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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  Impressive MPG - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By agwriter - October 18 - 9:34 pm

  I was first interested in the car for its MPG and it hasnt disappointed me. Not only did I get 47+ on a 600-mile trip to LA and back (freeway, backed-up traffic and mountain passes), but the power is impressive. Set the cruise control at freeways speeds going uphill and it held its speed and didnt downshift (Grapevine or Cajon Pass). Definitely a sporty feel but it rides very nice and the leather seats are quite comfortable. Only complaint is MyLink system reset once then quit working another time for no apparent reason then started working again.

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  High class car with low class backup cam - 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  By alabama4 - October 17 - 3:21 pm

  Ive had my 2LTZ for 10 weeks. It didnt take long for me to notice that the rear view camera has such low resolution that the view has no details - everything is a blur. To me this a safety issue. When I need to see whats behind me, I use the mirrors and turn around and look through the rear window. Its a shame that Chevy chose to install a very low end camera into their new Impala which has been favorably compared to the Lexus LS class. This has been a big disappointment to me because the Impala is a really wonderful vehicle.

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  Malibu now a great car - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By hansup - October 17 - 11:45 am

  13 Malibu has more power, gets better mileage, has more room, and is quieter than my 2000 BMW 323i.

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  New Camaro - 2014 Chevrolet Camaro
  By bleisch - October 16 - 3:59 am

  Just picked one up today. Nice ride.

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  Very nice suv - 2004 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mmatt400 - October 14 - 9:45 am

  I have had this suv for about 2 years I bout It with 89,000 miles on it now I have 102982 I have had to change the fan cluch and water pump on it thats all Iv done to it she runs great this suv will get up and go its fast and really reliable the 4X4 works well drove it in snow and mud fantastic never got stuck once while my freinds in has jeep got stuck I was laughing. I thought jeeps were supposed to be able to go off road. This is the best suv I have ever owned. I can see it running to 400,000 miles No problem a co worker of mine has the same car and shes driving up to 300,000 miles and still driving. I also for got to mention that I am very tall about 6,6 I fit in the very well.

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  1200mpg 2cents per mile for electricity - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By pjk2 - October 13 - 8:38 pm

  Ive been buying cars for 40years. The Volt is like no other. The smooth quiet power is nicer than any V8 Ive driven. Ive had my Base Chevy Volt here in PA for 10 months. Have been to the dealer one time to rotate the tires at 5k .. have not been to a gas station yet. Ive used just 5.7 gallons of gas in over 7,000 miles of hard hilly stop and go city driving. Thats 1200 mpg!! I have a wattmeter on the charger that indicates that the car is costing approx. 2cents per mile. Ive only used the range extender a few times... but was sure glad I had the extender. Its nice to NOT have any range anxiety. Its a nice feeling not going to the gas station every two weeks to charge about $60.

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  Great car - 2013 Chevrolet Malibu
  By gunjp56 - October 13 - 5:33 pm

  After reading the professional reviews on this car I was hesitant to buy one. I took several mid size cars for a drive and actually found the Malibu to be quite comfortable and responsive, the price was also competitive. I have a little over 3000 miles on mine now and I am very glad I made that choice.

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  Chevy beats Hondas Reliability - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By balbool69 - October 13 - 4:11 pm

  This is my second trailblazer.. had an 04.. loved it but didnt have 4x4.. with Michigan weather 6x6 isnt enough.. I went ahead sold it and got me my beloved 07 trailblazer 4x4.. snow never became an issue anymore.. you wont feel a thing when you turn the 4x4 on.. its like your driving on dry pavement... With a new job my driving became more and I needed an suv with better gas mileage.. so I bought a Honda crv.. worst car of my life .. yes its very good on gas but whats the point when I spent 1200 mechanically issues.. with the trailblazer.. never had a problem with it other then the headlight bulb keep blowing.. even with hid kit .. best car ever for an every day commute!!!

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  Best Vehicle I Have Owned - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By mybestequinox - October 12 - 7:08 am

  Drove all the way to White Plaines, NY to get the Equinox LTZ in Blue I wanted. 4 cyl (plenty of power), 2WD for maximum mileage. Drove to WI and back to FL on 4,000 mile trip and averaged 32.2 mpg. Smooth, reliable, roomy, quiet, efficient, fun to drive vehicle. Have owned over 35 vehicles to inlcude Corvette, Lexus, and Toyota and love this SUV. I stole it from my wife this morning just to get the chance to drive it. Had a noisy tick in the engine audible when outside of the vehicle, GM did the $3,000 repair for NC and provided rental and I have 49K miles on it. Runs quiet as a mouse. Great Car, Great Service, Great vaule.

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  Great value - 2012 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cscott952 - October 11 - 9:25 pm

  Im very happy with my Cruze. I have about 13k miles on it, and still feel its a great value. I have driven/owned many types of cars, and Im still quite impressed with this car for the money. Its my daily driver, and general use car. Since the turbo engine has a broad power band, its very driveable. Its not fast, but responsive enough to make it nice to drive. The engine idles very smoothly too. The cabin is quiet at highway speeds, and the seats are comfortable on long drives. Aside from the armrest, I have not complaints!