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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  Brand New Owner - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By landofcroz - August 2 - 6:53 am

  The fuel milege is horrible, nowhere near what is advertised. Rear seats should fold flat so they are usable for storage. Itts slightly underpowered, but not bad. Drives and handles fairly well. Rear vision is horrible. Hood noise on the highway with windy conditions. Its a nice looking vehicle. Plug in location is bad, and the cup holders are cheap and in the way of the parking brake. Steering wheel tilt is useless. Driver seat adjustment is ridiculous.

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  4 cylinder sucks - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Queen B - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I replaced 5 head gaskets and 3 water pumps!

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  2003 Cavalier - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By andre toulon - July 24 - 5:57 am

  OK car. Bad tailight sockets-recalled, r/r power steering pump 22k, fuel pump 55k, dash guage cluster gone haywire at 45k, needed calipers at 75k, rear window defog not working 65k.

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  Expected More - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lou - July 21 - 10:30 pm

  Not a bad ride but I find myself "strapped" in and confined inside the driver seat. Theres no space to put anything inside. Its a lower ride than the Explorer. I havent had to use 4 wheel drive yet. The sound system is excellent. If you have kids or use it for carpooling - the back has its own climate controls, as does the passenger front.

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  Gas hog - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By loser - July 20 - 7:35 pm

  I purchased this truck used in 2006. After just a few hundred miles I saw I was in trouble. Running interstate speed, the truck would quiver so bad you were unable to see ot the rearview mirror. It had pleanty of power, but really loved the gas. With gas prices over $4, it had to go.

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  Mixed Feelings - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Chicubs - July 19 - 2:22 pm

  Ive had my TrailBlazer since I bought it new in Aug of 2003. I love the styling and the huge cargo space (EXT version). Its been great for moving my daughters back and forth from college. Rides nice for a truck. The good news ends there. Too many things have gone wrong with it that shouldnt have gone wrong. Im now on my 3rd instrument panel cluster assembly and now need a 4th one. These things cost over $500 to replace. Poor quality! Ive had a few other things go wrong including my radio - Im on my 3rd unit. As much as love the styling and cargo room, Id never purchase another one especially considering the resale value is very poor. The money I saved up front is costing me now.

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  Miserable - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sara - July 17 - 12:44 pm

  The 06 Cobalt was the first car Id bought. It has been extremely disappointing all the way around. Within the first month of owning it, I had to take it in twice: once because the wiring on the safety harness had been chewed by rodents at either the dealership or a GM facility and had remained undetected until my check engine light went on a couple weeks after I brought it home and next because my ignition stuck and it had to be towed to replace the gear shift in the floor. Since then, Ive had to replace the fuel sensor and the fuel pump. Other repairs are pending even now. The car has less than 8000 miles on it. My advice to all thinking about buying one is to research carefully!

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  Hunk of Junk - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Hunk of Junk - July 17 - 12:41 pm

  Where do I even start. This vehicle has been nothing but a problem ever since I bought it. I just put $2400 dollars into it and last year it was $1000. It is only 3 years old with just over 100 thousand kilometers and I have relapced the front stablizer linkage arms twice, head gasket, brakes 4 times, both front bearings and struts, and hanger bearing. The front still sounds like it is ready to fall apart. Sometimes it doesnt want to start.I really want to get rid of it but I still have 2 years left owing on it and if I trade it I wont get anything for it but if I keep how much more am I going to have to put in to it.

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  Expensive to maintain - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Struggling Student - July 15 - 3:06 pm

  I got this car with 9900 miles on it, now has almost 160,000. I seem to have similar problems as everyone else. The intake gaskets need replaced, which causes the car to leak coolant, coolant reservoir replaced, fuel pump replaced water pump replaced, electrical problem with the emergencey hazard switch, some type of oil sensor replaced. The A/C turns off and on sporadically. Then the other normal manitenance. This car has been a very expensive car to maintain.

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  Not the best not the worst from GM - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By mike - July 11 - 5:06 pm

  I bought the car with high miles for the year. Made 3 trips fom sc to pa got 525 miles on a tank. That was with 6 people and luggage also. AC and DVD wide open. So far 10,000 miles not one thing but oil changes. Everyone said the 3.5 is underpowered I have no complaints. This by far the best of the three that I have owned. This my 3rd GM van. Had a 1998 chevy venture and a 2001 oldsmobile silhouette premier. The uplander feels safer and more road worthy.