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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  2003 TB LTZ - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By RED-VETTE - September 10 - 2:00 am

  So far - seems to be a nice ride. I had problems with getting the drivers seat right as it was causing discomfort with my driving foot. I think I have found the right combination now. Nice smooth ride with no rattles. Build quality seems to be good...

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  Good but... - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By markstev - September 10 - 2:00 am

  Started burning oil after 22K miles. Burns 1 qt every 2000 miles and GM refuses to fix. Gm claims it is within specs to burn over 1/2 crankcase capacity between changes. Engine has great power and truck has been reliable. Except for crappy oil burning engine it has been a good truck.

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  Like A Rock With Wheels - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Fromsoca - September 10 - 2:00 am

  In less than 5 days of buying my Silverado my radio was replaced and the passenger airbag system is faulty. Theyve checked the sensors, recalibrated and even replaced the entire front seat, the airbag system is not perfected yet. My girlfriend weighs 120-130lbs. and the auto system light on the mirror turns on/off while we drive down the road. If you have kids or adults near this range I would be cautious!! Now a month later the radio is acting up again, the airbag system is still not fixed and the transmission is starting to be jerky. From one lemon into another, Im getting my money back and going with Toyota.

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  2005 Cobalt LS Rocks! - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Jordan - September 9 - 1:36 pm

  Bought it new, and Im amazed at the craftsmanship and overall quietness of the car. Doors and panels have a solid feel to them, They are well-designed, totally unexpected. Mileage is on par with my previously owned Corolla, even though the Cobalt has a bigger engine and more power options. Im very pleased.

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  Extremely Reliable - 1991 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jo Mama - September 9 - 2:00 am

  Lots of rust and failing hardware items- - but all that could be attributable to previous owner(s) since I bought this used in Feb 2000. Despite its blemishes and minor hardware defects, it runs like a champ (its had to jumpstart my 1998 Astro countless times) and the A/C blows cold!!

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  1996 Chevrolet Lumina LS - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By BenLS - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I had to replace every thing under the hood because the last owner didnt take good care of it. But i fixed it and i get great performance, and 26 mi/gal!!

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  Cavalier is a great car - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By TBCass - September 9 - 2:00 am

  After 6 years this car is as good as new. New breaks at 34000 miles is the only money outside of normal mantainance Ive put in to the car.with the 2.4 liter engine it has all kinds of power and still gets 30 mpg. The finish is nearly as good as brand new. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  98 Camaro, hard to beat - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By glenarch - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I have driven my Camaro for 4 years. It has been great fun, reliable and inexpensive to drive. Its a shame that they are no longer in productio- I would buy another one.

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  2000 Chevy Venture - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By krohn - September 9 - 2:00 am

  I love the Chevy Venture!! Its easy to drive, use options and comfortable. Its very roomy. The bench seat in back has lots of leg room!

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  2015 Chevy Malibu Ls - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Joe - September 8 - 9:30 am

  Well I have had this car for two months and I am very happy with it, the 2.5L engine makes good power 196hp and the fuel mileage is very good I actually get the advertised mileage ,the car is very comfortable and all the controls are laid out nice and are very easy to understand and operate it handles great and it is a joy to drive. the only thing I would change is the engine auto start stop feature it works well but I rather not have it and there should be a on-off switch for those of us who would rather have it off but I took care of that and it does not auto start stop unless I want it to. So at this point the car drives and operates just the way I like and I am very happy with it and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a nice mid sized car