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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  Like a lemon - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By dean - May 5 - 6:10 am

  Owned the car for 8 years and had nothing but trouble from the start, replaced everything in car but the engine. it was in a shop for repairs every month and I went through 2 alternaters and 2 transmissions and the engine leaks coolent to list a couple things. The interior is very plain and it has poor gas mileage compaired to other cars I own. I have always taken care of the car and did everything the mechanics recemended so I thought I would have a car that would last a while. the only good thing about this car is that it is cheap and doesnt rust. The AC was the first thing to go in it but I noticed that happens a lot in other GM cars also. I would strongly recomend not buying this car.

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  A Great Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Rcc702 - May 5 - 2:02 am

  I love my Cavalier. I have had it for 6 months and have put over 11,000 miles on it. I use it as a family sedan with my 3 children and its wonderful. The LS interior is great and isnt showing any wear despite numerous spills. It has more than enough power even when loaded for a trip and the auto transmission is flawless. Fuel economy is astounding on the freeway and exceeds the mileage on the sticker. It doesnt wander at all on the freeway and goes straight down the road. I traded in my Honda Pilot when I got the Cavalier and have not looked back since. This is much more of a driver friendly vehicle than the Honda was and the kids like the seats in the Chevy better anyway.

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  Love this car! - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By MakeMineGM - May 5 - 12:13 am

  I bought this car to drive in the winter. It had 106K on it. Look around - these cars are everywhere! It gets good mileage (about 25 mpg on my last trip traveling an average of 75 mph). Its not a sports car but the suspension is firm enough for a full size sedan. Problems: The A/C is not working, I have a bad sensor for the ABS and the front seat is worn out (heavy previous owner?) - nothing major. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives this car the highest rating in the offset crash test. How could I go wrong for $1550?

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  05 Chevy Uplander - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Sundevil99 - May 4 - 2:52 pm

  Our family has been very pleased with our purchase. The exterior styling is great for those of us who arent extremely happy about transitioning into a minivan. :) The large wheels are a nice feature. The van sits a little higher and other minivans, putting the driver above traffic. Thus far we have had no mechanical or cosmetic problems (such as molding). We love it.

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  Duramax 4x4 - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By Toyaholic - May 4 - 1:03 pm

  The Duramax is quiet, smooth and powerful. 0-60 times that will make most cars see your tail lights. The interior of the LTZ is all luxury, void of squeaks and rattles on the roughest roads. The Bose 6 disk is very impressive for a factory system using a center placed subwoofer and 6 speakers. Smoother, stronger and better mileage than the 6.0L 2005 2500HD it replaced.

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  My Monte - 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By RedM0nte - May 4 - 11:13 am

  I purchased my Monte Carlo LS earlier this year. So far nothing has happened with the car, Ive had only small problems. For one, the car has some rattles on the inside of the car, and the interior wasnt put together all that well. Im a mechanical engineer for interiors of cars and the craftsmanship on the inside wasnt that great. But, the Monte is a very stylish car and runs and performs great for the LS model.

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  2004 Chevy Aveo LS Hatchback - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Jody Lee - May 4 - 10:00 am

  really fun car to drive. interior controls are layed out exceptionally well. very easy to see out of. would make a great car for a young driver.

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  2004 Malibu Maxx LT Model - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Henri - May 4 - 10:00 am

  Overall the quality of the workmanship was very good interior & exterior. The 3.5 engine was a little slow on the pick up in lst gear range, but the second range was very satisfactory & smooth. Engine is very compact & every unit (battery--air filter--water reservoir ETC) was easy accessable & not crammed at all. One nice feature is the electric steering. Mileage overall combination Hwy & city average was 23.5. I imagine a long mileage highway trip will produce more.

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  I LOVE MY MALIBU.... - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TaniaJo - May 4 - 10:00 am

  My first brand new car, and I am loving every minute of driving time! I did have some problems, but the dealership took care of me and my Malibu. My parents just purchased a LS Malibu!

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  new suv - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By csam - May 4 - 10:00 am

  This truck is great. We were looking at the Ford Escape and Jeep Liberty - the Equinox blew them all away