and off, the theft system is going haywire (the car doesnt start unless the doors are locked, and sometimes the doors unlock themselves while on the road, which cuts the ignition off), the brakes had to be replaced, which I was told has been happening w/ a lot of Malibus, and the ignition starter and module had to be replaced. Also, water was leaking into the floorboards b/c of the windshield not being sealed properly. We are very disapointed in this car. Next time well buy a Toyota or Honda.

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  Overall nice vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Illinois Mom - September 8 - 11:14 am

  We love the exterior look of the van and the interior is attractive also. The only major downfall we have found so far is the back seats sit so high that you have a very obstructed view when backing up. As far as handling and perfomance, we are happy and we are a family that always had sports cars and this is our first family vehicle.

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  Better than the Tahoe - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By imadad2 - September 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought the extended Trailblazer because I liked the look of it better than the Tahoe. The LS version has more goodies than the base Ford SUVs, and the incentives are better than Toyota. I bought the bigger 5.3 liter V-8, and I love it. It gets only 15 MPG, but what do you expect from a SUV? My kids love the interior, and my wife can get in and out of it without needing running boards. This SUV feels like a large SUV, but it is considered a midsize. I love the handling, and love the standard features Chevrolet has put in it. Now lets see if I have any problems. It is to early yet to tell. I am a loyal Chevrolet buyer, and will continue to be.