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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  Very Impressed !!!! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Luis D. - September 11 - 10:58 am

  I must accept that at the beginning I was a little concern about the reliability of this truck due his history but I have to say after almost 3 years to own it that this is the best truck Ive ever had.No complaints at all. Just visits to dealership for regular maintenance and for a 5.8 V8 engine 17 miles/gal. is not bad !!

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  The perfect first car - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By inlovewithyellow - September 11 - 9:49 am

  I got my tracker when I was 16, and found that it was the perfect first car. It was easy to drive, with just enough room without being a beast on the road. I felt safe and had no serious blindspots. The 4 cylinder engine was the perfect balance between power and fuel economy. It did anything I asked, from driving up curvy, curvy mountainous roads, to in- town driving, to going three miles up, three miles down on Mt. Currahee (a gravel, washed out road up a mountain...very off road). I could stow gear, friends and even haul bricks. After 6 years, it started to have a few problems starting, but started when given gas. It quit when idling at a stoplight once, but the dealer could find nothing.

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  Request - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By JR - September 11 - 1:46 am

  Love GM HATE the independent front I would pay extra for a solid front axle. Tires are not proportionate to the truck.

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  2000 Chevy Metro - 2000 Chevrolet Metro
  By Joe in JT - September 10 - 3:28 pm

  I use my Metro for work throwing newspapers everyday. Its very dependable and gets 32 mpg. The drivers seat springs collapsed and I have to use 3 Sunday newspapers under there so I dont sit on the floor. Also the interior roof liner is sagging, and the cup holder is dangerous as I couldnt put the car into reverse in a quick manner because I had a coffee cup in the holder which blocks the shifter. After I bought the car I had several repairs like a loose spark plug and cv boot and axle. The PNP switch in the trans shifter shorted because previous owner didnt push in the shifter button when changing gears. No problems after that and it has become a reliable car now that I enjoy.

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  Wrong Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Simone - September 10 - 3:16 pm

  I bought my 2005 Chevy Malibu in May 2006. My chevy has about 68000 thousand miles on it. Within in having it 2 weeks I had to take it back to have the rotors turned. I have had to replace front rotors, the right control arm, have a heating panel remove to stop it from making noise. I have also had the ishaft in the steering fixed three times. The gearing has been replaced, and the water pump has had to be replaced. Most of this was after the warranty expired of course. Now I have complained to GM about the steering issue, and all they are willing to give me is a 15% discount off having it fixed. This car was certified and had low mileage. I will never buy another Chevrolet vehicle.

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  Still Kicking After 200,000 - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By eyva2nc06 - September 10 - 10:05 am

  Overall, this car is pretty good. I have over 200,000 miles - 7 years. The check engine light comes on and off. Been doing this for over a year. Mechanic says its a malfunction. Car still runs fine - no problem starting up. A/C broke a year ago - too costly to fix. Door handles are flimsy and broke, but still work. Car uses ALOT of oil. Have to refill it several times between oil changes. Replaced the clutch after 125,000 miles.

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  Who built this car? - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By FirstTimeBuyer - September 10 - 8:09 am

  I purchased this vehicle brand new as my first car two years ago. Since then, I replaced four tires, brakes, battery and now my alternator is gone out. And luckily for GM after the bumper to bumper warranty. No one can explain to me other then mileage why this car is failing me. No harsh driving just work was far and assisting others in the home with their daily routine. No help for anything but has overpriced for all services. Complaints or concerns are never heard and no offer of extended warranty to help ease the cost. From this point I have lost all faith in GM, and have decided that I would not buy Chevy ever again. GM fix this problem and maybe your problem will be fixed.

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  Wish I could keep it - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By lauramary - September 10 - 2:40 am

  I absolutely loved this SUV. Very comfortable. Got lots of extras ~ DVD player ~ Bose stereo, but the poor gas mileage was too much to bear. I had to trade this vehicle in because I was only averaging 12 miles per gallon combined city/hwy. My daily work commute is city driving. I realize that I took a loss when I traded her in, but every time I drove it, I pictured cash burning in the gas tank. A valuable lesson learned.

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  We were one of the first. - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Larry G Smith - September 10 - 2:13 am

  When I saw my first HHR I thought it was some sort of prototype. Chevrolet certainly was not advertising them or I would have seen it sooner! Love the authentic retro look and with the 2.2 H.O. It scoots just fine. I can hardly wait till GM has a few years to get the engine upgrades right. I will take mine in white with a Turbo!

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  Make the whole family happy!!!!!!!!!!! - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By linda Jakson - September 9 - 1:36 pm

  We are a family of 5. Me, my husband and three grown children youngest one is 14 the other 2 twins are 16. So we needed room, my husband Mark was against a mini van and the gas mileages on most suvs are not good. We look at different vehicles for about a month off an on, mostly imports because of their reliabilities. Test drove the Honda Pilot and was about to buy when we saw the Traverse drive by. Read reviews,& went to dealer. Fell in love, At first we were going to buy one with the ench seat in the 2nd because of having 3 kids. Decided on capts chairs. The kids all have plenty of room and fight over the the 3rd row because they sit in middle & stretch they leg between the capts chairs.