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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  Comfort is value - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Jackie Trautwein - June 18 - 4:26 pm

  My Trailblazer is probably the most comfortable truck I have owned. Others who have driven in it with me have also remarked how comfortable it is. I would like to see a more chic, sporty stereo system panel in it. It has the basic panel which all the Chevy trucks have. It runs fantastic. Gas mileage is better than other SUVs but could be better. Quiet engine and rides like a car, not like a truck.

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  Fun to drive, Love this car - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Dadwithkids - June 18 - 8:04 am

  We purchased this car for the handling, horsepower and price. It had 25,000 miles on it at purchase. Weve owned it since 1999, with no problems except brakes. With the sport tires this car drives like a sports car. At $200 each for tires, I purchased the cheaper Aquatread tires, dont do it. We finally need a bigger vehicle, and my wife doesnt want to give it up. It has been a great car for two kids, with a big trunk and enough separation in the backseat to keep the kids reasonable distance apart (a little less fighting).

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  Has to be best in class - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carter - June 18 - 7:10 am

  I bought a Equinox 1LT AWD with the available 3.0L DI V6 engine, it was hard to find for under 29K, but I found one. I have to say, right when I saw the Nox, I fell in love with the design. The interior impressed me even more, love the dual cockpit design. Ive had it a few weeks, and no problems to list. Very easy to drive. Also, if your going to be buying a Equinox with AWD, I do suggest getting the V6 as well. The 4-cylinder is ok, but I needed the extra power of the V6, thats subjective to how much power you want.

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  Reliable Runabout - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By CJ - June 17 - 9:49 pm

  Bought this car with an extended warranty, shortly thereafter the water pump went. I had regrets buying it, thinking the reliability would be bad. Very few problems since then. The O2 sensor went ($20 to replace). A/C needed a leak fixed, and a small oil leak fixed, all cheap fixes. Few problems for an 8 year old car. Ride and interior leave much to be desired. Lots of squeaks, and very soft ride. Cheap looking inside, and some fragile plastic pieces. Power was fine with the manual tranny. Engine note was quiet, albeit a souless "whir." Gas mileage was very good (33).

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  Great vehicle for a large family - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mike - June 17 - 7:14 pm

  The DVD player and capability to hook- up PS2 is very nice on road trips. Interior is very user friendly, with plenty of cup holders and storage. The kids really like the reclining captains chairs in the second row, and my wife loves the heated front seats. I had a 1994 Suburban, so the gas mileage has been fantastic for us. We have cut our gas bill just about in half. On two road trips we averaged almost 20mpg (pulling a small trailer) and over 23mpg (no trailer). Around town we are averaging about 20mpg. If you have more than a couple kids or frequently have more than four people ride in your car, the Uplander is a very good alternative to the much more expensive and less fuel efficient large SUVs.

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  ZR2 - Worth far more than most say... - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By AirRyan - June 17 - 5:26 pm

  I have an 03 Blazer ZR2 that I bought new a year and a half ago now, with just under 15k miles on it. I havent had a single thing wrong with it other than a simple fix for the sunroof. The engine has great torque, and while it could use some more horsepower, thats not what this vehicle was intended for.

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  Big, Safe,Strong and Comfortable - 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Rick - June 17 - 3:46 pm

  Must have captains chairs which allows kid traffic to flow, and gives more elbow room for adults. The TV helps control climate of kids. XM radio gives choices when traveling. Big engine pulls my boat and eight passengers in vehicle. Great for beaching in the sand. No problems when it snows, Steering is effortless. Parking is easy if everyone parks straight.

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  Great Car! - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Dave - June 17 - 1:56 pm

  Had a low mileage 04 Explorer, so I was looking for better gas mileage and a better payment. Found both in the 08 Malibu. I drove the Malibu and loved it. I ended up buying a program car with only 9500 miles. Shortly after buying it, I drove 83 miles to another city. Mileage calculator showed 37.6 avg mpg hwy. I forgot that the trip to this city was slightly down hill. The return trip showed 34 avg.mpg. Very pleased and the car is ultra quiet.

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  My Green Monster - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By EE Geek - June 17 - 1:54 am

  Bought it new after lots of research. Wow! what a car! Gobs of horses - much more than GM specs. Excellent fuel economy - 30 mpg @ 80-85 mph (18 city). Great handling, yet doesnt wear tires very fast (40K miles per set of Z-rated). Cheap to maintain and absolutely no quality problems. Seats are the most comfortable of any car Ive driven - 16 hour trip will not cause neck or back pain. Lots of features for my $22,300: ABS, Monsoon CD, cruise, fog lights, AC, power everything! Excellent dealer support. Mystic Teal color is a cop repellant - never had a ticket in 7 years. Great looks that arent dated. Best engine of all time (LS1). Please bring it back GM!

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  Great Family Vehicle With Good Looks. - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By jenandjonm - June 16 - 6:23 am

  We bought this car for more room while I was pregnant with my second child. We originally wanted a SUV, but not the gas milage. Hubby sugested a Suburu wagon, but I think wagons are ugly, ditto for mini vans. Husband and I are both tall and needed leg room, plus rear leg room for occasional adult passengers and those huge child car seats. The Maxx was a great find. Im always getting compliments on the styling and people are curious what it is. The handling is great, especially at slow speeds in the parking lot. Plenty of power for those curvey hilly roads and freeway passing. All with great gas milage. It gets about 30-35 mpg on long trips, and 25 in town.