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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  One problem after another - 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Bob Koenig - December 20 - 2:12 am

  I bought this car when it was only four years old and it didnt take long for things to start going wrong. At first I started having problems with the electrical system. I had to replace the alternator. Next,the car started over heating, I had to replace the thermostat. Then the gears started slipping and I had to get the transmission rebuilt. Then the compressor for the air conditioner stopped working, I could hardly tell, since the air was never cold in the first place. After that I had problems with the emissions control system and had to replace the E.G.R. value. The car never was the same after that it would stall if you didnÂ’t keep your foot on the gas pedal very dangerous.

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  No more Suburbans for us - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dean - December 14 - 11:26 pm

  Purchased three years ago at 70,000 from individual with all receipts, maintained exclusively by Chevy dealer. ALL scheduled maintenance is faithfully done, and we keep it looking clean & new. BUT, since reaching 90,000 miles, something breaks about every week. In last two years, we have replaced the transmission, all 8 fuel injectors, head gasket, radiator, water pump, alternator, fuel pump, and A/C compressor. Pass-side rear window doesnt work. Power locks quit working last week. A truly sad example of poor quality & reliability throughout. Its comfortable & great for interior capacity & towing, but weve bought the car twice due to the repair expense. Definitely dont recommend

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  Toyota here I come - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Caps - December 14 - 1:00 pm

  The S10 in general is lacking in all dept. The engine design for 98-2003 is based on a design from 1986!! If you want a track record, look no further, the engine itself is bullet proof, as it should be, near 20 yrs of constant improvements and they should get it right. However your also getting technology from 1986. GMs vehicles have been inferior for a long time, my loyalty is going to be looking elsewhere. I have 45k on mine and it has been in and out of the shop 6 times, thats about 5 times too many for me. I just wish GM would ante up and bring something comparable to the table in this race of "best vehicles" --- Could be worse I guess, I mean i could be driving a 5-cylinder Colorado

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  2005 GMC Canyon - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By chevylover1965 - December 11 - 5:31 pm

  This truck is a cheaply built vehilce. Most notably the air conditioning is junk. Many owners are complaining about the vent temperature surging from cold to warm along with a whistling noise eminating from under the dash. GM will not admit they have a problem. The dealer told me they cant fix it. So Im stuck.

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  4 Wheel Drive Nightmare - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By Frustrated - December 11 - 3:05 pm

  We have had this truck 2-1/2 years. The 4 wheel drive module has failed 3 times this year (2005). The first time (January,2005) the replacement was on backorder for several weeks. It was replaced again in September and it just failed during a snowstorm (December 9). We bought the truck to get to work in the winter, but the 4 wheel drive never is available when we need it.

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  Not bad, just not worth the money - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Max - December 9 - 1:01 pm

  The SUV is not bad. The paint finish is not good. Too much orange peel. I have had a few minor problems. I am starting to feel and hear a slight clunk sound when I start out only after I apply the brakes to stop. I dont think it is the transmission, just sort of like something sliding back in to place. The gas mileage is very poor. I get around 15 in town and 18 to 20 on the open road. 90% of my driving is on the interstate, thank goodness. I am not sure that I will rush out and get another GM SUV.

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  I was robbed by GM. - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kim - December 9 - 1:10 am

  My husband talked me into getting this car. What a nightmare! I have to take it to the dealership for warranty work about once per month. There is something loose in the dashboard. Twice the rotors had to be resurfaced. The brakes still drag. Power steering only functions about half of the time. Service does not know why. Sunroof leaks. Squeeks and rattles everywhere. The roadnoise is deaftening. Starter keeps turning over after car has started. It drives like a 5 year old car. The only reason that I keep the thing is the $8000 difference between what I owe and trade in value. If I can find an aggressive dealership, I will unload this lime ASAP.

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  Junk - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Q43000gt - December 4 - 6:39 am

  This is my company car. It is junk! 14,000 miles and it is falling apart. The car is driven 100% city in mph zones less than 40mph, but it should not be this much junk. Brakes are shot Car has overheated more than five times. Something in the steering is going out (makes a weird noise when turning). 17mpg average over 14,000 miles (all city). Car has a hard time starting at times. Rattles in the snow.

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  Not happy - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By impala - November 30 - 6:05 pm

  Bought car in Jan of 04 . I have owned Chevys for about 40 yrs and was allways happy with them . However the 04 was noisy from the start. The dealer said it was the tires. They went to Goodyear this year. Changing the tires helped some but road noise is still bad .Windows fog up whenever it rains. I dont think I will be buying another Chevy any time soon. Find visibilty very poor

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  trail blaser - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By gengeld - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The transmission went out in the first 400 miles. The engine has a ticking sound dealer said it was normal with this engine.The rear window washer had a kink in the hose and was told for it to work must keep reservior must be half full.Plus other problems. Worst car I ever owned.