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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  Disappointed! - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SUBMOM - August 6 - 1:05 pm

  We had a 94 Suburban for many years, was very satisfied. But with diesel going up, and it had over 200,000 miles, we had to say goodbye. Long story short, we purchased the 99. Where do I start? Brakes, plastic interior, intake gasket, cruise control, we now have three doors that will not lock or unlock,dash cracks loudly and pops when hot. Gas mileage, 12 miles in town, 15 HWY. We are very sad and disappointed. Loved the 94, do not like the 99.

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  Bittersweet GM Purchase - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By BLKBETE - August 6 - 1:57 am

  After having a Toyota for 3 years, I decided to give GM a shot with their sharp new Tahoe. With the 20s, leather and DVD ent. system, shes a head turner. Its very quiet and extremely comfortable. The handling is suprisingly responsive. The drawback for me is the reliability and trips to the service department. Inadvertant rattles being common, Ive had issues with the tranny, the steering geer as well as a recurring problem with the recirculation AC not working thus me getting a fresh dose of deisel fumes in morning rush hour. I like the vehicle, but will probably trade it for a foreign truck before the warranty expires. Such a shame!

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  Still great - 2008 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By darren - August 5 - 10:49 pm

  Great power, ride, fuel economy better than expected, all the safety features, the quality is awsome! Better than any Toyota Ive ever owned. Will buy my wife an 09

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  Happy camper, reliable car! - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Anderson - August 5 - 8:04 pm

  I am very happy overall with my 1998 Cavalier. It is by far better than my 2002 Malibu which is a piece of junk. I have about 180000 miles on this car and to date I have had to make no major repairs. I dont understand it. Only the Japanese cars are supposed to be like this. The only money I have invested in this car is for basic maintenance and a minor repair to the heater fan switch that quit working. My only real complaint on this car is that it is not that great in winter driving. It might be to light. I live in MN and for a front wheel drive it has poor traction on packed snow even with decent tires. Trax light always comes on. Other than that its been a great car.

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  Not a pretty review - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Anderson - August 5 - 7:51 pm

  My experience with this car has been terrible! Started only when it felt like it. Unfortunately I have had to sink alot of money into this car for repairs. Its a decent car to drive. It only has one cup holder in front which is not a good thing for a passenger. So far, I have had to replace the entire ignition and harness, the fuel pump, brakes are junk, heater core, engine coolant seal, and numerous other smaller things. All these repairs were needed when the car had less than 90000 miles. I have approximately $3000 so far in repairs. It is currently in the shop as we speak.

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  Only Car I could honestly stand by - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tgvas - August 5 - 5:00 pm

  I bought this from my dad in 98. Had 45,000 on it, was mint, he changed the oil every 5,000. Ive owned every car & truck I can imagine, none, absolutely no other vehicle has been comparable in any way. Usual service, battery, Alt, Starter once, now I need crank bearings, slight oil usage and some smoke, my mechanic says it should be fine after the installation. I have 165,000 on it now, and will never let this car go. It sits alongside my Audi allroad proudly, this is when GM really built them to last forever, give a great ride, comfort, saftey and a great look, it still shines in every way. Problems I have had.. Driver side window stops when hot Ah, thats it!

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  A lot of bang for the buck! - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Matt - August 5 - 2:50 pm

  I bought my 2007 HHR sight unseen, just because I loved the exterior styling so much. I hadnt even driven one until I took it off the dealers lot. I knew from the first moment after that point that this was going to be an automobile that I would love, and I do. The smooth and quiet ride, I would dare say, is compariable to more expensive luxury vehicles, and the attention to detail in the manufacturing shows. Fuel economy is excellant, averaging 34 MPG, I can now go as long as two weeks between fueling, and I travel a good distance to my job.

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  Its as loyal as a good dog - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By Happy with mine - August 5 - 11:29 am

  I purchased my S10 4x4 Crew Cab with 25K, and now have over 80K. One repair in that entire time - front ball joints. Now, I did not keep them greased, so I cannot entirely blame Chevy, although I understand these are a weak point. Other than that, no problems at all.

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  I love this car - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By sarah - August 5 - 11:00 am

  This car has been wonderful to me. I bought it used in 2003 with no clue how to drive a stick. Its very forgiving and easy to learn on. Havent had any problems other than the usual repairs required.

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  Falling apart - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By 2006 impala - August 5 - 8:47 am

  First year no problems. Now the front end needs work, passenger window squeaks like a banshee, front headlight lens leaks, drivers seat coming apart, side molding peeling like a banana. It only has 26,000 miles. Thankfully I have an extended warranty! No telling what will happen next. I might give GM one more shot.The future looks like a Honda