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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  Gm Junk - 1997 Chevrolet Suburban
  By western6 - January 2 - 2:00 am

  We bought this vehicle used. the trans went out at 38000k and gm would not back it beacause we were the 2nd owners of it, we also ha the alternator go. plus severa brake jobs, o2 sensors. we live on a ranch and the thing rattled apart. we sold it

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  fun to drive and good looking - 2003 Chevrolet Tracker
  By joe cagman - January 2 - 2:00 am

  nice small suv. needs storage spaces.6 cyl gives good acceleration coupled with auto 4.initial quality very good. time will tell down the road. consumers says good qualty and reliability

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  Lemon from Hell - 2000 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tom O - January 2 - 2:00 am

  This car has had two fuel injectors replaced, in-tank fuel pump replaced, fuel filters replaced, light sensors replaced(they dim the instrument lights), wow and it was only two yers old with only 35000 miles. After a short 60 mile trip, the car would not start. Had to be towed for repairs. This has been the least dependable car weve ever owned and I have owned 15 cars myself. This car is unreliable and its not worth its good looks and nice interior to even own one of these cars. Booo...Hissss Tom O

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  Great Choice - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By MamaLuvsIt - January 1 - 12:23 pm

  Ive owned my first Tahoe (07 LT) and the whole family loves it. I got the captains chairs for the second row so kids can climb in and out (to the third row seat as well) real easy. The entertainment DVD system is a big hit with the kids - they dont want to get out of the car. The drive is especially nice and is one of the nicest SUVs I looked at. You get your bang for your buck with this car. Mileage is still breaking in and is running low (but I hear that is typical with any new car). I am going to try and run under 3500 rpm as a previous reader indicated. Only downfall is child safety windows for second row seat. They only go 1/2 way down. Once you drive it - youll buy it.

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  consumer - 1996 Chevrolet Caprice
  By BTLFDSS - January 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Caprice and I love it. There a very few things that you can do with this car. The interior is very spacious you can fit a family of five comfortably. The trunk is hug and for a car the towing capacity is pretty good. Chevy had a great thing going I cant believe they stopped building these great cars.

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  Corsica=The sequel - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Daveyboy - January 1 - 2:00 am

  This car is not a car that is for a family of more than 4. Chevy has not figured out that car seats do not sit well in the back seat, in particularly the middle. At 12$ a pop for the platinum spark plugs, that is not a cheap fixer either. Interior is very cheaply put together. Why wont the window visor clips stay in place? Sqeaks and rattles. Not room for anything inside. This is not yesterdays Chevy. Being on a limited income, Im stuck with this sled.

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  no better ride - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By chevyrocks - January 1 - 2:00 am

  I got my blzer in November of 2001 and I love it. Ive had very few problems with it. When I got it ithad 100,000 miles on it and now it has 240,000 miles on it. Itis great off road and in the ice and snow. Great car for a long road trip or someone who is going to college. lots of cargo room!

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  Piece of Junk!!! - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Bill Polinchak - January 1 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Malibu in 1999 after I graduated from college. It was used with 25,000 miles. Since then the alternator failed at only 48,000 ($440). Ive had the brakes done twice ($1000). The A/C switch failed, it was replaced and then failed again. And now the water pump failed along with an engine gasket, a $1044 repair. I will NEVER buy another Chevy or GM product ever again!!! My next car will be a Toyota Camry. I tried to be a good American and bought an American car ... that was a mistake. Shame on General Motors!!!

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  US/CANADA QUALITY - SAY NO TO MEXICO - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By MSJ4343 - January 1 - 2:00 am

  THIS CAR SEEMS TO BE A WELL BUILT CAR. NO PROBLEMS AT 18K MILES. 3.8 ENGINE IN MY PONTIAC AT 175K AND STILL GOING STRONG. GM NEEDS TO WATCH QUALITY OF MATERIALS THEY ARE USING - SEEM TO BE ON THE VERGE OF LOWERING THEIR STANDARDS IN SOME AREAS TO THAT OF FORD AND CHRYSLER MY PAST GM VEHICLE INTERIORS HELD UP VERY WELL FOR 10 YEARS NO SUPRISE TO SEE NEGATIVE REVIEWS BY SO CALLED CAR EXPERTS - BACK IN 1983 THEY HAD THE SAME BIASED OPINIONS. AT THAT TIME I WAS DRIVING A COMPANY EXECUTIVE IN MY NEW BUICK SKYHAWK TO PICK UP HIS NEW HIGHLY RATED BMW(BY EXPERTS)AT THE DEALERS SHOP EVERY 3 WEEKS.

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  Broken at 600 miles - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By NunyaBiznas - December 31 - 8:53 pm

  Driving down the highway in 2 wheel drive and the Service 4wd light came on. Took it to the dealer and the part is on back order! It is comfortable but that doesnt help while it is in the shop.