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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  Wills Review - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Will Solomon - March 11 - 2:00 am

  It is a great, smooth, fun to drive vehicle. The interior is middle of the road, but that is what I wanted. Cool looking SUV.

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  2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Watson - March 10 - 1:50 pm

  My wife and I bought it brand new. We havent had any problems since our bumper to bumper ran out. Warranty covered the rear defroster poking outside of the exterior glass (replaced rear window), the steering knock (chevy extended a recall on the electric steering up to 70k), the left rear running light (twice) and the front brake rotars warped and had to be turned at 32k (I had to fight the dealer on that one).

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  Crash Survivor - 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
  By zmjh - March 10 - 2:00 am

  I was recently the victim of a hit and run accident in my 1999 Prizm - hit broadside on the drivers side near the front wheel. I havent seen the police report yet, but the impact was severe. The car is a total loss, but I think it saved my life. The car contracted like an accordion - absorbing the shock. The shoulder harness locked, preventing me from flying into the windshield, and the airbags deployed, giving my head a soft landing from the unavoidable forward movement. In short, I got out of the car without a scratch. If crash safety is your concern, I can certainly testify to my favorable experience.

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  GOOD BANG FOR YOUR BUCK - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By FELLFORANGELEYEZ - March 10 - 2:00 am

  bought it used, own it for 3+ years. no major problems. handles off-road well. thick snow and mud are no problem. rear seat is not comfortable, if you are taller your knees are even with your chin. the only good seat is the driver. front passenger needs better leg room. needs better stereo arrangement, steering wheel controls for radio, cruise control.

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  1997 2dr blazer - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By george junkins - March 10 - 2:00 am

  my experinece has been very good exept wjen i got stuck in a 5 ft snow drift and had to be towed out be a ford 150 therea nothing in the world that could compare to the driving of my blazer.

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  cute, economical, fun, AND sporty - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By DanielleBradshaw - March 10 - 2:00 am

  i am a college student... i have only had this car for 6 months and i love it. i havent had any problems. the factory stereo system is awesome. its a cute car and also sporty and fun. it gets great milage (about 32 on highway, 26 in town). good breaks system really helped me out in the winter months... awesome summer vehicle too!! can you tell i love this car??

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  back in black - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By dallas isbell - March 9 - 10:00 am

  I love my car.the only thing is the gas mileage.that wouldnt be a problem if the gas prices were reasonable.nice riding car.

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  Finally...wow - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By DMaxx - March 9 - 10:00 am

  We researched and read for almost 3 months, trying to find a CAR that could do what our S-10 did but be able to haul 4 REAL people when not hauling cargo. Hello Maxx! Leather, automatic climate controls, remote start, adjustable pedals. I feel like a million bucks when Im driving this car. I, for one, like the styling of the Maxx, its just perfect. Im still trying to get use to a car whos front hood is visible when driving but I like the beefy look of it and, in my humble opinion, the back end is just plain sexy. Four big doors for easy entry/exit, the sliding rear seats and very appreciated center rear arm rest are fantastic.

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  nice family car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By sideswiper - March 9 - 10:00 am

  this car has it all,power looks,and is very fun to drive.this thing handles like it is on rails in the corners and accelerates like a sports car.the rear dvd players keeps the kids quiet on road trips with the wireless headphones no need to worry about your kids ripping out the jacks.interior noise is at a minimum even with the sunroof option.

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  04tahoe-mcd - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By hnds hky - March 9 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle is great with one exception and not limitted to the Tahoe. The air conditioning is a problem. does not blow cold air consistently. customer in front of me complained of same problem, 2 loaner cars loaned to me same problem. friend who purchased 04 silverado same problem. chevy have not acknowledged a widespread problem, however, are trying several ways to corect the problem still not fixed. may have to turn to lemon law. my last choice since i selected this vehicle by many features of which price was not any of the choices.