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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  LuvMyLT - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mstr2u - January 15 - 2:00 am

  I have had this vehicle for a little less than a year now, and have taken it on several trips from Georgia to Maine. What an awesome truck! Ride is smooth, horsepower rocks, and gas mileage (highway) is great. I have had two problems: A/C pressure switch died after a month (quickly repaired; no further problems), and DS window motor quit (also fixed expeditiously). Only thing I wish I had is the auto-adjusting drivers seat. With a teenager learning to drive, its a pain to readjust the power seats. Loved my 97 Silverado, and foresee a long, enjoyable relationship with this one as well!

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  silverado - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By bigttown - January 15 - 2:00 am

  This is an all around winner, with features that are unmatched. Take a scroll through the onboard computer and youll know what I mean! With great power and a great ride, this truck gets my all around vote.

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  But American cars! - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By EVA CRANDALL - January 14 - 4:18 pm

  I have a 2003 Chevy Malibu LS.I love my car!I have had to replace the catalytic converter & the fuel pump but I had over 100000 miles on it before I had any repairs. Now I live in Tennessee & I only paid $250 for the Converter & $400 for the fuel pump & w/ having a car payment Im cool with that. Now My girlfriend had a 2003 Honda Civic & she thought he car was better than mine because its a Honda but at 56000 miles on her civic the A/C unit went out & she did not get the extended warrenty & we went to 3 mechanics & the cheapest to replace & fix the A/C was $1350. She never got the A/C fixed she Traded it and bought a 2006 Chevy Malibu. You are gonna have problems with any car you buy. I will always buy GM or Ford to support our domestic car manufacturers!

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  Great Car!! - 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By JG In Alabama - January 14 - 10:00 am

  What a Great Car for the money. My SS is fully loaded. It handles exceptional and has great power. Test drove it and was doing 70 without realizing it. Last car in the world I though I would buy. Tested it on a whim and now I own one. It gets great mileage for a six cylinder. I HIGHLY reccomend this vehicle. It is more than worth the low price you can pick it up for.

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  WAY KOOL SUT - 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By BIGBAD&UGLY - January 14 - 10:00 am

  Z66 --great SUT -- have had for over a year. ride is very smooth. very few warranty issues. 5.3 Vortec is awesome engine. my only complaint is trade-in value -- what happened to "Truck of the Year?" im ready for a new one and trade-in is pretty poor (hate to see trade-in on other vehicles). never had as many comments (had a Sport Trac 1st year and it was close).

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  love it - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By stevec - January 14 - 10:00 am

  Bought TrailBlazer LT in Feb.2002. Love the vehicle. I get 18.3 mpg with air on. My wife bought a 2002 Lexus, she drives mine more, really likes the Onstar phone for hands free.

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  Love it but have had problems - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Tx_DreamWeaver - January 14 - 12:39 am

  I bought the car at 37000 miles and drove it thru several states and Canada (about 8000 miles total), and couldnt ask for a better ride or drive, but the brake pedal went too low before I got back. I took it to the dealer, and because it happened in the 3000 mi/30 day warranty on used cars, they supposedly fixed the brakes. They didnt feel any different after, and I know the brakes and rotors need replacement now. I had the same problem as others with the no start or shutting down while driving. Just paid $500 for new ignition switch. Only time will tell if it recurs, or if I get the engine leak problem too!

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  Worth the wait! - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Bluuurr - January 13 - 3:59 pm

  I had never owned a Corvette before purchasing a new 2008 crystal red metalic coupe. I thought that I could not afford one yet, and then the Chevrolete employee pricing was offered. I had planned to wait another 5 years before taking the plung, but the price was right sooner. I had never even been in a Vette or even test driven a Vette until my purchase. I just knew I wanted one! I couldnt be any more pleased with color, speed and acceleration, interior. I love everything about this car. Everyone else loves it too. To all you who have put off purchasing the new C6 Corvette...go do it, youll not regret it.

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  No other vehicle will do it for me - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Rox - January 13 - 11:35 am

  Had the vehicle 5 months now. It is very comfortable. Love the heated seats and sunroof. The vehicle handles better than any other vehicle Ive had in the winter. I see people slipping and sliding all over the road in newer vehicles and my Nox is sturdy and safe. I highly recommend this vehicle to anyone who has a family and who lives in wintry conditions. I dont find the vehicle to be a gas oink and it doesnt cost that much to fill the tank. The vehicle handles well on the highway and even better in snowy conditions. Most people who see it comment on what a smart SUV it is and where did I get it. Thanks Chevy for the best vehicle weve ever owned!

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  Great 2007 C6 - 2007 Chevrolet Corvette
  By oldsuperdave - January 12 - 10:45 pm

  This is my first GM car in 25 years. Its a 2007 coupe with 6M Z51 2LT with about 14K miles. Its a dream come true. GM has really put together a great combination of performance, practicality, and efficiency. Performance in every aspect will make you forget your troubles for awhile when driving. Im pleasantly suprised at the effecient engine compartment layout as well as the well placed traditional interior controls, right where they should be. The interior, while good, could use a few improvements. However, overall, this is a great car. Only a slight roof sqeak and a differental noise, both corrected with known fixes.