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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  06 2500HD - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By SamuraiSV - July 15 - 8:03 pm

  For the price the sub-par interior quality is acceptable. The 6-liter has good power as long as the RPMs are kept up. The transmission is a bit hard to cram into reverse or first and shifting can be a bit notchy at times, reminding me of the 30-year-old pick up I owned in high school. Paint quality is poor with a fairly noticeable orange peal appearance. A major up is a comfortable 3-piece bench seat that feels more like a bucket. Over all for about 21k it will do most work thrown at it.

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  GREAT WORK - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CATHY ISBELL - July 14 - 2:00 am

  THE CAR LOOKS AND PREFORMS GREAT. THE NEW STYLING IS ASOME. THE CAR HANDLES BEAUTIFULY. IT HAS A NEW AGRESSIVE LOOK, THAT MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT. ILIKE IT BECAUSE ITS DIFFERENT, EVERYBODY NOW DAYS HAS A HONDA, MITSUBISHI, OR A NISSAN, THOSE ARE GREAT CARS BUT, I DONT LIKE BEING LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. I LIKE BEING DIFFERENT AND THIS CAR MAKES IT POSSIBLE.

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  I am stuck with it! :-( - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By FRANKJR60 - July 13 - 2:00 am

  I have experienced many of the same problems as the other folks who have commented on this site. A/C has a mind of its own. Fan speeds did not work on 1 and 2. Replaced resistor ($70) fixed the problem. Alternator died at 50K miles, no warning. I was stranded for hours. Where does the coolant disappear to? I keep adding it and I dont see any leaks anywhere. Th biggest frustration has been the serpentine belt and the belt tensioner. I have had them replaced three times in three years due to the high pitched squealing noise. No one can seem to find the problem. I havent had the brake and tire problems that many others have had.

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  Maybe Not so Heavy Duty - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Big Nick - July 12 - 10:00 am

  I have always been a Chevy man that is until I purchased a new HD. I is very comfortable, fun to drive, but i have a few problems to complain about. namely weak steering and poor quality sheet metal.

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  Z71 Silverado 2001 - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By whofan - July 12 - 9:56 am

  This is an almost perfect truck. Comfort, handsome design, and a combined mileage 17.5 MPG. Powerful precise steering, automatic transfer case. Almost perfect. The bad, cold start knock (annoying). Weak intermedate steering shaft (replaced). Known for bad fuel guage sending units (hasn`t happened yet). Nothings perfect and the good more than offsets the bad. Best truck I ever drove. What`s bad, the bad is silly stuff GM should have got right in the first place.

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  First new car - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By likethecookies - July 12 - 3:20 am

  This car has handled my NJ/NYC commute quite well! I am very impressed with this car, especially all the features you get for the money. Being that I am a recent college grad, this car fits what I need for my money without making me feel completely poor. I am also into outdoor activities like rock climbing and this is a perfect fit for some crash pads and a few friends.

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  Suburban 2003 - 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
  By janice hetherington - July 12 - 2:00 am

  Highly recommend to families. Provides ample leg room for everyone. Although truck is big in size, we have found it easy to manuever. The trunk storage is fantastic. Negatives...hard to step into. Gas mileage in city...not great.

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  2006 SS Supercharged - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By An0malous - July 11 - 5:26 pm

  An amazingly fun vehicle to drive. Put a cold air intake on this car, and it will howl and whine to the tune of your right foot. Handling and braking are superior, thanks to some very nice suspension, and a sticky set of pirelli Pzero tires. The potential of the peppy 2.0L engine is enhanced by aftermarket support by GM, covered under warranty, allowing you to comfortably reach 241hp. If you can control yourself to keep your foot out of it, it will reward you with a surprising 36-40mpg at highway speeds. Overall Im extremely happy with my 06 SS/supercharged Cobalt.

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  been great for me - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By mikal2 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck new. It fits my needs well. The truck has been back to the dealer twice for minor repairs, one muffler and one hyd.line. It averages 22mpg consistently, and will get 26+ in extended highway driving. I have used Amsoil since the first oil change,and have experienced no oil loss to note. I did have to replace the radio in 2002, when the cd player quit working. The lever for the drivers side seatback broke shortly after purchase, due to poor design, and inferior materials. Overall, I have been satisfied with it.

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  2nd Prism - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By roedl161 - July 11 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd Prism. My first lasted 10 years with no major problems. This Prism is now 4 years old and makes noises the last one didnt. I have also had it into my mechanic oftener for wobbles at higher speeds, a problem which has never been completely solved. Car just dosent seem as well made as my first one. Thanks for this site to air opinions.