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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  a real car buff - 1992 Chevrolet Corvette
  By GeneinSC - December 14 - 2:00 am

  Bought this in 1998 and it only had 4k miles on it....just like new in the guys garage and he had a 93 coupe for sale as well. Car is just like new, in looks and in every other way.

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  Chevy Cavalier - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Blondie - December 14 - 2:00 am

  This car is great for a college student it is good on gas and great in the snow

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  Mr. - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Keoni - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I bought an Extreme Version of this car. It has an awesome looks, people always ask me about my car. Its powerful, good torque and fun to drive.

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  GREAT DEAL! THANKS EDMUNDS! - 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Z71man - December 14 - 2:00 am

  This SUV is really a great car, it rides nice, and we got a great deal because of edmunds, the sticker on it was $31,995 and we got it for a final price of $25,995! Can anyone believe this? Well dont go to your local dealer with this price since this was just 1 left of ten car that were to be sold to the Miami Beach Police Department and were over ordered, sure they may not have all the extras but those things can be added. The car does however have 4X4, the 5.3 V8, Z71 Suspension and the 3.73 gears WOW. Again thanks Edmunds.com

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  Equinox - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By stephjada - December 13 - 7:30 pm

  Just purchased it about a month ago, and I love it! Great pick up! Smooth driving, no bouncing around like a truck. Though I have to agree the stereo is confusing.

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  love this truck - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Jay - December 13 - 5:50 pm

  I bought this truck new and for the first 125000 miles I didnt do a thing to it except replace a cracked exhaust manifold (at 650000) and change the oil. I have 155000 on it now and in the last six months I have pretty much given it a complete overhaul. Everything broke at once. Granted Im not the best with maintenance and it all just caught up with me. Now with a complete new brake system, alternator, starter, the other manifold,and a tune up, I hope to get at least another 100000 miles out of it. The biggest complaint is the ABS. Even after the recall they still dont work right. Quick fix is to pull the fuse. I hope for a few more years out of it and would definitely buy another Chevy.

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  Crossing My Fingers! So far So Good! - 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By soybatoman - December 13 - 5:49 pm

  I bought the truck new in Sept 2007. Now close to 4 years and 43K miles only 1 problem. I had to change out the broken hubs at 40K so no warranty. The only major complaint I have is the harsh transmission. It jerks, clunks and hard shifting which the dealer says "normal". Another problem is a wind noise at speeds over 65MPH coming from front doors or dash??. I do have to say its a great truck. I did install a 6" lift kit, 35" tires and 4.56 gears at 8K

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  malibu is back - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By arcaneds - December 13 - 10:00 am

  bought this car for my pregnant wife because of safety features, hatchback and room, but i love to drive it!

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  Most Bang for the Buck! - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Marksme - December 13 - 10:00 am

  The Malibu Maxx LT is proof that America can compete with a world class car with many engineering and well thought out features and lastest in technology. Based on the GM owed Saab, its a joy to drive long or short trips!

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  Its got it all - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By cwb - December 13 - 10:00 am

  Have only owned this car for a few weeks and I love it so far. Has all the options - XM, DVD, Heated seats, remote start etc... and I cannot believe the amount of leg room in the front and back seats. I am 60 and have to actually move the seat up to get it right. The DVD player hypnotizes my kids and bloes my friends away with the wireless headsets and remote. Im still getting used to the exterior - the salesman pretty much put me IN the car before I had a chance to really look at it from the outside - good thing he did, or I may not have bit.