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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  Poor workmanship, service - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jenmcm76 - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had many of the problems mentioned here - break wear, blower not working on 1 or 2, etc. My dealership would NOT fix the brake problem under warranty. They said it was due to normal wear and tear, though I only had 30,000 miles on it - probably 90% highway driving. Even in 2000 everyone knew it was a design issue, but they refused to cover it - so it cost me $250. The workmanship is pretty bad. The cover keeps coming off the control panel in the drivers armrest, the trunk liner ripped away from the trunk, and the cargo net hooks ripped out of the liner. The gas tank is smaller than advertised - they claim its 15-gal, but its more like 12.5-13 gal.

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  Excellent Car - 1994 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Spades - March 21 - 2:00 am

  It is a car that will satisfy the needs of any man with a desire for a car with good looks and performance. The styling is superior to any import or local car of the same era with its distinctive curves and driver focused interior.

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  Great Family van!! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By nanbret - March 21 - 2:00 am

  Being a stay-at-home mom with two little ones, this was the perfect car to buy for the price. It drives well and has lots of room for our family, the dog and all of our stuff. We like the exterior with its sporty design. This car also has good power.

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  Happy with my MalibuH - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By CLAUDE DRAPER - March 20 - 11:20 am

  Have had my 08 Malibu fo 6 weeks now. Ive put on about 1600 miles and have been totally satisfied. Its exceptionly quiet, solid, with very good engine response. On trips I average aroud 30 mpg. My wife who in the past has favored imports absolutely loves this Malibu.

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  New purchase - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By lhlavenka - March 20 - 4:10 am

  In response to gas prices I traded my beloved F150 for a 2008 Malibu 1LT. I had been looking for a few months & was contemplating an Equinox. In the end it came down to better mileage for the Malibu. After living with the car for a month I have two complaints. Im 61". weigh 230 and am 74 years old. In and out of the drivers seat is a bit of a grunt. Also while the trunk is large the lid is really small. Other than that it is a very good machine. Seats & drivers position are good. The interior seems well laid out. Everything works as it should (only 1000 miles). I do like the fold down rear seats. Makes packing for a vacation (we dont leave much home) easy. It is very quiet.

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  Love my Tracker - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Angela Houston - March 20 - 2:00 am

  One month after I bought my first tracker in December of 2002 - I was going thru an intersection and was hit on the side of my car by a guy who had ran the red light. MY car flipped from the impact. Even though I think Trackers are cute vehicles and fun to drive - I do not recommend them for safety. My mom told me when I bought the tracker to be careful because they flip easy. I told her that was the OLD model - the newer models (mine is a "99) are designed better. But I learned VERY quickly that the newer models flip just as easy as the old. Be Safe!

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  reliable drive - 1998 Chevrolet Prizm
  By logansbounty - March 20 - 2:00 am

  This 98 Prizm came with 95k miles of which 90% were highway miles. The car was serviced with replacement of auto trans fluid and coolant and serpentine belt. The car is a very useful comuter and very comfortable seating and large trunk for a compact. Mileage was found to be only 26 on highway. I found the dealer had installed the wrong spark plugs. The car is typical toyota quality but a bit cheap in construction when compared to a Dodge neon which seemed more solid. Yet for dependability it has proven itself. I doubt I would buy another because of the cheezie construction, but as it is Chevy quit offering the model. To reliable!

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  95 Chevy Blazer - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Rolmass - March 20 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has served me well. I have over 270,000 miles on it. The 4.3 motor just keeps running.

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  Pretty nice style - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By botie24 - March 20 - 2:00 am

  Nice design. Great car for a teenager.

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  Grad Students Ride - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By rob w. - March 20 - 12:36 am

  Many compliments from friends and strangers. Great safety. Dad spun out on an iced over bridge and ended up sliding over an embankment past the bridge. (travelling at about 60 mph and did not see ice in time to slow down) I feel another vehicle would have rolled. No damage occured, amazingly, owing to luck and the stability of the Equinox.