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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  Great Truck Served Its Purpose - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By MJB - March 27 - 11:53 pm

  Reading some of the negative reviews posted here motivated me to write this review. First off, this is a great small truck for the money. I purchased mine used with 90 some thousand miles and it is still running strong. I get almost 22 MPG strictly highway and average about 18 MPG combined. If your truck has no power and poor fuel mileage, duh, take it into a garage and have it looked at. Something is obviously wrong. Then theres the clowns who expect to have a Cadillac quality truck and pay a Chevy price. And dont get me started on the dolts who probably bought theirs used and did not take time or spend a little money to make sure the truck was previously maintained.

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  Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Cobalt - March 27 - 7:33 pm

  The car is a blast to drive. Its very responsive on the road. I was surprised at the fuel economy and how fast the car wanted to drive on the road. Its a nice sporty car. The trunk is huge. The one draw back is there is not a ton of room in the back seat. Overall I think its a great car.

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  So disappointed in gas mileage - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By teese - March 27 - 2:37 pm

  The overall look is nice, but the back seat is way too close to the front seat. The gas mileage is horrible. The truck handles well in the snow. The back hatch should close with an automatic button, its too heavy shutting it on your own. They cheaped out on that feature.

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  Reliable but always dumb problems - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Alex - March 27 - 1:51 pm

  I bought the Blazer when it was 4 years old and had 64000 miles. It ran good, but within one month, I brought it in for a new exhaust system, o2 sensor, fuel injection system, and transmission issues. Since then, I have brought it to the dealership on three different occassions which needed to have other mechanical parts replaced. No major issues but many minor problematic parts have had to be replaced. Buy an extended warranty if you get one because these will use it up. Otherwise, the SUV rides decent and has always been dependable as it always starts and has never leaked fluid.

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  boring but reliable - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By greatone79 - March 27 - 10:00 am

  nothin wrong with my car since i got it, except for a leak in the oil tank about a year after i got it. car is very reliable and has shocking acceleration for a "family" style car

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  Comfort with an Attitude - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Furman Evans - March 27 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the most comfortable vehicles I have ever driven. The seats provide the comfort a body needs. The quiet ride and sharp turning radius provide an unexpected pleasure in a vehicle like this. The onboard phone has worked without cuts outs in every area I have tried. Its extremely clear and integrates perfectly with the radio speaker system.

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  Not in love - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By nomorebowties - March 27 - 10:00 am

  Great sized vehicle. The new 6 cylinder engine is silky smooth and full of torque and power at a reasonable MPG. The handling and design quaality of this vehicle is top-notch. My hats off to Chevrolet Engineering for a great concept, design and build. Now, if you could just do something about the after- sale service offered by your dealer network. It leaves much to be desired. 3 return trips for nagging little problems that should be resolved FIRST TIME. The outside mirrors that move and dont move back, the electrical "glitch" that they cannot locate, etc, etc. I bought a fully loaded $36K vehicle, I expected no excuses, Ive had nothing but.

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  Kick BUTT Truck - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By trailrider - March 27 - 10:00 am

  I love this car

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  No complaints at all! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By precious81098 - March 27 - 8:25 am

  This car feels as though it were built exclusively for me. The seats are comfortable, all controls are in easy reach and it has all the amenities - heated front seats, power everything, fold-down rear seats for stowing larger items, great sound system, its roomy, comfortable, quiet, runs like a dream, fun to drive and looks great. I average between 28 and 31, yes I said 31 miles per gallon of gasoline. That gives me a cruising range of over 400 miles. Oh, and the dashboard computer that keeps all that information for me at my fingertips is wonderful. This is my most favorite car Ive ever owned. It has great get-up-and-go, feels powerful but smooth. I think its the perfect car.

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  My 2nd Trailblazer - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By FSAguru - March 27 - 12:25 am

  This is my second TrailBlazer. The first one I had was a 2004 and I loved it, absolutely no trouble out of it. Upgraded to a few more features. The car looks great and drives great