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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  Horrible, horrible vehicle - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By me2000 - February 22 - 4:38 pm

  I have had nothing but problems with this car. The water pump went out, the head gasket is currently leaking so I have to keep putting coolant in ($10 per bottle adds up!), continuously having to replace the brakes every year, electrical problems. I have stalled three times because of this crappy car. Its rusting beneath the gas cap. Overheats all the time. I cant even put the AC on or itll overheat. Do not buy this car. Its a money pit. Im getting a new car in two weeks because I cannot take it anymore. I absolutely dread going into this car every time I drive it. You dont know whats going to happen next! You fix one thing and another thing breaks!

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  Wish it would blow up - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Mike Jones - February 21 - 7:56 am

  I read all these reviews and I cant even sit here and say wow that doesnt happen to mine. From the struts going when i first had it, how uncomfortable it is, cheap interior, cant stand the window controls, noisy ride, terrible on gas I dont even get 200 miles a full tank. Im constantly at the dealership. Overall I just hate this car. It was my first ride i loved the look of it but after driving it for a while Im 19 with back problems already. The only thing good about this car is it handles great in the snow. All they need to do is fix up all of its problems which it would end up being a totally new car and it would be a nice ride.

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  Problem Child - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By T_rell - February 16 - 10:39 am

  The turning radius is horrible, the center console is garbage. It collects everything and is in constant need of attention. Problems with my nox: It never seemed to go into gear. Every time I put into drive I had to play with it. Drive, Park, Drive till the gear would finally catch. The dealer tried to fix 3 times. Windshield washer fluid sprayer front in back is just horrible. Very cheap leather seats, feels like vinyl. Interior design: looks very cheap and plain, typical though- for American cars. The front end would shake if I had to jam on the brakes past 55mph. The worst car ever in the snow even with new tires. This is why American car companies are failing, lack of detail.

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  Wouldnt recommend one to anyone - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Driving Junk - February 12 - 2:49 pm

  Timing belt broke 45,000 took out all but one valve. Coil pack went out 55,000. Right rear wheel bearing went out 59,000. Catalytic converter went out 60,000. Alarm system goes off on its own 63,000. Right rear wheel bearing went out second time disintegrating locking up rear wheel, no warning. 110,000 windshield leak above steering wheel, only when setting. Hood release cable snapped 112,000. Rear hatch latch stopped working 113,000. Gas mileage never better then 32mpg

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  Stinks in Deep Snow or Ice - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Lizabeth - February 7 - 5:32 pm

  Bought this car for cargo space & good mileage. Didnt realize it was terrible in snow & ice. Last winter, got stuck at least 15 times. Was in for brakes/ABS & traction control four times before 20,000 miles. This winter, bought a 12-year-old AWD Ford Aerostar to use. Mileage in summer is great on highway driving. But the terrible winter performance forced me to get another vehicle, so its not worth it. Will dump it as soon as I can, but am upside-down on loan because it dropped so much in value in 1 year. May buy foreign next time, because the Big 3 havent made anything with good cargo space, good mileage (24+mpg), & AWD. Maybe Subaru, Kia, or Mazda. Very disappointed with GM!

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  Worst Vehicle ever - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Keith - February 2 - 5:14 pm

  This vehicle has been my worst nightmare! Has had over ten thousand dollars worth of repairs. Repairs had started at twenty thousand miles and has not stopped. Something is always breaking down. I have lost all faith in the big three. With this economy my money needs to go further just like everyone else. I am going with Toyota. Reliability/quality is a must, which the big three cant provide.

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  Buy a Ford - 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Dowman - January 31 - 8:46 am

  With 3200 miles on this truck, the doors rattle so bad I need ear plugs. Dealership has no fix for this problem. Fuel gauge sensor broke, two chrome door handles had to be replaced. and the fuel management system is a joke, noise in the drive train after normal braking. No more GM products for me, very disappointed with the quality of this vehicle.

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  2005 Lemon - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By NomoreChevys - January 26 - 2:30 pm

  We bought this vehicle at 36,000 miles and at 50,000 it needed a new transmission (automatic) because of a manufacturer defect that the dealership called "dipstick intrusion". Apparently water was getting in the transmission through the dipstick. Good thing we purchased the extended warranty or we would have been out $3500. This is the most unreliable car I have ever driven for how new it is. We take it in routinely for all regular maintenance and had tranny maintenance 2 months before it crapped out. Now the heater wont work and the oil gage is registering zero with no engine light indicator and there is oil in the engine. Ill never buy a Chevy again!

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  Lemon! - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By jenn76 - January 26 - 12:18 pm

  We bought this car 7 years ago. After the warranty ran out we have had nothing but trouble. We have had to replace the fuel pump, the transmission (before it ever reached 100,000 miles). At one point the car would shut off while I was driving it! Just recently, the engine basically exploded and set on fire. Our mechanic said it was due to a fuel leak that was running through the engine. I would never recommend this car! We have sunk over $5000 in it just for repairs. GM has offered no recalls for the problems we have had.

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  No longer a Chevy fan - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ivey01 - January 26 - 12:18 pm

  My husband and I purchased two Impalas in May of 2006. First of all to those folks who have said the problems are related to TLC of your car, I couldnt disagree more. My Impala has had all the appropriate maintenance and yet it is still falling apart. The first year was okay, but approx 15 months after we bought it the Intermediate steering shaft & a tie rod had to be replaced, since then it has been one thing after another from emissions systems to the latest a power steering problem. Oil consumption and climate control have also been issues. The noisy windows I think are standard, on both of our cars the windows screech when you roll them down.