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:

• 

  Not too happy with it - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carrie - February 11 - 7:05 pm

  I have had my Equinox for about a year and a half. When I first got it. I loved it! Now I cant wait to get rid of it. It just now has 25000 miles on it and it acts like it has over 100000 miles on it. I am taking it in to the dealership for service tomorrow. I have several issues that Chevy need to address. The fuel pump is making a loud "clunking" noise right after it is started. The drivers side window is not sealing porperly. The transmission is making terrible screeching noises and it doesnt like shifting into 3rd gear. Last year,chevy gave me a new set of tires because at 13,000 the tires were shot, but evenly worn. premature wearing. I have had the tires roated 2 times during that time.

• 

  Impressive Truck - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By kovich14 - February 10 - 1:29 pm

  This is my first Silverado and it exceeds all of my expectations. The ride and handling is far superior to the mid-size pickup I traded in on it. The interior is comfortable and very roomy- I can fit six adults easily. Power with the 5.3L and 6 speed is plentiful and makes this truck fun to drive. It gets identical fuel mileage to my former mid-size too. The frequent shifting of the 6 speed took some getting used to but the shifts are mostly unnoticeable and power is always on tap. The autotrac 4wd is fantastic in the snow. Overall Im very impressed with the truck.

• 

  Great Truck Tows Beautifully - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By MichaelB - February 10 - 1:48 am

  I opted for the Colorado because of the MPG and for the tow rating. Tows 3500 lbs like a dream! Could not be happier, except that the seat upgrade would have been a wise choice!

• 

  Reliable, and Lots of Fun! - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By roman238 - February 10 - 1:35 am

  I no longer own this car, but I felt it deserved my review. Bought this car used in 2002 with 23,000 miles on her. At the time it was overall the best car I had ever owned, and Ive owned quite a few. At 34k the rear seals went bad, (a common problem with the 3100 that year). At about 45k I replaced the brakes. The muffler cracked at 60k...replaced that. The gas tank at 64k and the water pump at 85k. I put new tires on when I first bought her, and they passed inspection in May 2012. Other than those repairs, all I did was change the oil and rotate the tires. In Nov. of 2012, I traded the old girl in on a 1998 Monte Carlo Z34 with only 45k which I will review as well. The best car I ever had!

• 

  My 99 Burban - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Brian - February 9 - 11:02 pm

  It used to have a 2" lift in the rear & ran gr8 until my boss sold it to my job. They replaced the motor at 110k. The day I bought it, the radiator broke. It ran great for a while. Besides the regular maintenance, I replaced oil plug (thanks castrol 10 min oil change), distributor, front rotors, hub bearings, 4 shocks, new tires, u- joints, rotors, shoes & pads, bank 2 cat. converter & o2 sensor. I still have a shake in the rear end but no one knows what is causing the truck to shake. They told me tires but I am not changing them again unless they are paying for it. I was told rear end or trany but unless they are going to pay 4 it, im leaving it alone. Cannot go over 70 mph.

• 

  Best Car Yet - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Joey D - February 9 - 9:10 pm

  This car is an incongruous value and a delight to own. They have started out with great basics - a hydroformed version of the Epsilon chassis (rock solid and ultra low resonance), the drivetrain right out of the Caddy CTS (the GM High Feature V6 can run without coolant, like the Northstar). They built on this with no shortage of great features and amenities, in a package with style and grace. Minute details such as the door position stops, the trunk lid mechanism, the tiny lamps inside the door handles, tiny Chevy logos in the lights, all add up to a car that delights like no other. Love the suspension and handling as well.

• 

  Very Disappointed - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By GP - February 9 - 8:46 pm

  As much as I like the ride, comfort, power and gas mileage of this vehicle, its extremely unreliable. In the past 6 weeks, Ive had the vehicle in the shop 4 times (14 days total) for various problems that have required major work on the transmission and engine. I have had various other problems with the transmission and drivetrain in the past that the dealership has not been able to fix, or refused to fix under warranty. Am done buying GM products!

• 

  Awesome Value - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By roxy4877 - February 9 - 8:06 pm

  I just picked mine up today. I love the ride it gives! I bought the base model because of my tight budget. $17,888! Nothing else came close. And as for the interior, finally the Americans outdid the imports.

• 

  Great running SUV - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By raiderzfan422 - February 9 - 3:30 pm

  I purchased my 1996 Blazer 1 and 1/2 years ago with 108,000 on it. It has been very reliable and has had no major problems. If you maintain these vehicles they will run for a long time. Change oil every 3k, tune ups and make sure to grease all ball joints and fittings etc. Flush coolant as well becuase of the known problems with the cooling systems. I love my Blazer and maintain it very well. Vehicle now has 126000 on it and all I have replaced is battery, alternator, thermostat and a rear end seal.

• 

  Lovely - 1991 Chevrolet Camaro
  By LordZamme - February 9 - 3:18 pm

  Bought the car used for $850. Motor would not turn over. 3.1L with a 5 speed Had the motor rebuilt and .30 over. I have had replaced the $200 transmission mount, tires, fuel filter, fan relay, battery, computer, injectors and tires since I bought it. Going to replace the dash panel and seats next. New steering wheel to get rid of the airbag and fat steering wheel. Love this car!!