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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  poor MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By tjeffrey1 - February 28 - 11:42 am

  NOT 32 MPG. at best with the wind at our back we got 29 mpg. not impressed at all. i put 500 miles on mine and have had it four days. my average is about 24 mpg, if i would have know that i prob would not have bought it.

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  Upscale For Compact Sedan - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By g6leaser - February 28 - 6:42 am

  I had just finished my 08 Chevrolet Malibu lease and was looking to stay with Chevy but upgrade on MPG and options. I found a great deal on an LTZ Cruze (fully loaded with nav,leather,sun roof,usb,bluetooth) and so far couldnt be happier. Im a gadget guy and the interior dash board and controls make driving fun. The leather seats are comfortable and roomy - the rear could use a bit more room but I dont often transport passengers in the back. My only gripes so far is the delayed shifting that occurs on certain gears, not sure if there is an update to the transmission but on occassion there is a bit of hesitation, only slight. I must say that Im impressed thus far with the Cruze!

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  Very happy with my Cruze 2LT commuter - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rplimpton - February 26 - 3:34 pm

  So far, I really like this car. Its very solid with no squeaks/rattles. It corners well and has a nice on-center steering feel on the highway. Trunk space is impressive for a compact. The leather seats are very supportive and this is the first/only compact car that I can be comfortable driving (63", 230 lbs). The car is too new to judge mpg, but Im getting 29 mpg combined city/hwy. (Dont expect to get 36+ mpg driving 70+ mph or if you have a heavy foot.) I find that increasing tire pressure from the recommended 35 psi (cold) to 37 psi smooths the ride. If you look closely at interior fit and finish, its clear that GM was paying attention to them.

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  hard to see to drive - 2011 Chevrolet Impala
  By brenda50 - February 25 - 8:01 pm

  I HATE the center rear headrest...anyone know how I can get rid of it? Im afraid it will cause an accident because of the blocked vision. I agree with the others--cupholders in bad place, outside mirrors too small. I have the luxury package on the LT...the seats are hard and uncomfortable.

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  Impressed - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By techman3006 - February 25 - 12:01 pm

  Owned a Cobalt and had zero issues after 3 years, BUT traded it in after seeing the Cruze at a dealership. What a difference between the Cobalt and Cruze. The Cruze is night and day better in styling, handling, interior quality, fit and finish, etc. Even has slightly better MPH so far. Cant even believe these two cars are made by the same company. Why GM did it take you so long to put out a car like the Cruze?

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  So many problems - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By jakez - February 24 - 12:44 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 07 it now has 96,000 miles. I have had my key get stuck in the ignition, the car has been stuck in park, my traction controll kept coming on while driving (very dangerous), i have vent acturators that makes i clicking noise for about 3min when you start the car or turn it off or change the setting on the AC. The heater only warms up while moving, my tires ware down about every 20 to 30k miles no mater what type you buy. I currently have a oil leak and transmition leak and now it is real hard to break. I have taken in to break check and they said the pads & fuel are fine. My battery has died 3 times so far. I have had it serviced at 50k & just now.

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  1999 Chevrolet Tahoe LT - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By carguy03 - February 24 - 12:15 pm

  I had a 1999 Chevy Tahoe LT with the 5.7L V8 with the 4 speed automatic transmission. I purchased it in October of 2010, and it had 246K miles. It was lost in an accident in December 2010 due to brake failure. While I drove it, it was a very comfortable ride, and it was good to drive in the West Virginia weather. My father had a 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LT as well, I thought that the 96 had better power, but it was sold in November 2010. I would reccomend this vehicle to anyone.

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  Cool car/truck - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By lakelizrd - February 23 - 10:32 pm

  I just purchased a 2010 left over automatic SS/HHR. List price $27,975. Bought the truck for $20,260. The dealer had the SS left over in his inventory from 2010 and wanted to get rid of the truck. I only have 3000 miles on the SS, but so far it is a kick to drive. I added the stage 1 turbo booster kit which is a $690 dealer installed option. The booster kit kicks up the performance to 290 hp, 330 pounds of torque. This little guy screams and will keep up with my G-35 infinity. The ride is great, and handles well. You know the HHR is what it is - an inexpensive fun ride. If you are looking for big hauler buy a big truck - this is just a fun ride netting me an average of 27 MPG. So far so good

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  Disappointing MPG - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By jrh0912 - February 23 - 5:25 pm

  My only complaint is the MPG. Im getting 31 in both city and the highway. I was hoping for something closer to 40 like a previous reviewer is getting. Other than that, its a nice car. We saved thousands compared to a hybrid.

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  115k miles and... - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By neil27 - February 22 - 10:02 pm

  Ive put 115k miles on my Chevy cavalier. The price was very attractive. The car has surprisingly good slow speed acceleration. However, Ive had numerous mechanical difficulties including: fuel pump failure, multiple evap canister failures, serious wire harness failure, ventilation blower failure, speaker problems, hood latch failure, power steering issues, broken seat. In addition the car eats front end brake rotors at high rate. The transmission failed with 12k miles, but was replaced on warranty. The rear suspension is noisy and rides really rough. Road noise levels are high. The interior design, especially the placement of the cup holders, is terrible