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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  Everynne says they like their Cruze I dont! - 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
  By rabbin - April 25 - 7:12 pm

  When I first purchased my Cruze I was very impressed but before I got my first 150 miles on it. I recieved a warning light that the car needed Serviced immediately! I drove quickly to a chevy dealer and they checked it out and found nothing wrong! So as I drove it happy that it was just some kind of tech. problem! I went about my happy way! However as each mo past it was problem after anouther! Everythng from peeling paint to problems in the sensors in the seats to seats that would not slide To having to replace the cluster pannel to a computer telling me the air bags needed serviced! My first 13 mo. the car has been in the shop over13 times! and MPGs nothing as many others get!

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  everywhere and back - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By mycars201 - April 13 - 5:11 pm

  i was giving this car as a present from my parents in high school in 2006 it had 40k miles on it, and it was a good little first car, drove me everywhere i needed to go, im 6" ft so its not the biggest and i couldnt fit more then 3 people in my car. i went to college in Oregon and did very well in the rain, considering im from arizona and thats where the car had lived most of its life, i drove 3 hrs every weekend from the coast to portland back never let me down. the longest trip this car has taken was a 16 drive to san fran and was perfect, sold it 96k miles and only did routine maintenance, brakes oil change, never had to replace clutch, did have to replace soarks at 90k

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  Buyer beware... - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By bocakin12 - April 13 - 7:32 am

  I fell in love with how pretty this car was immediately. It came with all the bells and whistles, and after years of driving a straight forward Focus, I had to have it. Even after reading the reviews on this site about how sketchy the Equinox could be, I thought "that wont be me." Ohhhh but it is. Two weeks after I bought it the check engine light was one, never to leave. The airbag light quickly followed. Followed by two brake jobs, the starter issue mentioned so many times by other users, and who knows what is next. Cannot wait to trade it in after paid off. Such a shame because it still is so pretty...

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  Regret this purchase GM - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu
  By dmt1968 - April 12 - 12:22 pm

  This is my second Malibu. I bought this one because I was so pleased with my 03. This 07 is a big let down. At only 52k miles, I have many problems. Gas gage doesnt work, Transmission slams and slips gears, Grinding noise in the front wheels (breaks are fine). Ive kept up on all of my scheduled maintances, and of course the power-tran warranty ran out at 5 yrs. I guess GM planned that out well. The dealer swears they cant find a thing wrong with the transmission, but I really dont think you should feel like someone rear ended you when you come to a stop. And, I hate that the transmission is a closed system, cant even check the fluid without taking it to a mechanic.

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  First and Last GM product! - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By old_yogi - April 10 - 7:11 pm

  My Equinox was delivered to my home (Fort Gratiot, MI) 8 March 2012. 9 March 2012 I drove it to Indianapolis, during the drive there the transmission would not downshift in time to stop the engine from lugging when going up a grade. I have been told that there will be new software to correct this problem in May 2012. while in Indianapolis the "Malfunction Light" came on, OnStar (another story) told me if I didnt get the vehicle in for service within one day that the warranty could be voided. I found a dealership on Saturday that informed me the "cam actuator" was defective and that the redesigned cam actuator was on backorder, backorder, and that I should not drive the Equinox any great dis

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  Transmission Trouble & Havent Made 1st Payment - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By notsogreat - April 10 - 6:26 pm

  I was so excited to get my new Equinox (6 cyl 2LT until 37 days and 1,800 miles later. The transmission is bad- at least so far the shift solenoids. We were told they had to order those parts first before they can tell if there is any additional damage to the transmission. If this doesnt fix it, they will begin replacing parts. Theyd dont have a clue when well get it back and Im worried it will be a lemon. With problems like this so soon, GM should be falling all over themselves to get us a new identical vehicle at no extra cost to us. At the very least, they should start with replacing the entire transmission and not just tinker around with it. Are we upset?? You bet....

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  06 Impala LT - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By colafontaine - April 7 - 4:25 pm

  Ive had my Impala for 2 years now. bought it with 9,000 miles on it and it now has 38000. Ive had many problems with the car SINCE i bought it, and it doesnt look like its going to stop...first thing, at an unbelievable 17,000 miles, the tie rods and ball joints needed to be replaced. Next was the actuator for the trunk release (took 1 week and 3 actuators to get it solved. theres a noise that sounds like a vacuum leak that the dealers cant figure out whats causing it. Then the tire monitor system. Now theres something wrong w/ the A/C (common problem) thats making it click at random. The heater doesnt work...Ive taken care of it, and it was a dealer car before me.

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  Chevy runs shallow - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By landroverblows - April 6 - 9:23 am

  The plastic seat backs snap out of place when I put any pressure on the back. Im 6-3, 225. It has to be put back in place constantly. The front bumper is too low & scrapes when I enter dipped driveways. I have 3 black scuffs on white paint on underside bumper. Theres 2 cup holders in the center console and the back soda always gets wedged in. Theres not enough space for your gadgets in the open console. You have to stow everything away under the arm rest but I prefer a place where I can see and hear it. Dash molding above MPH popped out on 1 end - cheap glue. My left knee leans up against door and hits the trunk button while driving. Low tires. Chevy doesnt honor bumper2bumper". 27 mpg

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  Wouldnt recommend it... - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By thedetailguy - April 5 - 10:05 pm

  Our 2.4 liter 4 cyl. equinox has just over 22,000 miles on it and already has been in twice for service. Timing chain was sloppy and destroyed 8 engine valves. Also had a re-flash of the PCM about 9 months prior due to poor performance. MPG is 23mpg at best driving it granny style. Spacious interior is offset by uncomfortable/stiffer seats. Burns about a quart of oil every 1,000 miles and GM says its normal. Have a 1994 Ford Bronco 5.8 liter that is almost 20 years old with a slow oil leak that only loses about 1/2 quart every 3,000 miles. Scary when half the engine is replaced at only 22,000 miles. Never again will I buy Chevy as Ive heard multiple timing chain complaints

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  One to many problem in under two years and fusterated. - 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By leah5324 - April 4 - 1:59 pm

  I have had numerous problems with my 2010 chevy cobalt. Currently the key is stuck in the ignition and will not turn back so the car will not shut off and I am at the dealership now to get it fixed. Before that We have had multiple problems with the computer and it has been replaced once and suggested to be replaced again. The car was hitching and would not go over 10 mile per hour. This has happened three times and they replaced some computer part the first time and reset the computer the 2-3 time. Now the car still hitches ever so often especially is the air conditioning is on and the check engine light comes on a lot for no reason I have had it checked a couple of times and it was nothing