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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  Great third vehicle - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By member12 - April 28 - 7:50 am

  This car deserves your consideration. I liked the Mazda3 better, but the Cobalt got a good crash test rating. It handles well, rides well, and was quieter than all of the other small cars I tested. I havent had a Chevrolet before. They are known for making good trucks, not cars, so I got the extended warranty, but I dont think I will need it. This Cobalt seems as well built as many more expensive cars.. I was impressed.

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  Good All Around Car - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By rajman - April 28 - 12:53 am

  This was the car my wife, not me, wanted. It has turned out to be an excellent car. It got 30 mpg avg on a 700 mile road trip and usually does about 24mpg in town. This is with the V6 engine with plenty of power. It also has lots of interior room whether for storage or passengers. We were thinking about a small SUV for our family and switched to a Maxx because its a much better value than a SUV. The back seat is huge. It is not as quiet as some in its class, but it is hardly loud. Handling is super for a family car, though the electric steering takes some getting used to. Ive found that the electric steering really reduces fatigue on long drives, though.

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  Like My Chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Ken - April 27 - 11:13 am

  Truck has run well since purchase. Only problem was weak window motors that were replaced after two years. Basic maintenance and it runs just fine. Piston slap is annoying in extremely cold temperatures until it warms up, but that normally goes away after 30 seconds.

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  First New Truck. - 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By beauger - April 26 - 1:45 am

  This is the best truck! Ive had mine for just over a year and the time has flown. I towed with it 2 months after I bought it and it was a dream. I was worried that I bought a truck that couldnt tow but it did perfectly. Didnt struggle at all. Used it to move my family max trailer weight was 9000 and it didnt skip a beat. I have friends that own Toyota Tundras and Nissan Titans and comment on the comfort of my truck every time they ride in it. I test drove and compared all the different trucks that are in the same class as this one and none of them could come close to what you get for a very reasonable price.

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  Top Notch - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By TX AG - April 25 - 2:40 pm

  I traded my 04 Suburban LT 4x4 last week for the LTZ 4x4 and there is NO COMPARISON. GM got it right...the Tahoe is awesome. My first tank of gas (in stop and go traffic in Dallas) netted 17.3 mpg...what a pleasure vs. the 13 mpg on the Suburban. Like everyone else, my only knock is the rear cargo area. The permanent tracks for the 3rd row seats are a bit annoying when the seats are removed, but there are MANY more features that overshadow this minor issue. Great SUV!! Rides like a luxury car!!

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  Not a great car.. very dissapointing - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Ashley - April 25 - 1:13 pm

  I have had this car for one year and in the last month I have had to take it to the dealership 5 times. Each time the dealership is unable to find what the problem is. The problems range from shifter column malfunction, stalling, poor gas mileage, sluggish to drive, broken CD player, needed a new heating and cooling system, key gets stuck in the ignition, car wont shift from park to drive, foul odor from vents when heat or vents are used.

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  Cobalt LS 2dr - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Kevin - April 24 - 5:33 pm

  My Cobalt has been a decent car for the past 6000 miles Ive driven it. Gets great gas mileage! Only thing is now, the engine chugs between 2500 and 3500 rpm. Im going to take it in to check it out. The car has lots of trunk space, but has a very small trunk opening, so you can only fit rather small boxes into the trunk, which confuses me.

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  03 TB Ext, 94K miles, Original Owner - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By 03tbext - April 24 - 5:17 pm

  Had this from day one. Just had dealer replace the exhaust manifold ($100 cost to me, could have beem $770). Cracking of the manifold is common, rear of the O2 sensor. If you smell exhaust under the hood when cold and freshly started, as well as a strange noise that clears up in 3-5 minutes, you have the problem. GM covered this up to 8 years and 80K miles for free, I was lucky to get for $100. Thanx GM :) Replaced all four antisway links myself, easy (gets rid of clunking when going over bumps). Also had to replace all four brake rotors and pad sets. Very happy with the Rugged Trail T/As, 94K mi. on the remaining orig. pair. Installed K&N cold air intake kit, no diff in econ.

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  Great Vehicle - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
  By Bon733 - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I have only had one problem just after I bought it and it has been working great ever since,

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  Oh My God! - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MaliBoomer - April 24 - 2:00 am

  is it really 200 horses..seems like more. My uncle has a camry and it seems the mali has better handling. My neighbor has his BMW just to show off to the other neighbors. The day i pulled into the garage with my malibu I swear i saw his head turn when we was washing his car and he thought it was a volvo i think he got bitter when i showed him the remote start at a car that is $21,000. The speakers are good too. enough said.