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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  I dont think I would buy this car again - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Mark - March 23 - 4:03 pm

  One of the reasons I bought this car is because of the great rebates, but I dont think its in the same class as an $18,000 Honda or Toyota. I think this may have been a great marketing plan by GM. There are definite engineering flaws with this vehicle, such as the cup holders being too close to the heating controls. The back glass in the back doors doesnt fit securely, allowing a wind noise. The back window has a channel on top that will be a problem with water build up. Rust on the screws that hold the gas filling tube. I have had my car into the dealership 6 times this month for service and the problem of wind noise still exists. My last mileage figure was 20.5mpg I wonder if the rebate will ever go away

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  So many positives, a few big negatives - 2001 Chevrolet Venture
  By Daniel DeLamater - March 22 - 10:08 pm

  Well, we have been pleased with our car overall. But thank God we purchased the extended warranty. I would not recommend avoiding this van - I would just say get as much warranty as possible. We stopped at 75,000 miles and it wasnt enough. We are about to replace the 2nd hub assembly, we have had gaskets go out, we have had fuel regulators to replace, etc., etc. The utility of this van is excellent. Its roominess, drivability, and overall reliability are positives. Thankfully we had the warranty as long as we did - and that we have a wonderful dealership to work with. Otherwise I might not be so kind.

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  2005 Colorado - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By shane crumpton - March 22 - 2:06 pm

  Fuel mileage less than expected with I- 5 engine. Ride is good on hi-way, power is good for 5-cyl. The nterior lacks style, has has too much gray. Front tires are worn on inside after 18K overall a good truck. Needs a better sound system.

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  Very Good - 2006 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Helen Eiden - March 22 - 10:37 am

  There are few changes I would make to this car. One I do not like cloth seats either vinyl of leather. The hatchback would be better for loading if the door was almost as wide as the trunk. Overall I would buy another Chevy Aveo Hatchback.

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  Under-rated ride - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By Believe It - March 21 - 4:22 pm

  Overall great experience. Wanted lots of interior and trunk room, w/o spending too much. Great gas mileage (30 mpg highway @70 not uncommon). Sure its no Acura, Audi, etc. but I have gotten used to the many "extras" this car has that many do not at thousands more (auto headlamps, tire pressure sensors, rearview mirror auto tint, daytime running lights, delayed power after ignition off, etc.). It doesnt feel quite as "polished" as some foreign brands, yet I feel like it goes out of its way to take care of me. Brake rotors needed machined around 25,000 mi., and two steering wheel switches were replaced due to plastic flaking off. Really the only problems.

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  Rides like a dream - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Ridin in style - March 21 - 10:00 am

  This is the 1st vehicle I have ever owned that has everything I wanted in a automobile. It has such a smooth ride and great interior room and comfort. The power is incredible for a 6 cylinder. Acceleration onto highways is more than enough. As for the "reviews" about poor handling in the corners, SLOW DOWN, your not at INDY!

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  Best work van - 2006 Chevrolet Uplander
  By ccoker5 - March 20 - 8:45 pm

  After years of driving an Express van for work I was afraid the Uplander wouldnt have the space I needed. But the 2 side doors actually make it easier to get my things out and the fuel economy is way better than my old Express. It is far more comfortable and for the price I couldnt be happier. I think its a great electricians van. Acceleration is poor, but Ill trade for gas mileage. I save $300 a month in gas over my old Dodge 350 van.

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  A Better Cruiser than PT - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Clint - March 20 - 7:13 pm

  My only gripes with my HHR 2LT are that: 1. The rear spoiler (which I did not order) is a *requirement* to keep rain/snow runoff off of the back glass. Its difficult to see; 2. There was no available back-up sensor. Its difficult to see when parallel parking; 3. The supercharged engine from the Cobalt is NOT available; 4. The mileage isnt great for a 4- cylinder. It would probably be better with a 5-speed automatic (like is offered in the Honda Civic...a like-priced vehicle). Other than these items, its quite a lot of vehicle for the price. Front and side visibility are great, the breaks have good feel, the controls are thoughtfully laid out. Good bang-for-the-buck!

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  Fix the Little Things! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Fred - March 20 - 5:58 pm

  Started looking for an 02 Explorer, and then read about all the problems with them. So I switched over to the TrailBlazer. Liked almost everything I got. But a couple of little electrical issues keep this from being a great car. 1) Memory mirrors dont go where they are supposed to when preset is recalled. Dealer says it needs to be replaced, but I will just live with it. 2) OnStar system is not working. Needs to be fixed. Would have been nice to know before I signed up for the service. I think this is more a problem of the dealer not fixing a few issues before selling it, but with only 51K on it, these shouldnt be issues in the first place.

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  Good Car - 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Satisfied Driver - March 20 - 11:25 am

  Bought the car used in 2001. Very reliable car except for some of the interior plastic. The car was very low maintenance other than the usual tires and exhaust. The blower motor for heat and a/c died and needed a replacement fuse after 4 yrs. The driver and passenger power window motors also both died. All in all the car was a great buy aside from the little things. I would certainly recommend it as a cheap, sporty little car.