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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  Doesnt stand out, but very good overall - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Submariner - January 5 - 1:00 pm

  After six months of ownership, I am very pleased with my 2006 Malibu LT V6. My two previous cars were a 1998 Malibu LS V6, and then a 2002 Ford Taurus SE. Compared to the 98, this picks up where they left off, the engine, going from the 3.1L to the 3.5L is great! The fuel mileage is fantastic (I average 450 miles out of a 16-gal tank on pure highway driving, whereas the Taurus was lucky to get 400 out of an 18-gal tank, and the Taurus had a smaller engine!) I thought the engine-transmission combination on the Malibu could use some extra gears, to keep up with the competition, but the transmission in the 2006 Malibu mates beautifully and provides excellent power on demand.

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  On the money - 2008 Chevrolet Equinox
  By DAN - January 4 - 4:07 pm

  This was the last of the new cars I looked at in the price range I could afford and still be sporty looking. Very impressed with power. Reminded me of the surge in power of the muscle cars from the 60s. I got the awd sport w/6spd trans. Im reliving my youth.

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  My first car! - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By CAE - January 4 - 5:16 am

  My mom and dad bought this car hoping it would last me through college. Boy oh boy! We bought this car used for $17,000 (it was one year old). It had 22,000 miles on it as it had been a rental car. My dad was very weary, but I couldnt resist the bright red paint and spoiler. Once the windows were tinted and 17" rims were on it was a hot car! Now, 10 years later my first (and only) car just turned over 200,000 miles. I have really loved driving this car. It handles great, but repairs are never cheap (usually due to labor costs). Proper maintenance is key to this cars longevity. The paint is still shiny and the interior still has plenty of wear left on it.

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  Bought the "Ad Car" for X-Mas - 2008 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Yvan - January 3 - 5:46 pm

  I just bought a bare bones that was advertised on the newspaper. The offer included an extra $1K just by showing up on Dec/24th before 2pm, so I did. It took some time and patience to make the dealer agree, after all I was taking a big deal. Bottom line, $6K + tax, fees, brand new w/ 3mi on the ODO. My "other" car is an Audi S4, so for a daily commuter (100mi/day) the Aveo is impressive, gas savings are huge, build quality is better than expected, suspension is soft and body roll is moderate. Dont try to smoke anybody, unless you use your moving momentum. Brakes are quite good also. This is my 1st "Domestic" car and so far Im very and impressed and pleased.

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  I love this car! - 1995 Chevrolet Camaro
  By car_chick - January 2 - 11:23 pm

  Ive had this car for more than 8 years and loved every day of it. It got be through high school, college and after. Its a great car and I never spent enough money on fixing it to buy a new car that even came close to this. I took it to a reputible shop to have it maintained the way it should be and maybe more than necessary. I love my little Camaro, Thor. He stopped well and got up to go when needed. Driving on the highway in the spring or fall with the t-tops off and the windows down was amazing.

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  Just Bought - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sheryle - January 2 - 5:56 pm

  Having survived a 45 mph crash that took off the front end of my 2002 Tracker, I can say that the Equinox feels very superior on the road. I agree that there are a lot of blind spots. Spot mirrors on the outside mirrors as well as putting the passenger rear seat down will help. Not smoker friendly! Ashtrays optional. Although I need to quit, I would like the option of an ashtray to store change if I do :-)

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  Give me back my old Tahoe - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Underwhelmed - January 2 - 5:52 pm

  I like the way it looks, but would much prefer my 02 Tahoe. My Z-71 has been factory modified to allow the gas cap to open fully! The door and window seals are way cheaper lots of wind/road noise compared to older models. This is my fourth Tahoe and not as fun to drive. Give me a break on the third row seats that dont fold flat. The rear hatch openers wont fully open even after being replaced. Another design flaw is the hatch will easily get caught on any ice build up on the bumper. I hear everyone compliment the interior build quality but I dont see any improvement in fact I feel it is cheaper. Im concerned that my new Tahoe wont stand the test of time.

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  Reliable Transportation - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
  By HHG - January 1 - 10:53 pm

  I bought mine used with 18000 mls on it. So far I put about 4k trouble free miles on it. Although it is not as a spirited performer as the 03 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE I traded in on the Malibu, I am overall pleased with the performance of the V6 engine. It has plenty of power and is comfortable on long trips. I am 62" and have plenty of room. Visibility is great, the car handles well and feels solid. No rattles, squeaks, etc. I would would buy this car again!

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  Victory Red Coupe - 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Matt - January 1 - 11:44 am

  One of the last 07s on the lot. Paid $10,300. The only option is the auto tranny. I only had it a couple days so this is an intitial review. The motor has almost the same pep as my 01 Z24 and gets better mileage. Im averaging 25.6 MPG. The interior design of the car is a little plain but straight forward and worlds nicer than the Cavalier. The electric steering feels a little wierd at first but you get used to it. The rear end looks better on the coupe than sedan. The DIC does provide some useful stuff and the auto headlights mean you dont have to worry about leaving them on and draining the battery. The low beams are as bright as the highs on my Z24. Ill put in another review later.

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  I still love my pala - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By ISTILLLOVEIT! - December 31 - 12:23 am

  I bought the car from the same dealership my wife bought her 2006 Mazda 6 from. Anyway, the dealership addressed some issue about the car that I was concerned about because of safety issues (bent tie rod, back brakes and tires were bad, and carfax report still not in my hands!). I love this car, and Ive always liked them. Rides smooth and it has a good bit of power. Car was a rental car from Virginia beach (yeah I dont really like that part [bought it at 40,000 miles], but its been 3 months and [knock on wood], no problems). Ive read online of some of the problems people are having with their Impalas but Im still satisfied with my buy. Got a year warranty to boot from dealership!