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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  Been an excellent car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Darrell - July 5 - 4:56 am

  Approximately 140,000 miles on it right now and still going strong. Have only performed regular maintenance items since purchasing this car and have never had a major problem. Great mileage with the 4 cylinder and the power is good for a car this size.

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  Off the Showroom Floor - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mars317 - July 4 - 11:26 am

  I bought the new 2008 Malibu off the showroom and was pleased with all the extras. Heated seats, elect drivers seat, OnStar for the year. It works. A cell phone built in. Ive never had so many options that I really like. Very comfortable ride. Something bad, the whole steering column and its motor had to be replaced. Very odd. Doesnt give me a good feeling.

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  love it love it love it - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Robert H - July 4 - 2:00 am

  this truck has won MVP during our recent move. the versatility is great. just like the review says, amenities and feel of a suburban with the utility of the silverado. i can haul family around or lumber. the amenities are great, comes with dual- zone climate control, GREAT bose stereo with in-dash 6 disc changer. (stereo includes subwoofer). i dont know what people are talking about "cheap interior feel"... it feels luxurious to me. a hefty curb weight makes for sluggish performance though, and gas mileage is abysmal. the onboard computer is more amazing than in my previous BMW.

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  03 Trailblazer LT, Summit White - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By sh801 - July 4 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, roomy, EXTREMELY smooth ride, great Bose stereo. Excellent power.

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  Nice small suv - 2014 Chevrolet Captiva Sport
  By Minister Burton Pryor - July 3 - 9:58 pm

  The 2014 captiva LTZ is a nicely appointed comfortable small suv that has a lovely classy look that makes makes it feel more expensive than it is. The exterior lines flow nicely the interior is comfortable for four adults. The cargo area is spacious and has a nice cargo restraint system. The front passenger seat also folds forward flat for even more space. The fully loaded options are to numerous to list here but include all the tech goodies you need from Bluetooth to nav and a ten speaker sound system with cd and Sirius Xm. The ride is firm not soft but make a solid impression and handles the road and curves nicely. Cons: trans does not shift well when totally depressing the gas ped

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  223,000 Miles And Still Going - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Pete - July 3 - 6:11 pm

  This was a company car that I purchased when the lease expired. I have driven this car since it had approximately 31,000 miles, it now has over 223,000 miles. The car has been great for the money. As a salesperson, I drive a lot and the car has been quite dependable. Yes, I have had some problems, electrical, ignition switch, etc. but they all began to occur after I stop servicing the car properly (my employer used to pay for all the servicing.) I am shopping around for a car now, but I am find it hard to give this up.

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  Should have been recalled... - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Cathleen - July 2 - 10:40 pm

  I bought a used Malibu from CarMax a couple of years ago, and almost immediately had several problems with it not starting and needing antifreeze every few weeks. The Theft System was inappropriately making my car not start at random times, leaving me sitting for 10 minutes wherever and whenever, waiting for the system to restart. Also, the intake gasket will need to be replaced because GM used antifreeze that eats away at the gaskets in the engine. Check the Auto Beef website Im not the only one unfortunately. But other than these two BIG issues, the car is satisfactory in all other aspects.

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  best bang for your buck - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Anonymous User - July 2 - 10:00 am

  Ive driven all types of SUV vehicles and trucks, both foreign and domestic, and this is by far one of the best Ive ever driven. Only minor service issues thus far, such as a suspension squeak. Driving is a joy, with plenty of balanced power. The ride is very comfortable, better than a lot of passenger cars. Although gas mileage is poor, what do you expect with 270 horsepower?! Highly recommended.

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  Very good - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By carol lewis - July 1 - 3:33 pm

  This has been a very dependable and enjoyable auto to own and drive. Maintenance has been simple with few parts needing to be replaced. I really like the dependability with GM Engines. Timing chains sure are a step above belts, and I understand the 350 cc engines have a long life. The only downfall of the 92 Camaro is the gas economy. It’s been a joy to own.

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  Good companion, but not made well enough - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By Jumperus - July 1 - 3:17 am

  Purchased this truck in 1998 and I inherited it in 2000 as my only vehicle and daily driver. It has run fairly well and performed as I needed, but my experiences have been similar to others. Seat handle broken (by a thief who smashed the window, however), front grille plastic has cracked and had to be safety wired back together. Alternator replaced, battery replaced, hole in the radiator, water pump replaced, A/C compressor leak, some intermittent starting issues, oil and transmission pan seepage. For a 9 year old inexpensive truck, its performed adequately. Little power, but nimble enough in my hands. Good beater, decent to drive, but not made very well.