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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  Theres always something wrong - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Scott - October 26 - 12:50 am

  In general, I like the car. It performs well and gets good gas mileage (as much as 28-29 on the highway). The thing that bothers me is stuff that goes wrong way before it should. Both front strut towers and bearings at 40k, Tie rods at 45k. I have not been able to get more than 2 months in a row without one or more of the tire pressure sensors going out. Now today at 58K, the power steering pump just went. It is discouraging, and I am a hard core GM guy

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  Sad, Its a Joke - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By noone99 - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Had a 91 Olds Cutlass Calais to 2K Cavalier. I almost/should have bought a Honda Civic. Wife has a 2K Odyssey. Cavalier has 33,000 miles. I’ve heard noises from the front struts, a recall on the electrical system, rear defogger takes 3 times longer then Calais. I have a 5 speed. When hot out-side with A/C on under load, Cavalier doesn’t have an A/C compressor cut-off, causes “sitting duck” at 25-35 MPH in 2nd gear. Dealer says, “its designed that way". Stereo, 91 Calais had much better factory speakers. I went from the perfect running car to a joke. Dad’s Cavalier is punishment if you have a 11 year-old daughter that gets into trouble, who doesn’t want her friends to see her in this car.

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  Its a gamble - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Gene - October 22 - 7:49 am

  Based on the other reviews its clear that if you get a sound Cobalt its a good purchase. The car my wife and I bought was dangerous right off the bat. Aprox. 2 weeks after purchase while going 40-45 mph the car died. A wiring harness had to be replaced. Since then its been back to the dealership for numerous repairs.

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  Still Going Strong - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jim Zis - October 17 - 9:31 pm

  Four and a half years later, still going strong. Pick up from a stop is acceptable and very impressive acceleration in the higher RPM range. Front leather seats have very little side support during turns. Ride is smooth and confortable but road feel in the steering is lacking. In 4 1/2 years the problems have been: Right front wheel bearing went bad, replaced hub and bearing, wire harness at right headlight melted, a new pig tail was installed, memory for driver 2 with all its settings are lost then reappear the next time the vehicle is used, stopped at a traffic light, engine cuts off and the check gauges light comes on, engine will restart fine and the warning light goes off. Lots of ghosts.

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  Is this what Chevy has to offer? - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Jb Reno - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I am a First time Chevy owner, ex ford guy. I am thinking I made a mistake with this purchased truck on Mon. evening and it was in the shop Tues. night with a bad tranny. Never had a problem with my Fords.

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  My Chevorlet Impala SS 08 - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By David - October 13 - 8:55 pm

  Seems to have a steering response that is way too quick, better turn the traction control off if you plan on stomping on the gas pedal and pulling into the passing lane. As well, you better turn the traction control of if you see someone eyeballing you at the stoplight, or they are going to leave you burning rubber. Factory tires are junk and do not handle water, hydroplanes easy in the rain, Is quite dangerous in fact, this is a 50 mile per hour car in the rain. The steering can correct, but the tail is like a boat out of the water.

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  Not Chevy! - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Mo - October 11 - 2:13 pm

  After years of terrible experiences with Ford I was on my way to Chevy. I have always liked the look of Chevy it says sexy. My Chevy is anything but. I have a gas smell that comes through the vents that I have to roll down all windows to breathe for the first 5-8 minutes after cranking which after a year has still not been fixed due to the mechanics being unable to pinpoint the source. Runs sluggish I mean no take off except for this major lurch which scares me that I will one day run into someone. the CD player is worthless. I mean if I switch lanes it scratches and skips and the ride is rough. I am so disappointed. The good news is I will be trading it in soon for a Chevy truck.

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  Problems with the starter - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Not Happy - October 10 - 7:39 am

  I love my car but not happy with many things. First the gas mileage is horrible, I get about 13 around town and 17 highway, not good. The worst of it all I have brought it to the dealership 6 times now since April 2008 for the same issue. The car will not start, it takes about 6 times for it to finally turn over. Once it does it spits and sputters, black smoke comes out of the exhaust than my RPMs go up to 8 drop to 4 than the car idles, like it wants to die. So now its back at the dealership and they cannot replicate the issue. Finally I called GM to report this. Its just nuts they keep telling me its up to standards but Hello, I got stranded at a gas station for 40 minutes. Not happy

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  CD player has problems - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DKB - October 9 - 9:20 pm

  This is my first SUV. My Equinox is fun to drive, but it reminds me of driving an old tractor - I need one of those handles on the steering wheel to get it to turn around. Drives like a truck, but still small enough to park like a car. Not bad overall. I can live with the steering issue, but the CD has serious problems. I have had it replaced twice in less than 2 months. The dealership warranty is still good on it, but that isnt very comforting.

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  Too Cavalier - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Bill T - October 8 - 10:16 pm

  The 2007 Cobalt LS 2 door in some ways is a stylish car, but, from looking at the front and sides, looks too much like a re-vamped Cavalier. I expected more from this car than it delivered. Gas mileage on the 2.2 automatic is terrible for a 4 cylinder, eats far more gas than a Nissan Altima 2.5 4 banger, and isnt half as fast, in fact, its sluggish by comparrison. Comfort is basic, behind the times, needs better standard sound system w/ larger standard sized tires/ wheels. Vehicle is noisy inside passenger cabin, and exterior paint job inferior, marks/ chips easily. Many blind spots when parking, observing on- coming traffic from behind, and passing. Its a re-vamped Cavalier.