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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  Excited at first, not anymore... - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By michstangfan - November 18 - 2:00 am

  Off the bat, I loved this car. Wanted a nice looking car that was fun to drive and good on gas, not to mention affordable. Interior and exterior styling are great and you cant beat the price. After driving the car for only 3 months now, it has been a nightmare. Windshield leak warranted an entire replacement of the windshield, heated seats stopped working, security light randomly comes on, transmission glitches and needs to be serviced monthly, wood (plastic) trim pops out of its clips. Biggest problem, high beam headlamp already burnt out and you have to remove the entire front end to access the bulbs! Oh and oil changes, forget doing them yourself, youll need a special tool.

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  Camaro will rule the road - 2011 Chevrolet Camaro
  By JHorton - November 18 - 2:00 am

  This car is so much fun to drive. The power is awesome and the feeling when driving this car is great. I have been waiting since the concept car was rolled out. The number of comments from people we see while we are out is amazing. I am looking forward to driving this car for a long time.

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  Best Crossover - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By kevin - November 18 - 2:00 am

  I have spent the past few months looking for a crossover. I have drove almost every make and model of vehicle I could think of. When I first saw the 2010 Equinox I was excited about the new look of this vehicle. The test drive was perfect. My new car handles better than any other I have driven. There is lots of room in both the front and back of the vehicle. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who is looking for a(n) SUV or crossover it will not let you down

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  Chevy Ventures RULE! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Bryan - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Well, the Chevy venture is the best thing I ever spent my money on. I had a lumina apv, it was great when I got it, then got the venture, then got the uplander (hated the uplander). Chevy ventures are the best of the GM minivans. It is great for hauling car loads of people to and from work (I car pool), and just a great van you can have!

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  Chevy Uplander - Hate it! - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Bryan - November 17 - 2:00 am

  I have the LS version thinking it was pretty nice. I thought it would at least have armrests on the 2nd row, and ya know how all other minivans had handles on the passenger side, and sometimes on the rear? Well, the uplander (I mean Downloader) does not. I hate it! Cant wait for the lease 2 be up!

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  Great Value 140K Later - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By t zander - November 17 - 2:00 am

  I bought this SUV new in 2002 and 140K later, its one of the best cars Ive ever owned. Out of the gate, I had a lot of electrical issues but the warranty covered repairs. Ive probably put in less than $2K in repairs and maintenance through the years and its still running strong. Ill probably retire the beast in a few more years but I couldnt be happier with the value. It will be hard not to consider a Chevy when I move into my next truck.

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  Fun, Solid, and reliable at high milage - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By mwedding - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I love my truck. I have owned 29 vehicles in my life, and this is clearly my favorite. I bought it with about 115K miles on it, and I will turn over 140K this week. The truck rides like an SUV, and I have hauled 1500 lbs of rocks and mulch. Take the back window out, open the sunroof and windows, and it is like driving around in an open air Jeep, but it is SO USEFUL. I take my family on vacation, pull trailers, and cruise drive the back roads. I think I will keep this truck longer than any vehicle I have ever owned... Maybe take it over 200K, I bought it expecting that I will put a transmission in it before 180K, we will see.

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  First car with no major flaws - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By KHarris - November 16 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car now for almost a year and I LOVE it! It beats the Hondas I drove by far. Ive had no major issues besides normal wear and tear. I am hoping that this keeps up as I am going to have this car for quite a while!

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  2009 Cobalt - 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By RickD - November 16 - 2:00 am

  Have 27,000 on mine and have had no problems. The car has great acceleration and very quiet and smooth ride.Gas mileage averages right around 28.5 to 29.0 MPG. Seem like a good little car with lots of quality built in. It definitely compares to the Corolla and Civic. Ive owned both.

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  Just a warning - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Edna - November 16 - 2:00 am

  The car is new, so too soon to tell if it will stand up to the test of time. I like the look of the car. Seats not great, could be more comfortable. Love the on star feature. When I needed help with getting a spare the Chevy dealership, and the Chevy corporate headquarters was very unresponsive. I would hate to have to deal with them over a really serious issue, they just dont seem to care once your out the door and they have your money.