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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  Out of the box - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By huey7018 - May 11 - 9:43 pm

  Great small car. Lots of driver room. Use as a commuter car and love the fuel economy. When comparing price/ comfort/ economy this is a hard car to beat.

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  Walked Away Safely - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Mike Griggs - May 11 - 9:47 am

  On May 7, 2006, I was in a crash that involved my Colorado. I hit water and lost control and totaled my truck. After the fact, you could not recognize that it was a Colorado, but the fact remained I walked away from the accident with only a mild concusion. Its design, I think, was the main reason Im still alive today. Thanks Chevy.

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  2003 Chevy Malibu - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By andrea soupos - May 10 - 9:14 am

  A very reliable car. Absolutely no problems with any part of it. Good quality for a reasonable price & 6 cylinder engine power important for highway driving.

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  Cant beat it! - 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By johnny-boy - May 9 - 8:29 pm

  Ive put 100,580 miles on this jewel and never had to think about it quitting. I drive a car hard and this one just keeps on goin. New brakes once, new rear struts once. The 2.2 liter engine is more than I exspected. Ill cruise at 70-75 all day and just relax and listen to the radio.

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  Not too shabby - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Franko - May 9 - 5:45 pm

  When I purchased the Cobalt last August, within 2 weeks abs and t/c light came on. Took it in dealership 4 times to get it fixed. So far no light has been on. I got the satin interior and the "paint" is starting to chip and come off. This is not suppose to happen being a 9 month old car. Interior is somewhat cheap looking, but performance and gas mileage is great as long as you dont have a lead foot. Hardly any room for backseat passengers.

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  Great vehicle, but weve had problems - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By duraflex - May 9 - 10:40 am

  I have owned 5 GM cars over the last 25 years and although I generally like the Venture, it has failures Ive never had experienced before. The two biggest have been the head gasket issue on the 3.1L engine (almost $600) and now the A/C has died which will cost another $600-$800. These 2 items seem like common problems on this van. The negatives are the big servicing issues. I dont expect this from a GM product. I really hate to say this but it will make me question whether to buy GM in the future.

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  Satisfied -- should have researched more - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Nikki - May 8 - 2:13 pm

  I bought this vehicle a month ago, upgrading from a 2002 Chevy Prism with only 33K. Main reason for purchase was 1)bored with Prism 2) sick of stepping up to get out of the car (I am 56 and always wear heels) 3) more substantial vehicle in size, weight, etc. 4) 4WD However, my car payment increased by $125 (my own fault, maybe I was a bit hasty) and gas mileage is very poor. Also something I tried to kid myself about, so for an SUV the gas issue is to be expected. If I was not in such a rush to buy a different vehicle, I wouldve gone with something like the Mazda3 Hatch or Subaru Forrester. It gives the hatch feature w/o the truck feel. I am enjoying the truck, but mostly cause I have to.

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  Great Truck! - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By MikeCmfrt - May 7 - 6:53 pm

  I love my Chevy truck! I grew up on a farm where a truck was a piece of equipment, not a fancy car. I dont want heated leather seats or anything else that screams luxury! I bought a regular cab work truck, installed some nice 20 inch wheels and tires, tinted the windows and then I did nothing except drive it, haul stuff, tow trailers and use it for its intended purpose. This is a truck and it does its job well. I havent done any maintenance except change the oil and rotate the tires. The 4.8 V8 has plenty of power for normal towing and driving. Its just personal preference, but I like the look of the Chevy better than the alternatives.

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  My car - 1994 Chevrolet Beretta
  By 2 dr coupe - May 7 - 4:44 pm

  Good car, starts every time no trouble. Above average gas mileage. Bought when six months old and still own today.

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  1991 S-10 4.3 V6 2WD - 1991 Chevrolet S-10
  By Dave - May 5 - 2:14 pm

  Bought it new in 91 and currently have 228K miles on it. Except for a transmission seal and some paint issues, no other repairs until 130K miles. Engine was rebuilt at 155K and has been running strong since. Ive changed oil every 3K miles since purchase. Its been stolen twice in the last 3 years and keeps finding its way back home. If it wasnt for the peel-and-steal steering column I would continue to drive it to work every day. Wanted 4WD but glad I didnt get it now as some people have reported issues over the years with drivetrain. Its been a pleasure to drive and Ive had some heavy loads in it in the last two years.