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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  MPG Not That Great and Transmission Failure - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By carproblems7 - September 4 - 10:23 pm

  Purchased my 2011 Equinox in July. Less than 1100 miles and it broke down, long story short, they replaced the transmission. GM and especially my local dealer were good to deal with. I love/hate this car. The very early mechanical problems, make me nervous about the reliability. The car is really comfortable, handles nice, and works for my purposes. Gas mileage has been disappointing. Ive not done a full tank road trip, but Ive consistently gotten 25mpg. Im hoping for better. Im really aware of my driving, and try to be as conservative as possible. I dont drive over 70 MPG on the highway. If Id driven my Vibe as conservatively, Id have gotten 35 mpg. Wish Id kept my Vibe!

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  What a waste!! - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By drum121181 - August 30 - 11:26 am

  I bought this vehicle in Feb. Ran great for 5 months. In the last month Ive spent $1850 on repairs!! Accelerator pedal position sensor, the computer, and the thermostat. All one week after the other. Now its been stalling on me for the past week. The shop cant seem to find anything wrong with it, but they want to to actually stall on them so they can see whats wrong with it. It cranks back up after it stalls. The radio also screws up, but it was replaced by previous owner. I def got a crappy deal out of this one. I like the size since Im a musician. But overall....I should have gotten the Pathfinder!!

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  Eqinox is a Lemon - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By hogfanfu - August 28 - 8:18 am

  A week after purchase I drove the car from MO to FL. The car performed as expected and I averaged over 25 MPG or > 475 miles per tank. At 3000 miles I devloped a knock in the engine. I took it to dealership where they ordered and installed a brand new engine (2 weeks in shop). Since then, Im averaging 16 MPG or < 300 miles per tank. Rattling has also developed in the dash and driving me crazy. I have taken to the dealership twice and they say everything is normal. I strongly disagree! I now have 6500 miles on my lemo and plan to file a lasuit if something is not done soon.

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  good starter car - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By owensmommy2011 - August 19 - 7:48 pm

  Ive had this car for 3 years now. I dont have too many problems with it. But it is rather. Cheap. mine has only basic features radio only and manual windows/locks. however im glad that i can only lock the driver door from the outside. Im prone to locking the keys in the car. Since becoming a parent we have realized how small it really it. A car seat just squeezes in when rear facing. The smallnes of the car also concerns me when other idiot drivers dont see you around them. We are now looking to trade up to something bigger. Our gas milage itsnt great either.

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  Digusted with the Equinox - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By cmesmile32 - August 19 - 5:12 pm

  My Equinox just rolled up 3000 miles, it has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. I bought this vehicle for the gas mileage, the window sticker said 32 mpg Hwy, the best I have gotten is 24mpg and I do not drive it hard. I keep getting the excuse from the dealer that there is a lot of ethanol in the gas, so I tried Shell Premium gas and it went to a whopping 26 mpg. The loud start up noise turned into the timing chain being changed, then the cam shaft automaters being changed........needless to say, I have contacted GM and am waiting to see what can be done. This vehicle stalled out on me in traffic and I do not feel safe in it.

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  Very Disappointed Equinox Owners - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By johnnygl - August 18 - 9:57 pm

  The shifting is very eratic and very rarely smooth. The shift between 2nd and 3rd is usually very hard. The hard shifting can lift my back off the seat. It is especially noticable during the first drive of the day even after warming the engine. We also started noticing a hesitation when accelerating between 0 and 20 mph. Then we noticed an abnormal fluttering or shuddering of the engine or transmission while driving in upper gears. This vehicles performance is worthy of a trade-in. To be quite honest, this car has caused my wife and I more anxiety and frustration than it is worth. It is in the shop for the 4th time and all the technicians can say is "we cant find any codes.

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  Aveo 2007 Electrical Problems - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By grams45 - August 18 - 9:00 pm

  I have a 2007 Chevy Aveo. Within the past four weeks, my car would not start after sitting overnight..I had it charged, and purchased a new battery. The very next day, the battery was dead...a new battery mind you. I took the battery back to the auto parts store and had it tested. I was told the battery was good. This had been going on for a week. So, I took my vehicle to the Chevy dealership and was told that I needed an alternator. A new alternator was installed. Since it the inception of the new one, the vehicle still continues to not start. I took the new battery back to the Auto parts store...I had it checked and it read good battery. I insisted on a new battery and received a new one installed. Again, the battery test and a systems test is reading with a 120A as suspect problem somewhere in the electrical system. Please tell me what I should be telling the chevy/GM technicans in order to make sure my car is being checked correctly.

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  okay car - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By yaris4 - August 12 - 9:38 pm

  This car is average at best. bought brand new in 2003 has 180K on odometer. Automatic Z24 in canada model. Car drives well, with smooth automatic transmission. Gas mileage is average. Have had to replace driver side auto window motor 3 times. Other than that regular maintenance.

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  Chevrolet got these right. - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kolbpilot - August 9 - 7:44 pm

  I basically agree with all the positive comments about these series (95-04) Blazers. Ive driven quite a few vehicles in my life and this second hand, high mileage Blazer I bought continues to impress. Mine has been reliable, so far. Original exhaust, 210,000 miles.

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  Transmission Needed Replacement at 81,000 - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By larryillinois - August 8 - 9:10 pm

  Transmission failed at 81,000. Transmission fluid flushed and transfer case fluid serviced at 47,000 miles by Chevy dealer at a cost of $235.00. Service representative told me that the seal between the transmission and (I believe he said) the transfer case failed and the transmission fluid went into the transfer case. Caused transmission fluid to be three quarts low from the internal leak. Even though no fluid ever leaked out of the vehicle, the GM representative said it was my fault because the transmission fluid should have been checked at each oil change. The transmission failed while I was driving down the highway. Total cost of GM remanufactured transmission $3,922 installed.