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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  Dont BUY!! - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jabbab - June 12 - 10:35 am

  I bought my 2004 Aveo back in 07, was a good car and great millage. That said, if the timing belt goes, or, in my case, the pulley, youre stuck. The timing belt is worthless in this vehicle, and if it goes, and you drive on that, just for a foot or two, you vales, engine, everything is destroyed! Do not buy this vehicle. It looks cute on the outside but is crap on the inside especially the engine!

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  The Hippo - 2009 Chevrolet HHR
  By Army Strong - June 11 - 2:40 pm

  Yes, it is excellent on gas, and I drove 3,000 miles in 4 days and it went the distance, but I think it was definitely pushing it. Its not an SUV, I think my passenger hubcap is about to fall off. The stock tires are bad even new. Theyre dangerous to drive on windy days. The bulky frame of the car with such small Windows leaves enormous blind spots especially on left turns. There was no carpet in the back storage area for mine, so with even the slowest turns, everything sled around. The brakes are absolutely horrible! Theres a huge delay and they squeak like crazy. And the intake is a little noisy.

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  This Truck - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ashlie - June 10 - 11:33 am

  I bought this truck almost brand new in 2006. Within 2 months the struts went out. Then the radiator then to top it all off for no reason I had to get a new motor in 2009. I dont understand how one truck can have so many problems. I dont understand how people are so happy with this truck.

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  How many times do you have to fix it? - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By unhappy - June 10 - 3:41 am

  I really like this crossover, but things brake down on my uplander when least expected and how many times it needs to be "fixed". My wheel bearings, handle for the hatchback door broke costing me almost $60.00. Oh dont get me started on the brakes, I have no clue how much money I forked over cause the braking system. Shoddy, and no one seems to know how to fix it. The engine runs fine. It is everything else that is pain in the rear. Sliding doors wont lock or close correctly or even work with the fob! The back wiper motor died at the first snow fall, because rear wiper switch located on left side steering, where frozen fingers touch and turn on and not realize it. Windshield is problem to fix.

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  Hit and Miss - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Dawn Coley - June 9 - 10:35 pm

  Bought this used from a dealer. Were told the noise from the back when you turned off the engine was the air compressor, yes this has a compressor. Turned out they lied, the shocks had a leak. Have never been able to afford to get these fixed, because other more important parts were needing fixing. One repair after another for the first two years. Since I was broke from all the repairs could not afford a new car. The upkeep and repairs are brutal. Now at 100,000 miles all sorts of stuff breaking down. Keyless entry and locking mechanism stopped working. Gas gauge doesnt work. When it needs repairs very expensive because design of engine area many parts have to come out to repair what is broken.

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  Too many problems - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Dayna - June 9 - 11:26 am

  Granted, I bought my car used from a used dealership Im reading all the above problems from all other consumers and find Im having the same problems! Struts! Radio locking up! The metal lining on interior doors chipped and very sharp! Power steering! Shakes when I go to a stop like its going to stall out on me and now the car wont even start! The engine light just comes on!

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  Junk! - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By usereks1187 - June 9 - 10:01 am

  Bought car when it was one year old, spent so much time in shop I got a second car so I had something to drive. All the interior trim has broken the front end has pretty much fallen apart steering is awful had many transmission problems. Dealership service along with GM customer service is the worst I have ever seen. Do yourself a favor and a big headache get something other then GM.

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  GM needs to do better - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By craig dickinson - June 8 - 9:07 am

  Owned the vehicle for 4 years. Bought it with 29,000 miles on it traded it at 90,000 miles. Great 1st two years of ownership. Comfortable back seat, great on long trips, liked the exterior styling. Interior did not hold up. Seat material started looking like an old sweater, paint on interior controls faded away, front seats squeaked endlessly etc. Started getting nickeled and dimed with 150-250 dollar repairs around 70,000 miles tranny went out at 90k. Bottom line, the car seemed to age very poorly. Would not recommend it as a used car purchase.

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  Never Again - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By AnnaB - June 8 - 5:24 am

  Bought used with 23k miles and soon as I drove off lot engine light came on! After 35,000 cd player went out, brakes go out every 6-7 months, at 52k miles driver window wont go down at all. Worst car of my life. Not enough room Take my key out no lights on still continues to ding used to be able to pull key at angel to get it to stop now that wont work Chevy cant figure out whats wrong. No way to use e-brake if you need it without ruining interior and getting all sticky. Seats stain with just water being used on them. Stay away from the equinox! interior flakes with no effort. will never own again staying away from GM altogether nothing but problems from them

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  Back pain from seats - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Frank - June 5 - 11:53 am

  I drove this traverse for the first time from NY. To Florida taking the family to Disney and was very uncomfortable because the head rest is bent forward and the only way to get the head rest to align at proper angle is by reclining the back of the seat to an over relaxed recline. Anyway the day after arriving my back went out and I couldnt even stand up. Vac ruined. Just drove the car yesterday for 20 minutes and my back hurts today as I write. Also dealer sticker says 17 -24 mpg we avg 12.5 mpg city- on Disney trip 2400 miles round trip we avg 16.7 all highway. GM is deceitful, buy Ford.