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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  I love my truck - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By beckyr718 - February 11 - 10:00 am

  My Trailblazer is great! Ive had it for a year now, and its still wonderful! Its great for a road trip. The DVD player is great for passing time! Its comfortable and has a lot of great features. Mine has the Driver Information Center, which is also great for road trips! I cant wait to take it on our annual trip to South Carlolina, again!

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  I LOVE MY CAR - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By EDEN - February 11 - 10:00 am

  THIS CAR IS AMAZING, I LOVE MY CAR! ITS SO RELIABILE & COMFORTABLE ITS A SMOOTH RIDE WHERE EVER I GO. AND THE DESIGN OF IT IS AWESOME!

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  regret buying - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By tobycat - February 11 - 10:00 am

  Purchased on 5/30/04. Went in to replace strut bushings at 600 miles. Went in to replace strut bushings at 1400 miles. Was told that there is a design flaw in the struts. Parts ordered. Now almost two weeks and no parts. GM tecnical services was involved at the second occurance. With the exception of this problem, I really like the Equinox. Being 65" tall, I have no problem with entering or exiting. . Right now I feel like returning the Equinox to the dealer for another vehicle. Feel very frustrated with the inactivity in correcting the problem with the suspension. If there is a design flaw, the Equinox should not have been sold without corre

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  great buy - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By azsunnydvl - February 11 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is a great buy for the money, it has features like an in dash computer and XM radio which is a total ungrade from my last car. It is really comfortable to drive and the ride is smooth. The was the car turns is the only down point, sometimes is seems to leen too much into turns. Other than that I would recommend this for a future purchase.

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  Paint - 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Ed Marcado - February 11 - 3:33 am

  The only thing that I have had a problem with, (which chevy is taking care of) is that the paint on the hood has chiped very easy. The 2nd week of ownership I took it on an 3000 mile drive and the car was so smooth and the gas mielage was unbelievable. I say 9.8 out of 10.

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  Now over 30k, starting to have problems - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Gilanna - February 10 - 7:00 pm

  Purchased it new, was excellent first 30k miles. Now, cruise control wont engage at times. Brakes are now pulsating. The dealer says its normal for 30k miles. Both front directionals stopped working and had to be replaced. At times,the shifter stays locked when you go to shift. By setting the alarm back on then off, I can get it to release. Took it to the dealer, they couldnt figure it out unless it did it while they were working on it, it didnt. I have to wait till it does it more frequently. This car is starting to annoy me. My wife wants her VW Golf back, says she never had any problems until it had 100k miles. I hope these annoyances can be easily fixed cause my warranty expires in 1500 miles.

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  Great wheels - 2014 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Dale - February 10 - 5:30 am

  Power seats. On ltz great for getting in and out

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  2008 50th Anniversary Impala - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By kkldmurphy - February 10 - 12:30 am

  So far, so good with our new Impala. I was able to take advantage of the last day GM offered a $2,500 rebate which, after negotiating using Edmunds TMV pricing report, provided a very satisfying purchase price. The black granite metallic paint and 18-inch wheels give the exterior an attractive, masculine look. The front interior is very nice. I like the brushed metallic dash a bit better than the faux wood offered on the base model. Rear seat leg room is cramped if the front seats are all the way back. Performance is what I expected from the 3.5 V6. All in all a very nice looking car that I hope to enjoy for many years.

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  RELIABLE, SAFE, GOOD VALUE - 1996 Chevrolet Lumina
  By george yaki - February 9 - 5:21 pm

  This car was designed well. It has nicer looks than the Taurus and handles better. There is good acceleration from a stop. I have 85,000 miles on it. I have had to replace the brakes, oil, and water pump. It alweays starts without a hitch.

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  best car for the $$$ - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ed Liss - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I own 2 2003 Impalas, a 3.4 and a 3.8 LS. Had 2 2000s same models and traded them in. Excellent car, smooth riding, outstanding gas mileage, 26mpg on 3.8 and 29mpg on 3.4. The LS is more powerful and smoother than 3.4, which is just adequate in power. Both cars are fun to drive, comfortable, and reliable. Looked at Caddy DTS was was turned off by poor quality and electrical problems. Impala is better car by far and costs 50% less. Highly recommend it.