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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  Its been a great car. - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Gary - September 2 - 6:41 am

  I bought my Cobalt with 100,000 miles on it, so I was expecting it to need some work at sometime or another, and maybe have a leak here or there, but it simply hasnt been the case. I change my own oil and always do a look around underneath the car to check for issues, and I almost always come up empty handed. I now have 157,000 miles on the car, and all Ive had to change are the brakes, tires, and a couple control arm bushings. The reliability has been phenomenal. About the only gripe I have is that the interior is very basic and cheap looking

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  i had numerous problems with this car - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By angry and unhappy ca - September 2 - 12:20 am

  i have had engine and suspension problems.

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  Love my Baby Truck - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By Best Truck Ever - September 1 - 9:27 pm

  I be driving this truck for the past five years and love getting into it every morning. I have just put a new paint job on it because it was fading. People are asking if I want to sell. The answer would be no. Its great in the winter, 4WD will get me through any snow storm and I have only had normal maintance (brakes, oil changes) that have had to be done.

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chris - September 1 - 9:09 pm

  I bought my truck new and have driven it for 20k miles. Fuel economy could be better but its as good or better than any other small 4x4 pickup (24 highway and 21 in town). The truck has a cushy ride, functional interior and the engine performance is adequate. I haul lumber, firewood, dirt, stone etc. and its holding up quite well. There was a cylinder head problem with the I4 and I5 in model years 04-06 which I understand has since been resolved. GM replaced the cylinder head on my truck at 7k miles. Ive had no trouble with it since and GM agreed to extend the warranty on the head work after I complained. So far Im satisfied with my Colorado and would certainly consider GM again.

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  Good and reliable - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Matt - September 1 - 8:21 pm

  Ive had this car for about three years now. Its at about 70 thousand miles and still running great. I have the base model, so there isnt a lot of power, but the gas mileage is great and its got a decent amount of pep for a four cylinder. The ride is smooth and the transmission is fluid. It has plenty of leg room and the interior, while not made of top grade materials, has held up nicely to a 4 and 1 year old.

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  Love my car but needs some improvements - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Diesel_ - September 1 - 7:20 pm

  The Impala is a great car. I have had a few things replaced on it such as low and high tune horns, gaskets. I enjoy this vehicle. Its big and comfy and well I dont get pulled over when the cops have ride programs

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  Best Car Still on the Road - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Pat - September 1 - 6:00 pm

  Ten years and still going. I still get the same miles per gallon as day one (I keep a log), one tune up at 100K, only peformed normal maintanence. The only thing my AC needs to be charged if its the compressor its the only thing on the car, other than tires that would not be original. It rides great and if I can fix the AC I hope to be doing this again at 200K miles right now Im at 116,600.

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  Great rig - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By CT - September 1 - 4:52 pm

  I bought my Tahoe used, off fleet, with about 14k miles on it back in 2005. As of Sep 2008 I can say this is a wonderful rig for what it is. Very comfortable. Great fuel economy for a vehicle of its size. Reliable. Good off road when I take it hunting (and the back is large enough for me to sleep in). For a family with two kids and a dog, our Tahoe fits perfectly. We often use the third row seats, so thats another nice addition. Overall, for its purpose, this is a great rig.

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  Spacious Car - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By Sharrona Jones - September 1 - 1:35 pm

  The car is very spacious. Im not sure how reliable it is as of yet. I do have some concerns. However, it is a very stylish vehicle that has many features.

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  Great vehicle - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wallyuwl - September 1 - 1:20 pm

  I posted previously and mentioned harsh transmission behavior. GM sent a engineer to drive with us and he loaded a new tranny software program that was approved yesterday and will begin being put in new production vehicles next week, and the difference is huge. With this change there is not another small or medium sized SUV under $45k Id rather have. Gas mileage also is getting better each tank as the engine breaks in. Now about 30 mph hwy (70-75 mph with A/C on).