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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  Never Again! - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Allonzi - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I have a S10 LS extended cab with the four cylinder and manual transmission. The four cylinder is a weak engine but get very good mileage. My problems have been: 1) Interior rattling. 2) Bolt felt off exhaust manifold. 3) Seat handles on passenger and drivers side have broken off in my hand. (I got the passenger side handle fixed and it busted off again!) 4) Wipers would only work intermittently after the first year. General Motors is the largest car company in the world, you would think they would be able to make a seat where the recliner handles wont fall off!

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  Good under the 100 thousand mark - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Eileen - March 6 - 2:00 am

  My Cavilier was good for a couple of years, around the 3 year mark everything went down hill. the major problems right now is the head gasket leaks badly and it is very expensive to fix, 100 thousand mile is the end to the cavilier....LS

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  Good under the 100 thousand mark - 1995 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By eileen - March 6 - 2:00 am

  My Cavilier was good for a couple of years, around the 3 year mark everything went down hill. the major problems right now is the head gasket leaks badly and it is very expensive to fix, 100 thousand mile is the end to the cavilier....LS

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  A+looks,B-performance,C- quality - 1998 Chevrolet Lumina
  By woolhead - February 27 - 2:00 am

  have owned for 3 years.the 3.8 liter engine is a dream.not the raciest motor made,but strong and reliable.the interior is low-rent.the front seats are backbreakers on a long trip,the leather is cheap.typical weak GM brakes.handles acceptably,good transporter for daily use.

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  Look out for this Lemmon!!! - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By X-ChevyMan - February 27 - 2:00 am

  I learned to drive in a Suburban and Ive been a Chevy man since. I had a K5 blazer & loved it. I liked the Tahoe and got a 97 in 01 w/60k. I should have known truck was trouble when I drove it off the lot & the alt. went. Since then I have replaced brakes & rotors, rebuilt trans, replaced water pump, battery, starter, windshield wipers just stop working, trans cooler, built into the radiator, sprung leak causing all sorts of probs, the head gasket leaking all this under 88k! Believe what you read in the reviews. Its not reliable, brakes are awful, electrical system is bad & the trans is trouble

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  2003 Chevy Express 1500 AWD w/ 4th Door - 2003 Chevrolet Express
  By Phitter - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Chevy doesnt have their act together on this vehicle yet. The assembly is poor. Door & hinge weather gaskets & grommets are missing or falling off. Unpainted sealant on the door hinges and entry areas is present. The fuel fill door compartment is a collection area for road salt and sand. The vehicle is plagued with driveline vibrations and resonance problems. I expected Chevrolet to resolve the issues -- they have not. The interior is the best they offer and it is dull at best. The seats dont belong in a vehicle that lists for over $35,000. The ride is very smooth suspension wise. Acceleration is good when called upon.

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  Not happy - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By JOE - February 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a pain since I bought it. One thing after another has gone wrong with it. The head gasket has had to be changed twice. The engine head had to be replaced. The transmission went out. etc, etc ,etc

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  Not happy - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Joe - February 26 - 2:00 am

  This car has been a pain since I bought it. One thing after another has gone wrong with it. The head gasket has had to be changed twice. The engine head had to be replaced. The transmission went out. etc, etc ,etc

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  A dissappointed customer - 2005 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Mylander - February 25 - 1:03 am

  We were told that the new 2005 Chevrolet Uplander would have a smoother ride than our 2003 Chevrolet Venture. In fact, the front end is extremely bumpy and drives more like a truck than a minivan. Given a choice, our 2003 Venture offers an exceptional ride in comparison.We are quite disappointed...

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  a P.O.S.... never spend your money on it - 1991 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Charlie R. - February 24 - 2:00 am

  great speed & acceleration. horrible reliability. i have always had problems with batteries and starters. in the past 2 months ive had spent a total of $1,684 on 3 different problems. i emplore you to never consider this car for a purchase. let it die off the face of the earth like it deserves... every owner that ive talked to has hated owning it. i dont know what these people are talking about or that they realize that we are discussing the 91 chevy beretta.