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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  First Chevy since 1954 - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Kansas City - January 24 - 10:20 am

  Decided on the 2009 Malibu after looking at Camry, Accord, and Hyundai Genesis. This is the first Chevrolet weve owned since a 1954 Bel-Aire purchased in 1964. Weve owned a Buick, Mercury, BMW, Acura, and several Ford trucks. This car was a replacement for a 2000 Chrysler 300M. My wife was skeptical about the 4 cyl. after driving the 300M for 8 years. She drove the 4 cyl. for a day and was impressed. I had voted for the fuel economy from the beginning. We are very satisfied with the car. We drive a car for 8-10 years primarily for local trips and put about 8k per year on it. However, with the price of gas decreasing---the 6 cyl. was tempting.

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  fun car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By cknaus - January 24 - 10:00 am

  really like the maxx, fun to drive. really quiet when windows are up. great AC. there is enough storage room in hatch that i could turn in my suv. lowered my weekly gas expense $15.00. can fit my family of 5 (4 males) inside confortably.

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  MAXX 2004 - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By suzhigh - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Functional interior. Great gas milage. Powerful engine.

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  Reliabilty - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Cindy Ann - January 24 - 10:00 am

  with less than 500 hundred miles it has been in the servcie repair twice due to stalling when stopping at traffic light, no one can seem to find the problem. The dealship states this is the second Malibu to come in with the problem. the dealership is being very helpful and nice and doing there best to correct the problem. Genral Motors is not helping them though.

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  A Surprise Car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Pat Ostergaard - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This car will surprise you on performave, comfort, looks and just one flat great car. We were surprised at the features and room inside. We bought the hatchback Pricing is very fair and we were happy with our deal. Pat and Charles Ostergaard P.S. Our car is a 2004. P.O.

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  Great Car - 2004 Chevrolet Impala
  By top gun - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive. Great features.

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  Chev. Trailblazer 2004 - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Otter1 - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased with this vehicle. I would highly recommend.

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  Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Equinoxfreak - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This is the vehicle i take to work every day. This vehicle has great gas mileage and I get stopped in parking lots all the time from people asking questions about my vihicle.

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  My last truck - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim Phelan - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I love puck ups. I had a 1992 Silverado that has been a great truck. My 92 had 120,000 miles on it and is still running strong. I purchased my 2004 silverado as my 3rd family vehicle. It runs great, I hope to keep it for a long time.

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  Worst vehicle I have ever owned - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Family Guy - January 24 - 2:00 am

  My 1999 Burb XL has 49,000 miles. It is used to haul my family around and has never been used for towing. Here is what we have had replaced. Transmission replaced at 35K (warranty), CD Player, door switch (twice), door lock actuators, rear passenger door handle, AC Fan, AC Switch, passenger AC vents, intake manifold gaskets (ouch) and the rear differential (big ouch), yes thats right a new rear end. I just discovered that during the past few days the heated driver seat is not working, the door lock actuator on the rear passenger door is not working again and the driver vanity mirror cover is broken and hanging from one hinge. Run, run away.