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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  My problem - 2004 Chevrolet Venture
  By CHEVY_RIDER - November 21 - 10:39 am

  Ive had my Venture for a little over 4 years. And have had nothing, but problems. Hub bearing has broken 2x since having it. 1x in first year. Sliding door does not stop if something is in between it. I should have checked the engine area more and would have never have bought it. Battery is cover by other parts as well as the air filter things Ive maintain on the other Chevys previously. Window motor had to be replaced 2 yrs into having van. I love Chevys, but Im disappointed in the Venture. I bought for my sons to have room and trips, but its a headache.

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  Squeaks and rattles - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By familymealdeal - November 17 - 2:15 pm

  Soon after I got this car something inside the door panel started to rattle. Had to go to 3 different dealer to finally get one willing to take the door panel off to fix. Squeaks/rattle all over the car when driving on rough surface. Roof when stored in trunk squeaks like mad. Window squeaks when rolled all the way up where it hits the roof. Dealer would apply some lube which works for about a week then rattle/squeaks returns and becomes worse. Get real people with 400hp the acceleration isnt much faster than a V6 Toyota Camry with 270hp. It probably is not worth to endure the noisy tire and all the poor interior.

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  Nice looking but too many problems - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By PHOQUR - November 13 - 7:05 pm

  Got this truck and it was great. The promise of an inline 5 engine to save gas seemed promising but it burns gas hard. The first thing to go bad was the air conditioning, it would just stop and only the highest speed (4) would work and the others would start when they want to. Then there was a problem where the brake lights would stop working, had to take it in to the dealer to fix these problems a lot and just the brake switch is OK now after we found there was a recall on the brake switch. The engine has this problem now that the dealer claims to have fixed twice where the RPM drops low/stalls and causes overheating cause engine fan spins too slow and the lights get dim.

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  Not that happy - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dee - November 10 - 8:09 am

  I currently am in a 4 year lease with my Impala with 11 months to go and counting! Not happy with the fact that it needed brakes and rotors all the way around at 24000 miles. Had and entire exhaust system put in this Aug, under warranty thankfully but now the warranty is up and I am terrified that this car is going to cost me during the last year I have it. Just put a tie rod in at my own expense. Other annoying problems. Lets see, rust spot that keeps reappearing on the trunk due to screws underneath trunk molding, clunking in the back end when you go over bumps, broken sun visor, fuel pump and hoses replaced after 1st yr. Passenger seat that clunks anytime someone sits in it. No more Chevys!

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  Good yet bad? - 1992 Chevrolet Lumina
  By numcore - November 6 - 11:02 pm

  OK this car has been pretty good to me. I got very lucky on the whole mileage thing. The person kept it in their driveway for years. Thats where the problems started. This car wasnt used to being used every day. Very very costly for everything. Most people cant work on it without special equipment meaning you have to take it to the dealer to get anything fixed. The air alone cost me major dolars not to mention the timing belt.

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  My Equinox is a lemon - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By powerless equinox - November 6 - 8:04 pm

  I purchased my car in March of 2006. In Aug of 06, the rear differential had to be replaced with only 6300 miles on the odometer. In Nov of 07, May of 08 and Nov of 08, this car completely lost power while I was driving it. It only has 24,000 miles on it and the dealer has been unable to fix the problem although each time it had been serviced for this same problem, they seem to think that they have corrected it. This car is a potential deathtrap! It is only by sheer luck that I have not been driving 60 MPH on the highway when it loses power.

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  Never buying GM again - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rich - November 3 - 4:05 pm

  34,400 miles after 3 1/2 years and the the air conditioner dies. Find out the compressor is "coming apart internally." Needed a new one at over $900. Car wouldnt start. Found out the circuitry in the fuse box assembly was faulty that needed to be replaced for over $700. Factory parts falling apart because theyre GM junk. No wonder they only offered 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty. Not to mention that the front windshield collects snow so badly you need to clear it out mid-trip because the wipers just funnel it together. Turning radius is hideous as well. Basically a worthless GM vehicle.

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  Dissapointing - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cbtns28 - October 30 - 11:12 pm

  First of all, Ive driven larger SUVs before and never with as bad gas mileage as the Equinox. Ive also had many problems with the starter, it starts when it wants to when I frequently have it serviced. The brakes are always very loud, even after getting them fixed. I frequently hear popping like noises when starting the car that was a recalled part and finally the most annoying thing is how loud it is driving on the highway, it does not keep out exterior noise, I feel like Im on an airplane.

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  Dont get - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By mad mom - October 30 - 10:33 pm

  I fell in love with this van. Then all of a sudden the doors will not shut all the time the back will pop open, or the side doors will not shut at all even if you shut it off the it locks up. I am a mom with 3 little kids and this van is not a safe vehicle for anybody even if you have kids. I think they need to just recall all of these junk vans and give all of us new for all of our troubles that we have with them. My van has been in the shop at least 10 times for the sliding doors. I would not suggest any one in to buying this van. I hate it wishing I could get a new car!

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  Good value - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By rt - October 28 - 10:28 pm

  My car has over 145,000 miles on it and virtually trouble free. Only the fuel pump replaced (at $500 at 5 yrs and 125k mark) the rest was maintenance: tires, serpentine belt, battery, brakes, but nothing at all expensive. 2/3 of the mileage is freeway the rest local. I drive 70, get 35mpg without air, 33 with air on. 5 speed. no frills, except CD player. No issues and no worries.