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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  My S-10 - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By papaptl - April 12 - 2:00 am

  No mechanical trouble in 14 mos. ownership, even though I just turned 151k mi. I just do regular maintenance and put a set of tires on her.

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  Get What You Pay For - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Spoolie - April 12 - 2:00 am

  We love ours. It is inexpensive to by and maintain. Interior quality is poor but we love the rest. My wife loves to drive it and it is great for city driving as it is small and very manueverable. We have two kids and they love it when we take the top off and go cruising in the summer. It is not a Hwy car as it has a lot of wind noise from the top. It is great in the snow in winter and the sand at the beach in the summer.

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  Was disappointed. - 2000 Chevrolet Impala
  By adina - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this car a year ago and have had many problems. One problem was a water leak that the dealership could not pinpoint. My husband had to go down to the dealership and tell them what was wrong. They thought my windshield was leaking, turned out to be the air conditioning was not draining properly so the condensation backed up into the car. Also had numerous problems with valves leaking, blower switch not working for air/heat, wipers breaking during winter, and now the drivers side window switch sticks. The service engine soon light comes on periodically and no one knows why. Glad I bought an extended warranty.

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  DEPENDABLE - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By CHELSEA - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I WORK FOR A DEALERSHIP, AND I SELL SEVERAL DIFFERENT MAKES AND MODELS. I HAVE SOLD COUNTLESS PRIZMS OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CUSTOMER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND HAVE SEVERAL FAMILYS THAT HAVE MORE THAN ONE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD.I HAVE THE OPPRTUNITY TO PURCHASE JUST ABOUT ANY VEHICLE WE SELL, AND I CHOSE THIS ONE BECAUSE OF RELIABILITY AND ECONOMY.

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  Reliable but lacks comfor - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Scott3125 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I have to give it to Chevrolet, this Cavalier has not one mechanical problem since I have owned this vehicle. It is the most reliable vehichle I have owned. Comfort scale is low though. Interior could fit the driver better. Dependablity has put this car in a class by itselt. Thanks Chevy

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  Best vehicle i have ever driven - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Rarebreed - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I have owned everything from Hondas (prelude) to Fords (Bronco) and Jeep (Grand cherokee). The Avalanche drives quiter than my best friends benz. Seems to be as reliable as any Honda product i have owned. It looks like Chevy has finally turned the corner on reliability. I am so happy that our next purchase is going to be the equinox.

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  A winner overall, except for........... - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Magic27037 - April 12 - 2:00 am

  I had to have the three truck bed top liners replaced because they leaked when I had the truck washed or when it rained. I read on the net that the early builts had a problem because they didnt seal everything as they should have when they built them...have no idea if that is true. I do know that GM took control after I called them because I couldnt get any satisfaction from the dealer I bought it from.The other dealer took action to try and resolve the leak problem. The original dealer just said that they never said the truck bed was "watertight", just water resistant....Dahhhhh I hope the problem is solved. The new panals are due in nexxt week.

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  don t buy one - 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By buc - April 11 - 10:00 am

  since6000 miles theres been a clunking noise coming from the rear end. GM says its a design careristic (FLAW!!) Ive talk to a lot of other chev truck owners there having the same problums,I havent met one one person who is truly happy with there chev truck

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  Excellent Van - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By ILoveTheVenture - April 11 - 2:00 am

  Bought this 2001 Venture with 71k miles on it. We put about 4k miles on it so far and no problems or loss of power despite the high mileage. I merge with 60+ mph highway every morning from a dead stop into heavy traffic with NO PROBLEM. Feels like a car with an impressive turning radius despite the elongated van body. Fits in normal parking spaces too (some big SUVs barely fit). 30 gallon gas tank and good (23mpg) gas mileage means fewer trips to the pump. Seats are top notch, suspension is soft but gives you enough road feel to keep you involved, runs quiet, holds more stuff than I can fill it with, and has a great entertainment system. I love it.

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  no need for improvement - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By terry schulz - April 11 - 2:00 am

  I have owned several vettes and even 4 other cars. This is by far the best. A true allaround sports car. That no weather can stop. Ireally dont know how they could improve it.