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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  Disappointing MPG - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Pat B - January 7 - 2:51 pm

  Purchased 06 Aveo mid October 05 with main objective "minimizing fuel cost" What a disappointment, I am only getting an average 19-20 MPG which is 6 miles less per gallon than my Grand Prix. Overpaid for this car $13,000+ which is my fault, but I know I could have done better.

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  For the price, at least you get size - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By SccaBrian - December 26 - 12:10 pm

  Ok, the numbers may look a bit harsh, but has anyone considered an alternative? Theres the Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Sonata. This car is not a bad one, but for the 17,000 dollar price tag, there are many better options out there. The ride quality on the Malibu is great, but the suspension is so soft that the car wobbles in the wind and on the highway. The 4cyl engine is very loud, which can make you think youre going fast, until you check the speedometer that is. Within 6k miles, the dome light stopped working (the switch went bad) and the drivers side sun visor fell off. This is a car best left for hardcore Chevy enthusiasts. Unless you can find one at a huge discount, dont even bother

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  Dont buy - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By fran - December 24 - 4:24 pm

  I purchased and as I was leaving the lot I found out it had no power! (windows, seats, doors)Cost $32,000. I had to have the brakes replaced at 1000 miles they were all rusted out. The rear seat I was told seats 3 accross. It seats 3 very small adults squished. It would seat 2 adults across. It has many blind spots, this surprised me because of how high it sits. It handles well on snow/ice in 4wd. this is not a on the fly switch however.

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  Tough Ol Gal - 1997 Chevrolet Astro
  By antioch116 - December 23 - 9:58 am

  My 1997 van is approaching the 200k mark and she still rides fine. Ive had problems with the following: catalytic converter(twice),fuel gauge stuck on "E" even though I just filled up, drivers window broken, air condt knob broke, rear hutch window doesnt stay up, sliding door stuck, tranny, oh yeah..the "service engine" light stays on even though Ive spent over 1k to figure out why, just to name a few. But all in all, its a pretty good van.

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  First Few Months Performance. - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By k smith - December 15 - 5:36 pm

  Driving seat is not comfortable for extended driving, it is too low. The accelerator pedal is too far back and should be moved more in line with the brake. During cold weather the transmission tends to stick in lower gear for the first 2 miles. I would prefer a higher vehicle next time with more roof clearance and the seat higher from the floor. The lights from other traffic are a definite problem due to the low level of this car.

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  Falling apart too soon - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By JohnO - December 14 - 5:32 pm

  The air compressor went out at 39,000 miles, the rear wheel bearings and the U joints at 41,000. I am lucky I bought the extended warranty. This is my last S10!

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  Mired in mediocrity - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MVP019 - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I have had this truck for 5 years on a lease that is about to expire, and I am glad I am getting rid of it, as I feel were I to keep it I would be on the verge of spending a LOT of money in service. Good looking vehicle but beauty is only skin deep in this case. As others have noted, the gas pedal sticks (repeated "fixes" have not fixed it), and the truck has had cooling system problems (water pump replaced at 50,000 mi.) OE tires were nearly bald after 28,000, and the power window motors both had to be replaced. In short, its a typical American car - shot at about 75,000 miles. I am going back into Japanese models.

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  Too Good To Be True - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By HEID - December 12 - 8:29 pm

  I should have known the price was too good to be true, I love to drive my car, however that is when it runs. It only has 32000 miles on it, and is in the shop more than driven, and Chevy does not stand behind their work. I think itÂ’s a good starter car, but if you want a reliable car for day to day never ever by a Cavalier. Trust me I learned the hard way, and still owe 10,000.00 on the car

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  2000 Chevy Tahoe - 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Cedric - December 6 - 6:56 pm

  The transmission went out at 70000 miles. The ABS system failed at 64000 miles. The vehicle was serviced only by the dealership and after numerous trips to complain about the ABS braking problem, it was never duplicated when tested by a service technician. Therefore the problem was never fixed. After the warranty expired, then and only then was the problem identified. I replaced the ABS system, the rotors, brake pads and the emergency brake pad at a cost of $1300.00. The dealership wanted over $2500.00 to fix everything. I want even begin to talk about the transmission being replaced. So, I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone, nor will I ever purchase another Chevy product.

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  Poor - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Pedro Villalon - December 5 - 10:28 pm

  Tens of mechanical problems, roof lining fell off, engine got stuck in first gear, needed towtruck, hydro sterring wheel pump failed, needed towtruck, had to replace motor and sensor of fan, 4x4 selector on dashboard had problems, jump from one gear to another, had to be replaced, to check the air pressure in the spare tire requieres to lower the tire from its niche. Big problem. Stops lights connectors are tiny wires that with vibration get loose, you have to put them apart to tighten them. Drivers seat is as comfortable as sitting on nails, the rest of the seat are ok. Wheather trim on right front door fell off. Can´t wait to sell it. Too bad it´s a company car and have to wait a year.