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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  good vehicle requiring a few improvement - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Manuel Florescu - March 28 - 2:00 am

  I am pretty satisfied with the vehicle. It eats gasoline like crazy though. The engine runs smooth most of the times. There were a few times it made a weird noise but generally is ok. Handles snow and ice great. Has a pretty smooth ride although is kind of noisy inside, especially on the highway with all the wind and the engine runnig high. Mirrors are the biggest pain in the butt as I took the car several times into the dealership but they still cant figure out why my cars mirror dont adjust to the exact position as before.

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  Best of 20 cars owned - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By Happy Chevy Guy - March 27 - 7:23 pm

  My 2004 Impala has been an overall pleasure to own and drive. After 100 K miles and normal service, it still rides like a dream and has great acceleration. I average about 34 MPG on the freeway and 26 on local driving - tank after tank.

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  06 impala - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By 06 impala - March 26 - 4:43 pm

  I have only had my 06 impala for 5weeks. I really like this car. I have noticed windows rattle when rolled down some. Some time there is a repeat noise when the car is idling. Clicking sound when turning steering wheel more than half way. One of the circulation lights would not turn off. Even when other circulation button was pressed. Yes remote only works within 5 feet. Car was at dealership yesterday. I was told idling noise normal, nothing wrong with window seal.Dealer was able to get the button unstuck. However stated one of the lights will remain on, unless air conditioner is turned on.(doesnt make sense) Lastly they were not able to duplicate the steering noise I hear.

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  Good Car For The Money - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By jenny4bass - March 26 - 3:33 am

  I had my last vehicle (Chevy Venture) for 11 years and it was time for something new. After spending 3 hours with a local dealership getting the run around I called another dealer about 30 miles away and over the phone he gave me a price $250 less. I had a hard time keeping from laughing every time I look at it and everyone says its sooo cute but they are impressed with the milage. I had to get the hatchback because I have 2 large dogs that travel with me. The MPG is great (I get about 30) but with a small gas tank I still have to fill it quite often. When my girlfriend saw it she named it a Chevy Buttless and the name stuck. But it is sooo cute for a minicar.

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  unhappy but hopeful - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Angie - March 25 - 4:39 pm

  I bought my used/certified 2006 eq on 2/13/09 since then I have had it back to the dealership 4 times for a starter problem and 2 times for the radio. They finally fixed my radio and after the 4th time they finally fixed my Starter problem (they replaced the whole computer system) Gas Mileage is ok but turning radius is horrible! Cup Holders and Parking Break should not be that close together

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  Owner of a 2012 - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By Guess who - March 25 - 3:08 pm

  Great car for long or short distances in regards to gas mileage. I drove from NY to DC on 1 tank of gas ( not bad). It can be quit snug if youre 6 or taller and getting out can be a pain in the butt. I have had 3 recalls on the car but nothing serious and everything was covered by manufacturer.

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  not as bad as you think - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By good rig - March 25 - 12:55 pm

  This car is a pack mule. I bought it with 146,000 miles and all thats gone wrong is fuel pump and heater core. The strong points in the vehicle are its beefy v6, reliable transmission, and decent gas mileage. The bad stuff is the wimpy axles, not so much the front but the back is terrible. I would recommend purchasing a crate axle with a bit more weight and wider stance, or jus rebuilding in the stock housing. Or just buy hub spacers, thats easy too. Unfortunately I think the transmission isnt going to make it to 200,000, but everything else Im sure. And fyi, if your 4x4 wont engage its most likely the vacuum lines that engages it.

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  Really nice car, but has problems... - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By cabe7 - March 25 - 10:09 am

  I got my camaro as my first car about and a half years ago... The previous owner didnt take care of the car, which caused problems for me. There was a lot of things that needed to be replaced, AC, Transmission, 02 sensors, water pump, and the egr valve. I was able to drive the car for a year without problems. However, when I started college, I was driving 30 miles to and from school everyday. Thats when the car started to give me problems. The car overheated 4 times within 2 months, and each time it was something different that caused it. Replaced the thermostat, hose and radiator. Other minuscule things like leaky t-tops and broken console henge. The car has some design flaws.

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  completely recommend this car - 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By natemorris925 - March 25 - 12:15 am

  I bought this car to commute to school/work with. Averaging a little over 100 miles a day I bought it with the sole purpose of racking up a ton of miles, no extras. This is an extremely reliable car. The cartridge oil filter is Nice since im usually due for an oil change about every month. I changed the transmission filter and spark plugs at 60k. Fuel pump went out at 68k. I like that it has a timing chain instead of a belt. More maintenance free. Avg 34 mpg. With good tires this car is excellent in snow. Bottom line, this car is nearly as good as a civic, and for about half the price you cant go wrong as long as you take care of it. Mines at 90k it runs like new, no leaks or noises.

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  A Decent Car for the Price - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Peter - March 25 - 12:13 am

  The first flaw I noticed with this car was that there is a severe premium on storage space. My map book wouldnt even fit in the glove compartment! The (optional) arm rest storage compartment is a must-have, even though it interferes with the parking brake. I found that the seat belt latch was located a little too close to the body and therefore difficult to access. The seats themselves are comfortable enough and there is more than enough head and leg room (Im 6). The display module is located a little too low on the dash. I found that it was obscured by the steering wheel spokes while turning so that the "low traction" warning couldnt be seen if you were turning on a patch of ice.