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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  #1 Review - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By astroman - July 29 - 2:00 am

  1st gear too torquey Computer seems to 2nd guess your moves: I drive very conservatively most of the time so when I really have to get on it and pass someone, it wants to balk or almost hesitate like it has to figure out what Im about to do Plastic trim is so poorly fitted that you can go around the vehicle and pop trim up with your fingers Very poor ventilation system engineering and quality: the lack of being able to get A/C or fresh air through any of the settings (GM fixes the choice)-theres still plenty of air coming right out at you with front vents closed Wipers on high speed push all the water from the passenger side into the drivers vision.

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  Never buy this car! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bills family - July 29 - 2:00 am

  I have had to have every possible part on the braking system replaced. The ABS light still comes on. The car needs its 4th air conditioner control unit at 45,000. Had to put $1,700 into it in January and the car still wants to die out when started. Dealer now says it needs a fuel pressure regulator for another $200 - could this have been the problem all along? Lemon......

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  new suv - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By marvywall - July 29 - 2:00 am

  i love the feel and the handling of the Tracker. the room is minimal but the style is nice and the fact that it has a 4 wd option is comforting.

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  She is hot and fun - 1996 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Chance - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Once you take her out and go for a ride you will be sold. I have spent my entire adult driving experience (32 years) behind some type of sports car, Triumph, MG, Porsche, BMW, but none of them have the raw testosterone pumping power of a Corvette! The sprit of this machine will enter your bloodstream and course through your veins until you are forced to go out, open the door, fire her up, melt into the seat and connect with the essence of freedom that she brings you. This car is an extension of the adult male image. It’s just too much of a good time! Be careful though, if you’re not ready to buy one, don’t go for a test drive, she will make you crazy.

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  great car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By KristinaBaer - July 29 - 2:00 am

  ive had no problems with this car at all. I love the style and everything about it.

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  Decent car for the money - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ohiocpa - July 29 - 2:00 am

  This is primarily my wifes car, and she really likes it. Its a decent SUV for the money, but has a few annoying rattles. Also, on the 2WD model, the wheels are closer together giving it a more wobbly feeling around curves or over bumpy road. Great towing power for a midsize SUV. We tow our 24 boat with no problems.

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  Epic Value - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By arnej - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Lots of Bang 4 the Buck! Thats the Malibu! The V6 engine has lots of spunk! The transmission is smooth and responsive. Stopping is linear and seamless even without ABS. We love all the space-enough back seat space for 3 car seats side-by-side-by- side with trunk room for lots of gear. But the biggest reason we liked the Malibu is the epic value. Where else can you get a midsize car with a V6, auto transmission, cruise and CD player for under $250/month? You heard me right-under $250/month with no money down! Thats with 0% GM financing and our $3,000 in GM credit card earnings, but even without that, its worth every penny and more!

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  hello - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jimmmmmm - July 29 - 2:00 am

  Nice car, some quirks, overall a solid car.

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  2007 in review - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By TOM - July 28 - 9:36 pm

  Really enjoying my driving. This truck is everything it was billed to be. Comfortable, quick, and a head turner. Had to wait a while for the 6.0 V8. It has every option available. Wife has forgiven me for purchasing the truck since she and I have driven it 1100 miles in 9 days.

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  Brains review - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Hitman - July 28 - 2:00 am

  What kid growing up here in the great US of A hasnt dreamed of owning a vette? Well my dream came true in May. I have never drove one and saw this low mileage beauty ( only had 2500 miles when I bought it ) when my wife saw it sitting at a local dealership. All I can say is that the ride and performance are way so much better than I had ever even thought. AND Im getting 21 mpg to boot ! Just can not say enough about how great this car is. Thank you to my wife, Kim, for helping to make this dream come true.