Cadillac has stood tall among the used cars of the 1970s, according to Consumer Guide. Could Chevrolet also be the recipient of good genes from General Motors? Or did the price gap between the two brands also mean there was a gap in performance and reliability?
It would make sense that Chevrolet’s ratings would be closer to Buick’s, as both brands shared several platforms. But enough speculation for now—let’s take a look at USA-1 and how its cars were viewed by the publication. Please note the CG rating scale of 5 being Excellent and 1 being Poor.
Chevrolet
“You probably should be thinking smaller in your car purchase now.”
- Camaro: “Camaro has one of the best performance and durability records of any car in its class, [but] when contrasted to all car lines … Camaro scores average or even a little below average on repair frequency.” CG rating: 2-3
- Chevelle/Malibu: “Pre-1978 Chevelles are very much middle-of-the-road cars in performance, comfort, and economy.” CG rating: 2-3
- Malibu (1978-80): “Not as good a buy for the money as the Ford Fairmont … but better than all other American rivals.” CG rating: 4
- Chevette: “Okay as a commuter car, but far from the best in class for all-around transportation.” CG rating: 4-5
- Citation: “Outstanding domestic small car … but early owner experience suggests problems with both manual and automatic transmissions.” CG rating: N/A
- Corvette: “Awful repair history, though few recalls, and wide variations in workmanship.” CG rating: 2-3
- Caprice/Impala/Bel Air: “The car is noted for a ride that is as good or better than that of any model in its price range [but] the car has a higher than average frequency-of-repair record.” CG rating: 2
- Impala/Caprice (1977-80): “Terrific repair record through 1979, with no black spots.” CG rating: 4-5
- Monte Carlo: “Consider a Chevelle instead.” CG rating: 3
- Monte Carlo (1978-80): “Monte Carlo for ’78 is certainly the best and least expensive of an impractical bunch.” CG rating: 3-4
- Monza: “An overweight compact in search of an engine that fits, the Chevrolet Monza is a car that should have been dropped before it was introduced.” CG rating: 3-4
- Nova: “We prefer Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant through 1974 … 1975 and later Novas are good economy cars.” CG rating: 1-3
- Vega: “From 1976 on, Chevrolet has had better luck with rustproofing and with the aluminum engine.” CG rating: 1-3
