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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  Not so good.... - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By fool me once shame - January 13 - 2:00 am

  Have had trouble and the local dealers here in Lake County Florida are real jerks. Have tried both... both rip you silly... Sorry, but I guess I had expectations... for 45k that were too high... I am replacing the car with a BMW 500 series

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  50th Anniversary - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By jvnelson - January 13 - 2:00 am

  This is a what I would call the almost perfect car. I have not had to take it into the dealer for any problems in the 9 months I have owned it. My wife and I took a 3857 mile fall vacation in it and averaged 31.4 mpg. This is a 6- speed. I am 61 and have no trouble with getting in and out of the car. I am extremely happy with all aspects of the car.

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  Almost a Great SUV - 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
  By JacksWild - January 13 - 2:00 am

  Love the room, ride height, overall appearance. My first experience with a Suburban - I previously owned an Explorer, and this blows that away!! That being said, I feel there is too much "gear" noise heard in the cabin when in auto 4WD, and Ive experienced some popping noise(s) from exhaust when hot. Also, too long warm up period when cold starting.

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  The Real Review - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Jake - January 13 - 12:23 am

  I am 66" tall. This vehicle certainly takes care of me as far as leg room. The cargo area is excellent for a compact SUV, and the back seat room is well off also. In my opinion, the outside is very sharp looking, different from most, and I am impressed with that. Now the inside is average. I wouldnt even think of comparing the inside of that of a Lexus. Its a bit on the cheap side. Although, you get what you pay for. It rides decent, and the feel is good. The seats could be a bit more comfy. If outside style, decent leg and cargo room are your objectives, this vehicle is worth a look. If not, you should consider others. Gas hasnt been an issue. Lead foot equals low mpg.

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  Great Truck! - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By sixty8camaro - January 12 - 8:30 pm

  I have over 110,000 miles on my p/u and have had only one part break ($25 U-joint + 1 hour of my time to replace). Id say thats great reliability! Still runs close to as strong as when I bought it and can pull a loaded trailer (roughly 5,000 lbs) with no problems.

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  Tahoe Great So Far - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Ron - January 12 - 4:36 pm

  Great interior styling, and great drivability. Comfort and conveinence everywhere. Practical vehicle for the kids and for winter trips.

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  1991 S10 SB - 1991 Chevrolet S-10
  By falconbrother - January 12 - 2:00 am

  This little truck has been only fairly reliable. However, its a decent little work horse for the size. The 2.5 engine is noisy, but good on gas. My little truck has hauled everything from motorcycles to entertainment centers. When one considers the cost to own this truck with how useful it is the only conclusion is that its a great little truck.

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  Blue Heaven - 1990 Chevrolet Corsica
  By SCG - January 12 - 2:00 am

  I agree with many of the reviews listed here. The car seems to age quite well (150K). Any repairs needed are often very affordable. My biggest complaint is the paint job. It does not do justice for how the car runs. It has crossed my mind several times to get it repainted. All in all its a great city car that will last you longer than you think.

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  Best Used Car Value around - 2001 Chevrolet Prizm
  By prizmlvr - January 12 - 2:00 am

  I researched used cars for quite some time and this is easily the best deal for under $6K. We got an 01 with 31000 miles and still 5 more months of warranty for 6K out the door. The acceleration is sufficient and the mileage wonderful. A comparable Corolla would be 10K. Just cant beat this car value.

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  Money Pit! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By yuckmalibu - January 12 - 2:00 am

  A lot of same complaints. Replaced brakes, pads & rotors 4 times in 80K. Wiper arm broke of during use. Manifold gasket leaked coolant into engine. Control arms replaced. Replaced right wheel hub bearings - left ones going bad. Air conditioning switch only worked on 3. ABS light came on for no reason. Sunroof went offtrack twice. Traded for a Honda when the onboard computer failed. Had enough of dumping money into the car! Standard "aging" repairs, no problem. Major repairs over & over - problem. Problems always met with silence by dealer. Will never buy a GM product again.