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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  Solid car and quiet - 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Gregg Miller - April 10 - 7:47 am

  This car is one of the most solid cars I have driven. I rent several and buy new every 3-4 years. Crossing RR tracks and not a sound, rattle, or noise. The 2.5 stop start engine is great. Plenty of pep and gas mileage is great. We use this car mainly in the city and suburban driving. Other cars of the same size and engine I would average 22 MPG. This with the stop start at many stop and go lights we run into, is getting and average of 26-27. Highway drives are in the upper 30s. I like the stop/start. Our neighbor travels to Europe and almost all the cars have it there. He road with me and said the one is better the BMW or Mercedes he has driven. He said you dont even feel it. The tan leather interior we ordered gets everyone attention. Said it looks like a luxury car, better then a friends BMW. Only terrible thing we had to have fixed is the awful front seats with a big lumbar bulge. Some people would not mind this or even like it, but my wife and I both have bad backs and need perfectly flat back rest. My feet when numb. Had to take to a trim shop and have the bulge taken out. My 09 Malibu was great. perfectly flat back rest and if you wanted a bulge it had a power lumbar,but it would adjust to completely flat as it should.

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  GM got this one right - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By wallyuwl - April 10 - 7:10 am

  Just test drove this, arrived today at local Chevy dealership. Test drove 8- 9 cars in the past two weeks, and this is hands down the best. The features on the base LS for the price are amazing. Interior is classy and comfortable, reminding me of the Mazda 3 hatch we test drove. Fuel economy is unheard of for a non-hybrid SUV. Power was good in the 4 cylinder. 6-speed tranny! Very quiet ride. Nice exterior. Nice, long-lasting tires standard (720 treadwear). Vehicle computer seems like it would take some getting used to. GM has a hit on their hands, and not one second too soon. Blows Honda CRV and Toyota RAV 4 out of the water. Dealership was great to deal with, will return to buy one soon.

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  LAST OF THE GOOD LOOKIN SMALL TRUCKS! - 1993 Chevrolet S-10
  By ddonn315 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought this truck new in 93, replacing my 82 S-10 long bed. It has the 2.8L v-6, which consistently gets 26mpg back and forth to work. It has the manual 5-speed, which makes you feel like youre driving a much larger truck. This is the last year they made the S-10 with the traditional truck styling, all the chrome, and accent strips, etc. Everytime I have the truck out someone will inevitably say to me, what a nice lookin truck! I wish I had a nickel for every time someone has complimented me on my little red truck! It has a great ride, and handles well in the snow.

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  My Favorite Car .. So far - 1996 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ralph Hess - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I have owned/driven many fast cars. This is a cross between my fathers 1972 Olds 88 with a 454 engine and my brothers GTO. No matter what speed I am driving, you tap the gas, it goes faster(even with 5 big adults riding). Maintenance has been higher than I expected, replaced water pump, plug wires, AC coil, a few fuses.

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  1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE - 1999 Chevrolet Corvette
  By CARTER - April 10 - 2:00 am

  PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OF MY 1999 CORVETT I WONED A 1994 CORVETTE 6 SPEED. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO IS LIKE NIGHT AND DAY. THE 1999 BUILD QUALITY AND DESIGN OVERPOWERS ANY FEELINGS I HAD FOR MY 94.

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  Good Car, but there are downfalls - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By Mikedonalds - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car mechanically, I have 121,000 miles and the engine is still strong and peppy. Transmission has been a dream. I have gunned the engine far more than a few times and can outrun (w/ my V6) any Saturn, any neon, or 90s mustang (base model). Downfalls: The paint/primer are of poor quality - very poor. The daytime running lights are a major annoyance, prior to dusk my headlights turn on and off simply by entering and exiting a shady area. Driver side left foot space is crampy and there is no comfortable place for it. Floor carpeting in front and back sucks, ex. staining and fraying. Doors are heavy, actually too heavy. They will start to drag slightly and squeak

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  great little car - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By qualia8 - April 10 - 2:00 am

  this car is a steal... super-reliable, economical, and zippy with the stick... too bad it has a big Chevy bowtie on the front

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  Wonderful Car - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jaqueline - April 10 - 2:00 am

  I bought the car at a certified dealer, 35,000 miles with an extended 3 year warranty (bumber to bumber). We love the way it drives, standard features are great, v6 engine.......Best of all my children love it. I would recommend this car to the average "american buyer".

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  Z-28 will kill any Mustang - 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
  By gilldawg - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Bought it 7 months ago, love it to death, fast, looks good, handles great. I hat all these kids who get these Mustangs for a dime a dozen and think they are so cool and fast. Well, i raced at least 10 of them so far since i have had my car and blew everyone of them out. Its funny you pull up to a light and they start reving that sick Ford 4.6L V8. I dont even rev my engine...i just look at them, laugh, and step on the gas leaving them in the dust.

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  Great Car for the money - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By thejorge - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car for tghe money, fun to drive, great handleing, fantastic sound, reliable.