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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  Tried, Tested and Truly Poor Quality! - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Klobo - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I am very disappointed in this vehicle. It developed a series of problems after only 9,000 miles. They included pinion seal failures (7 times). Rear Differential was rebuilt at 27,000 miles. The oil cooler lines were replaced twice. The transfer case leaked. The cab has numerous rattles. Very poor build quality. GM should be ashamed of itself for producing a vehicle like this. It has approximately 33,000 miles on it now. I should get rid off it before the warrenty runs out. I do not recommend this vehicle as I have read other consumers complaints, and believe that there are numerous design faults with the truck that have never been solved.

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  Saved me in a crash - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By daveNC - December 24 - 2:00 am

  After owning my 02 Suburban for only six months, I nearly totalled it when another car accidentally forced me off the road into a tree head-on (frontal- offset, drivers side). While the front of the truck was pretty much destroyed, I was able to hop out of it without even a scratch. Its a great truck. With four kids, you can be sure Ill be getting an 03 -- its comfortable AND safe.

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  04 Malibu - power steering problem - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jdg - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I liked the look of the redesigned Malibu. The interior is roomy and comfortable and the car came very, very nicely equipped compared to comparable import models. However, with only a little over 1500 miles on the vehicle, I encountered a problem with the power steering and the car is now sitting at the dealer awaiting repairs and the required parts on backorder.

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  Love My Avlanche - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Marioz - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I love my Avalanche!! I almost bought a Dodge RAM with a Hemi.........I drove them both and by far the Avalanche is superior.........There is no comparison of the ride offered by both vehicles.....The Avalanche BY FAR beats its competition in the smoothness of the ride..........Almost has the same big car ride of the Mercury Grand Marquis.......The engine has great accelleration and performance........Mine is without the body hardware.......one of the best improvements to the looks of the Avalanche that Chevrolet has made!! I just LOVE it!!

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  Avalanchhhh rocks the new year - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By lila - December 24 - 2:00 am

  This truck is rock solid and dependible. a sleek look aaalso helps. Prompts to chevy for a awsome vechile. Better than ford Dodge and toyota combined.

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Kingery - December 24 - 2:00 am

  I have to fight with my wife about who is going to drive. This is a great vehicle; it handles beautifully and has tons of power. The 2500 is built like a tank (8600 lbs) and ready to handle any task.

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  A "Sweet" Ride - 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Allan Kiifner - December 24 - 1:00 am

  The 2016 Chevy Malibu Premier is a wonderful car in every aspect. Since Im over 6 tall, the Malibu Premier offers lots of leg room, extremely comfortable seating, and a smooth and comfortable ride. Ive driven the car nearly 5,000 miles since purchasing it. Im getting about 33 MPG on the highways and 27 MPG driving in the city. Since the car has a 2.0 turbo engine, it requires premium gas. I want you to know that I cannot complain either about the mileage or the ride. Weve driven on country roads as well as in the city and on the interstate. The ride is of such a great quality that we havent had the first complaint. I normally drive a BMW on a daily basis. The Malibu Premier offers a similar quality of ride, quietness, and acceleration as the BMW. Technologically, the car is one of most advanced vehicles on the road. We love the 4G internet. Bose sound system is just awesome to listen to our music. Mechanically, we did have two sensors and a USB port go dead. Chevy quickly replaced the parts; and, were back up and running again. This has been one of the best GM purchases Ive made. Highly recommend the car.

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  A Real TrailBlazer - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Musky Mike - December 23 - 10:00 am

  This SUV really handles my bass boat well with its four wheel disc brakes. It has plenty of pep for highway driving while towing a boat and rides like a comfortable sedan. The stereo is great to listen to while driving and it has all of the conveniences that one would expect.

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  corsica - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By merchandise - December 23 - 2:00 am

  great car, as long as your not in a hurry!

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  my wifes little kicker - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Vaiobum - December 23 - 2:00 am

  I bought this little car knowing they are very reliable & cheap to fix(price was cheap).Passed mech.fit. w/ flying colors(purchased as is).3000+KM in first month of ownership,some of it hard driving.This little kicker never quit.Runs good,could use some bodywork (long hard winters).In my opinion a good little kicker.Wife is happy too.