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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  Fool me once...fool me 2x, shame on me - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Jerry Schreck - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Never again. Bought a 2000, made a lemon-law claim due to problems with the drive-train (front or rear??? they could never figure it out). Replacement vehicle has same thing but not as bad. Now, with 50k miles and out of warranty, front ball joints are shot ($1600-1800), pwr steering pump leaks, tie rods bad, etc. Only problem, never taken off road! Now I learn front end problems very, very common on S-10 models. I am the 3rd person I know with same problems. Never again!

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  Thats what I get for buying American - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By ASmith - October 15 - 2:00 am

  After plunking down nearly $29,000 for this truck I expected a lot more. Ive lost count of how many recalls there have been, and Chevy acts like youre crazy when you tell them there is a problem. The truck sounds like a diesel engine for the first five minutes after you start it, the A/C pump never stops running no matter what you set the controls at, the fuel pump went out (which seems pretty common!), the keyless entry only works about half the time, and the list goes on. This is the first, and definitely the last Chevy Ill ever own.

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  New rig for the bigger family - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Jeff - October 14 - 12:23 am

  I bought this vehicle used, I am the 2nd owner. I fell in love with it right away, the 3rd row seat is a god send, and I love the styling. The only drawback is the mileage. 12-14mpg at best in city

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  Repair Central - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By nenglert - October 5 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has had 7 recalls. I have had numerous electrical problems. Other owners I have met at the dealership have similar issues. What is fishy is that the defects are not all alike. I have had to file a lemon law act to get one issue fixed which took two dealerships 5 tries. Another customer has had 4 different electrical issues that I never experienced. This vehicle is fun to drive if you can keep it out of the service department.

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  Poor Quality Car - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By joewee - September 22 - 1:23 am

  Unlike most of the forgien manufacture, GM firmly believes you get what you pay for and that phlosophy is refected in this vehicle. Its just simply of poor quality and GM has a long line of excuses to explain its poor quality away. Excuses they are justifiable, they are not. After owning 12 General Motor vehicles, I have come to the conclusion that any GM vehicle outside of their trucks and SUV are just disposable. It truthfully saddens me to see a car manufacturer I once loved produce such garbage and then justify its short comings through excuses that they expect the dealerships to pass along.

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  its a friday car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Angry man - September 21 - 10:00 am

  The car has already had some problems after a week of owning it. I had paint bumps on the trunk that I need to get fixed they are willing to do this but they can’t get me in until next week. The gears are really close together so I feel like I have to shift way to quickly, it wants me to go to fifth gear at about 32 mph. The preformace leaves something to be desired. I hope to add a K&N cold air system as soon as it comes out. Also the power window control pannel is comming out already.

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  Looks are deceiving - 2001 Chevrolet Impala
  By Rana - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Dont buy a vehicle on looks only. Yes it may be a sharp looking vehicle but what is really underneath it all? A load full of problems. I have a 2001 Impala with more problems than one person can handle. Realiable huh! Realiable to get you stranded on the side of the road! Beware and do more homework than I did!

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  Over Priced for cheap electronics and a plastic - 2016 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dan Bethke - August 19 - 12:29 pm

  The plastic wood grain finish is cheesy, many cheap electronics in this car just to jack up the price. The engine and transmission are decent and the best thing about this car. The car is noisy at higher speeds. Did I mention the cheap electronics to jack up the price, ridiculous! A smart phone or a Garmin is a better option for navigation. Cheap electronics dont make the car safer GM. Its the person driving the car! The car has an excellent look from the outside. Very eye catching.

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  UnHappy Owner - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By HenriL - August 17 - 10:00 am

  I had to take the Truck in 4 times to get the AC worked on, they replace the compresor once and still takes 4 to 5 minutes to start to get cold air from the AC system. NO good when you live in Florida. I see alot of people with chevrolet truck with one burn driving light and now I join them 600 Hour on the Enging and already changing a bulb, I dont think is very good qualaty. and last thing. DO NOT drive your truck in the woods, any brush will scratch your pain, again low quality.

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  Unreliable engine/transmission - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
  By Lloyd S. - August 9 - 8:23 am

  Personal and business use. Duramax Diesel. Uncontrollable rpms while towing. Truck shut down to a crawl at freeway speed. Had to be towed to dealer. 7 days later, truck was repaired. Final analysis was a wiring harness failure. Has happened several time to date and will be seeking counsel to rescind my contract for a vehicle that I cannot depend on.