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 car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By sigmachi152 - November 25 - 9:22 am

  I bought my malibu new back in 2004 and so ive had it for nearly 9 years and has a little over 98K miles on it. I bought it because it was one of the better cars that had great mpgs at the time. Overall it has been a pretty reliable car. I read that several people had to change the light bulbs on it numerous times. This is the only issue ive had with mine as well. I think I have had to replace the same bulb about 6 times in 9 years. Its a random annoyance but beats most other issues you can have with a car. I just replaced the spark plugs this weekend since it is close to 100K....6 iridium plugs and cables cost just under $80.

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  Nice job Chevrolet! - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By katvolt - November 24 - 10:24 am

  Just purchased the 2013 fully loaded Volt for my wife. Its a great ride with a very high feel good factor of knowing you are helping be part of the solution to foreign oil dependency. (Im a Desert Storm Vet) But even more important is that its a no compromise ride - very responsive drive train and we do not worry about being stranded without a charge. Chevrolet got it right.

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  Impressive first drive - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By tradosaurus - November 23 - 5:35 pm

  After owning a 2008 Honda Accord and then test driving a 2013 Honda Accord I opted to buy the 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco after test driving it. I was impressed with the interior road noise as well as the exterior and interior design. It reminded me of my 2010 Camaro I use to own. I only have 100 miles on it so I will update this review in a few thousand miles. Hopefully it will be positive.

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  I cant think of a worst car - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By lilred2007 - November 23 - 9:48 am

  Purchased new. Almost immediately had leaks from moonroof, airconditioner into the front seat, power windows didnt work. Faulty fuel sensor repair for about $800 which GM did pay 1/2 of because of a lawsuit. Ran out of gas about 5 times because of the fuel sender. Windshield wiper front and rear motors stopped working at around 55,000 miles ("so sorry, not covered by warranty.") Door closing efforts terrible. It is hard to believe GM was making this car for so long, yet fixed nothing on it over the years. Door moldings pealing, trim pieces falling off. Finally got fed up and traded it in.

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  Too Many Problems - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By msgtaylor - November 22 - 10:11 pm

  Too many issues with this vehicle after the 4th year. The cylinder was misfiring causing the truck to shut down in the middle of the street. Also, we paid $1,100 for sensors to be replaced before we were able to get a tag last year. This year has been the worse. Despite $2,000 in repairs the check engine light has yet to go off. There is no warranty at this point. The Tahoe is sitting in my driveway because I cant get a tag with the check engine light on.

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  Transportation - 2007 Chevrolet Equinox
  By subaruboxer - November 21 - 6:54 pm

  With the underpowered v6 and the cheap build quality this SUV is not for the spirited driver that needs awd and cargo room, its more for your soccer mom.

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  Gas Mileage is a Joke, and the engine is too weak to be fun. - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jberger1 - November 21 - 5:23 pm

  I live in California, and I drive between 70 and 75 miles per hour. I am averaging according to the cruze LTZ 25.7 mpg. The car is extremely underpowered with an incredible amount of turbo and transmission lag. This car has the worst breaks when you really need to stop in a hurry. Also, under extreme deceleration the suspension is too soft, and the rear of the car will try and come around on you if your wheels are not straight. This car would be perfect if it had about 80 more horsepower, and some decent programing for the transmission. Also, the trunk arms cost you some considerable space, as they collapse into the trunk. Pistons on the side would remedy that little problem.

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  my suburban - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By lilb9012 - November 20 - 12:52 pm

  i have a 2007 chevy suburban. i love it but it has to many problems. the drivers door now creaks. some how the dash board had a crack in it. the batterie dies a lot. i wish it had a little better gas milage. i dont drive it 24/7 i have drivin it a total of 10 times in 1 wk and and i used a total of 3/4ths of my tank. i get 11.5 miles to the gallon. and my speakers had to get replaced twice because they got blown out, i dont use the bass a lot and i dont blastthe music a lot but they just come and go..

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  2013 Malibu Transmission went OUT!!! - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By howsebaby - November 19 - 2:14 pm

  Yes...at 2333 miles yall! I was in the middle of 5pm traffic in Little Rock, AR and when I went to make a left turn at a VERY busy intersection, my BRAND NEW 2013 Malibu would go NO WHERE! Luckily I was less than about 100 ft from the dealership where I "leased" it.. Long story short...being it was a lease, it went BACK! ASAP!!! I dont know if anyone else has yet to have this horrible experience yet, but I can definitely feel yet another recall coming on for these cars... I loved that car too!!

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  disappointed - 2012 Chevrolet Sonic
  By waithair1219 - November 19 - 11:23 am

  i purchased a new 2012 chevy sonic 5 miles my car sways all over the place at highway speeds dealer will not help me and i am talking with gm. i wouldnt recommend this car to anyone .i am so upset over this i am not hte only one with this problem they are posted all over the internet .this car should be recalled. the dealer i purchased the car from will not adress my concerns at all . this is an unsafe vehicle