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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  A nightmare from GM - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By George - October 22 - 3:53 am

  Bought this car, went "American" despite advice of friends. Major reliabilty problems from the start (the body control module went out after 3 weeks, could have had a major loss of all electrical functions at high speed!)compounded by the absolute worst, rudest service (had my wife in tears) I have ever received from any company of any kind, ever. The steering is barely adequate and the brakes are dangerously slow. Their are some good features about this car, but overall it has been a disaster, and GM as a supporting company a nightmare. We found out first-hand why they are going broke.

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  Awful - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Tammy - October 22 - 12:59 am

  We purchased the vehicle with 6,000 miles in March. Since then, we have replaced the Alternator twice, air conditioner, front & rear suspension, body moldings, brake and rotar work, driver side passenger door has had to be adjusted numerous times. Then just this past weekend we has water leaking from our interior rear light. All Chevy can say is that is covered under warrenty.

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  Not Happy at All - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By Shuleran - October 15 - 3:42 pm

  I have owned this van for 28 months. I have had the brakes replaced, the rack and pinion twice, two engine seals, the power window motors, glove box latch, door handles, water pump twice, thermostat twice, coolant hoses, and the sliding door gaskets. You name it. I have had it in the shop almost monthly. I wish that I had never seen this car. And to top it off the car does not hold its value. I am $8000 upside down on a car that is not reliable at all. I cant even trade it.

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  Poor gas mileage - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By larry - October 13 - 9:44 pm

  Overall ratings for my Trailblazer are poor. Gas mileage is horrible. Only getting 11.9 miles to the gallon. Uncomfortable seatbelts mounted into the seat makes it difficult if you arent the perfect build. Noted headliner falls down leaks water onto the pass side floor from unknown source.

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  Stay away from this vehicle. - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By James Sosa - October 12 - 2:23 pm

  Overall this is the worst of many vehicles I have ever driven. Chevy attempted to combine a mini van with an SUV and came up with a vehicle that has the worts features of each. It lacks the 4wd and road commanding capabilities of any SUV, yet lacks the space and ease of entrance typical of other mini vans. Performance wise, this vehicle is a joke. Its acceleration is so poor as to almost be dangerous on many highways, and the V6 engine actually gets worse mpg than many Chevy V8 trucks. The suspension is soft, but there is too much travel. Every single bump is felt with a wave of motion, creating a very unsmooth ride. Compare this to anything else, such as a Mazda MPV, to see how it performs.

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  Last GM for me - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By never_again - October 12 - 12:01 pm

  Ive had this truck for a year, bought used from a dealer. It has had more repairs than my last 3 vehicles combined. They were also GM vehicles. The front shocks started leaking at 20,000 miles, the door switch for interior lights goes out of whack in cold temperatures so the lights wont turn off while driving. The emrgency break jammed because a connecting linkage under the dash fell apart. Both doors leak in the rain dripping water onto the door arm rests. The gas mileage is horendous for a 4 cylinder. The cruise control works when it feels like it. Oh, and if you park it on a hill with less than a quarter of a tank of gas-it wont start!

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  Problems Overheating - 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Stuart - October 10 - 12:19 pm

  My daughter bought this car with 90,000 miles on it. This past Febuary 05 we replaced the thermostat, in the last few months it has started overheating again,Oct 9,2005 I replaced the radiator and thermostat again. It is still overheating. Next item I am going to check is the caytalitic converter.The fan is OK. We dont know what else to do to get it to stop overheating. As a result it has been parked for the last 4-6 months. Next we are going to check the head gasket. I would appreciate any help or advice. The car has about 115,000 miles on it.This overheating problem is a real aggravation since we cannot pin point the cause of it.

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  A sandlewood color lemon - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Tj80 - October 9 - 11:55 pm

  Car rattles constantly, window trim is now loose, interior quality is very poor major gaps in plastic trim. Fold down seats no longer work after being worked on 3 times. Also transmission is slipping at high speeds, as well as the front bearings had to be replaced because either they wore away or were never put in in the first place. Also car is rusting from the inside out. Save your money. Buy something better than a GM piece of junk.

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  2001 Malibu - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jibeho - October 4 - 2:17 am

  Many small problems as stated in previous reviews. Also had MAJOR problems around 50K. Starter failed, Intake manifold gasket failed, and then the engine failed. Even the key fob is poorly designed because you can easily set off the car alarm accidentally. Overall, the 2001 Malibu is a very unsatisfactory car ownership experience. The rapid depreciation tells the story quite well, because the free market effectively values the car for what it is worth (not much). I could not recommend a Malibu to anybody, and will be buying a Japanese or Korean brand next time around.

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  Ive been left stranded more than once.. - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Lynette - September 28 - 2:44 am

  This truck has left me stranded on more than one occassion. Have had problems with the alternator, ingnition coil springs and fuel pump. Rides very rough. Is not roomy...back seat is almost impossible to get into unless youre 52 and weigh 100 pounds. Squeaks and rattles and idles rough. Cant wait to trade this one in.