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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  06 Maxx review - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By 4toz - March 16 - 6:33 pm

  I just bought an 06 Maxx and love it so far. The only problems are the rear sun shades(1 broke the 1st day) and I seem to have a fluttering noise coming from the dash area. Otherwise, I love the power to economy ratio. Itll pass cars and gas stations.

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  exceeded expectations - 2009 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Abe Hachmann - March 16 - 11:43 am

  I purchased this vehicle as our primary family hauler. We really need the AWD and third row hauling capacity. The car drives and handles much better than the escape it replaced. The gas mileage is acceptable for a vehicle of this size although not much better than a Tahoe. Power is adequate even in mountain driving. The transmission is very smooth shifting. I find that is isnt slow to down shift at all but very quick to up shift.I assume that is to improve the mileage. So far we are averaging 19mpg in combined driving. I expect it to improve as it gets broken in. Cargo room is adequate for weekend trips without folding the seats down.

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  nice - 1996 Chevrolet S-10
  By JDo - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Nice truck, but definitely need the V6 vortec, it makes it so much more fun to drive. Rough in the snow without 4wd

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  Great Car! - 1998 Chevrolet Metro
  By edward busby - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Bought New, Drove at least 45,000 miles.Excellent Student car ,also great work car . Great Gas milage ! The most gas expence was $6.00 the least $4.00 TALK ABOUT CHEAP!

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  Great car for the price - 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By pmlinn - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Purchased the car in 1996 because I need a work car. Bought new and have had little or no real problems with the car. After 97500 miles, the brakes did need done and that was it. Cant complain one bit. A fine GM product.

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  Manifold Gasket Problem - 1999 Chevrolet Venture
  By FJ - March 16 - 2:00 am

  Great ride, excellent features both interior and exterior, but under the hood a nightmare. Nice to hear I am not the only one who experienced an intake manifold gasket problem. Dealer just happened to find, yeah right, the manifold gasket was leaking when I brought the van in for recall on sliding door latch. Van had just over 47,000 miles at the time of repair, which is much too early for this failure. Very expensive to repair, but found an authorized service shop that replaced the gasket more economically than dealerhip. GM will not reimburse for repairs, I think is justified for a poor design. .

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  Blazer - ZR2 - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blazZR2 - March 16 - 2:00 am

  This was a great car, although - there was a problem with the door on the passenger side - as I found in my last Chevy vehicle where the door seems to split from the frame and the window rattles.. which is very annoying. Otherwise, it has been a great car.

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  A Great Little SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Happy Equinox Owner - March 15 - 7:36 pm

  The Equinox is the true Sport Utility Vehicle. Sport - With the AWD, it can handle almost any road condition. The five-speed transmission and well proven 3.4-liter engine provide the power needed to merge into traffic while obtaining 25 mpg on the highway. Utility - The adjustable back seat appears to provide more back seat room than a Suburban allowing four adults to ride in comfort. It tows 3500 pounds. Negatives The fold flat seat could fold a little flatter. The upgraded radio is a great option if you enjoy jamming.

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  2002 S10 - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Heaston - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Exceptional Vehicle! Not one problem. One of the nicest vehicles Ive owned.

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  Keeping it Real - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Huggins - March 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car about 7 mounths and it has been a model of efficiency and reliability. After 175,000 on the odo, all Ive got to do is get an oil change and new brake pads. I love the acceleration of the 3.1 V6. It makes merging and flying across 4 lanes of traffic a piece of cake. Compared to my old 90 Cavalier, well, there is no comparison. Take care of it, and youll be proud of your new Malibu.