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:

• 

  6 times in Shop - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Lee G-Mansfield-OH - July 31 - 9:57 pm

  I have been stranded when vehicle quit w/o warning 4x and acted up 6x. It is going to shop again tomorrow for the 6x. They have replaced wiring harnesses, computer, fuel press. Gauge, engine oil pan, engine cam & actuator valves, air intake assemble, ecm replaced. Car literally lunged forward one night when I was in driveway. Luckily I had my foot on brake or it would of went through my garage door. More problems than the car is worth. Loved it when it runs, but I drive 90 mi. Rt a day and I am getting real tired of all the break- downs! No Wonder gm is going down! Would never buy another gm again. Wife bought used 06 Toyota rav month before and no problems with it. Go figure!

• 

  Good Value - Work Horse - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Mark - July 31 - 9:29 pm

  I have had this vehicle since 2002, and now have 160,000 miles. Great truck for family. Can easily haul 4 family members and the dog and all the gear (golf clubs, luggage, etc...). Makes long trips a breeze. For a truck with 160,000 mile it still functions great and is very comfortable.

• 

  No more please - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Miked - July 31 - 8:13 pm

  Ive owned this car for three, years, will not buy another American owned mfg. Again. Car has clunked since day one like my envoy I traded in, replaced just about everything so far, and now the directional bulbs blow out weekly. The car is joke, buy a 12 pack because you will need them, and now the shifter for the lower gears dont work. Just what you need in tough economic times, more repair bills.

• 

  Great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By master mechanic - July 31 - 7:45 pm

  I now have 127,000 miles on my Trailblazer and still love it. I has been great. I have had it off road many times and have at times been quite rough on it, but I do all the regular maintenance when it is supposed to be done. It still goes down the highway very nicely and I can get 21.5 mpg, not bad for a fairly big truck. I will never go back to a honda or toyota, they were junk. I have been spoiled by my Trailblazer. I plan to keep it for a long time to come.

• 

  Nothing to brag about - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tim - July 31 - 7:43 pm

  Bought this SUV for my wife. I have the same year Mazda Tribute and it is amazing how different they run. The Mazda is a tight ride, drives new. We have done nothing but general maintenance. The Blazer runs rough, we have probably spent $1,500 over the past year for repairs. A friend of mine had a blazer and he told me to stay away but I did not listen.

• 

  couldnt pass up the discounts, not bad - 2009 Chevrolet Equinox
  By miles - July 31 - 4:33 pm

  Test drove escape, rav4, crv, Hyundai Santa Fe. All in all my first choice for interior comfort was the Santa Fe by a large margin. The equinox is simple and cheap feeling, but for the steep discount I got, I couldnt pass it up. Msrp 29,035, purchase price 18,766, lt with lt2, chrome wheels, sun roof, pioneer stereo, leather and heated seats. Runs and feels Nice, but at this point I am still missing the luxury feel that I couldn have had with the limted Santa Fe. Other issue- cheapskate design, no hatch release inside the car? no dome light or hatch light? cmon gm, that is just so lame, have some pride in what your putting on the market. No excuse to be that cheap.

• 

  A Real SUV with great safety! - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Leon - July 31 - 8:51 am

  Z71 4WD that uses E85 consistently. I put a K&N air system, not just the filter into the engine and the performance increased remarkably. I use synthetic oil from first oil change and have not had the oil loss that others claim, but I do change my own oil. There have been several computer upgrades that this truck needs or else trans light come on for transfer case,etc.. Once this is taken care of have not had any problems. We use this for our long distance travel and I use it for heavy construction equipment repair offroad, sometimes WAY off road and it has always amazed me and others on scene with it ability to do what custom lifted vehicles can do in factory standard mode.

• 

  problems w/ engine only 71000 miles - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By asdfg123 - July 30 - 9:02 pm

  I did not have problems within the first 3 years of purchasing the vehicle..Then one day the vehicle starting making a clicking noise...They say the >>cam--??-- valve>>> went in the engine. Jasper is saying that in 2005 the engines were made differently and now they are breaking down around 70000 miles....so they want you to buy a new engine.....There is no recall even though they knew it would be a problem in the future....Not everyone can afford a new engine when on a limited budget....if these manufactures knew there was a problem why no recall......

• 

  Impressed with Equinox! - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cbvazquez - July 30 - 7:31 pm

  I was looking for a small SUV for quite awhile. I had my mind set on a Mitsubishi Outlander but during my test drives, I tried a 2006 Equinox and was impressed with the handling. I disliked the interior of the 2006, so I tried the 2007. I was impressed with the interior upgrades (new for that year) and the $ was right! The cabin is extremely quiet, the engine (3.4 V6) is adequate for size of the vehicle. The steering does feel somewhat numb-it wasnt a deal breaker for me. The back seat is VERY roomy and slides back & forth - convenient for parents with little ones or if you need additional cargo room without putting the seats down. I feel I got alot for my $ - so far!

• 

  Never Again! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Morgan - July 30 - 5:43 pm

  I have had problems from the start. Replaced alternator, breaks, struts. Can not afford to replace the coolant leak, exhaust problem, and rear struts all at once. I did take care of the car...but it is very unreliable. Will never by a Chevy again.