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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  I bought a lemon!! - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Meg - May 16 - 9:22 am

  I bought this car for $5k and have put nearly that much into it. I do not recommend this car. I replace headlights like you wouldnt believe and at $25 a pop.... Replaced fuel pump, alternator twice, battery etc etc. Ever repair is ten times as expensive as other cars... It stinks!

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  2014 Silverado disappointment - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By unsatisfied26 - May 14 - 8:46 pm

  I bought the 2014 work truck regular cab with the 5.3 engine. I was really excited about this truck. That was until I took it in for the computer reflash to correct the overheat recall problem. Now the truck is possessed. Has done weird things like oil pressure spiking, then dropping to 10 psi while cruising down the interstate. Pulling it in gear and the truck just sits until the trans makes a loud clunk then the truck lurches forward. These are just a couple of things, it has plenty more. Wish I had never bought this truck now.

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  I bought a lemon too - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By I bought a lemon too - May 14 - 1:52 pm

  I bought it at 1yr old and 7000 miles. First the engine light goes on if gas cap not tight. Windshield wiper bolt stripped so I only had 1 wiper working. After 3 years and 30000, break lights do not work. All bulbs blew at once. Its an electrical problem. Dealership thought they fixed it. 1 week later same problem all bulbs blew. After 40,000 miles shocks are worn, car getting bouncy. The last straw, The car was hit and totaled. Thank goodness I was hit on passenger side, because if I had been on the passenger side I would be a goner. The window exploded, glass everywhere, I was cut. thank goodness for seatbelts. All cars should have side air bags standard.

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  Dont Buy GM/Chevy - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Kristy - May 12 - 5:50 pm

  Battery keeps going dead for no apparent reason, dealership cant figure out the reason, and I am stuck paying a note on something I cant drive. Apparently its "rocket science" nobody can figure out what the problem is, and they dont care.

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  Trailblazer 2005 LS 4WD - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chevyman - May 8 - 10:26 pm

  Hold on to your horses on this one. Owned chevy products in the past and this one should be buried with the design. Reconsider this one folks, not bad under 36K but be prepared for costly repairs after warranty is out. Chevy with the 4.2 is noted for numerous electrical problems (Fuel sending units) bad connections and less than favorable gas mileage. Purchased new and currently average 11- 14mpg highway and have done all service inspections and it still has cost me over four thousand in repairs. Interior very cheaply assembled GM could have done a better job!! Think twice or even three times before you invest in this model and be prepared for repairs.

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  Do not Buy! vibration is horrible - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ernie - May 8 - 5:02 pm

  GM wont admit they have a problem. Truck vibrates at high speeds so much it even impairs my vision. GM has no fix for this problem. DO NOT BUY!

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  Cant wait to get rid of it! - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jon - May 6 - 1:03 am

  I bought this car with 68,000 miles on it, and it was in OK condition. 4 years later Im at 92,000 miles and I cant wait to get rid of it. I have massive oil leaks from several spots on the engine, my radiator hoses blew a few months ago and I too have headlight issues due to faulty wiring. Road/wind noise is unbearable, more so then the constant chatter of the plastic interior and rattling of the suspension. On cold and rainy days the engine tends to flood itself. ALL the seals leak in this car leading the interior and trunk to get wet. The entire electrical system in this car is horrible. Apart from the headlight problems, the electrical system tends to give out at high speeds.

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  Not Impressed - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Craig - April 29 - 12:46 pm

  Engine is peppy but very noisy. AWD is noisy when cornering. Windshield design traps lots of debris in the wiper area and creates big blind spots on both sides. Snow and ice accumulate in the wiper area and is very hard to remove in the morning if parked outside. Integral unadjustable headrests are tilted too far forward for a 6 person making it necessary to recline the seat way back to remove your chin from your chest. Rattles from dashboard, gearshift and front suspension area. Terrible drivers view to the rear and sides. -Backing up is a real chore. Cloth upholstery stains far too easily and doesnt clean up well. Parking brake cant be used if console cupholders are open.

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  GM stop making lemons! - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MikeDJ - April 26 - 6:09 pm

  We bought our 2000 Malibu couple of years ago, thinking is a good balance between price, performance and quality! We were sooo wrong! Although the price was cheap, but not cheap enough to justify the poor performance and the overall quality. The engine is a junk (we had to replace the intake gasket), the A/C system has to be recharged monthly (the compressor and few other things has to be replaced)-still is not working properly! Overall costly repairs!!!

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  Stay away - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By john - April 25 - 5:56 pm

  Stay away...this gas eating machine will not come close to dealer specs. My car has been in 7 times in 3 months for things falling apart and shifting issues. Software updates have not changed a thing. So, be cautious with this one.