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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  Good Car for the Money - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By CarCrazy - December 23 - 3:37 pm

  We just bought our used 2007 Impala LT w/ the 3.9L (Active Fuel Management system)engine at the end of September 2009. So far weve put on 4K in 2 1/2 months of mixed driving and averaged 23 MPG (which is not bad for such a large car). The Bose sound system is great, as are the large controls and placement of the controls. My only gripe would be the soft touring suspension (I was used to driving a VW Jetta before) and the seats could be more supportive (could also use Memory seating). Otherwise, this a great car for the money and features.

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  Aaawwwwsome! - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Ginger G - December 23 - 12:17 pm

  I have only had this car for a week and I luuuuuuv it! Turns heads and runs good. The V6 engine is a monster and feels more like a V8 with much better gas mileage. So quiet on the inside. Smooth down the highway.

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  I love it, the wife hates it. - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By RkyMtnBob - December 23 - 10:25 am

  I really do love this car. I traded down from a 4 door Silverado. Really like the exterior lines and style. I drive 35 city miles to work and get 27mpg summer and 25mpg winter. Plenty of room front and back. Fold down the rear seats and the floor in 3x5, which is reasonable to get stuff home. The center mounted window controls take getting used to. Small windows as well, just means you have to actually look instead of glance. The 2.4 engine has plenty of go. The Traction Control can get twitchy in snow and ice. I have had the front rotor warping issue, it was fixed fast but I may have to deal with it again. The wife does not like the looks or small windows, but she loves the heated seats.

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  Love it! - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Jeremiah Beamer - December 23 - 5:56 am

  I love my new car.

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  Nice car - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By jech - December 22 - 11:16 pm

  Bought this in May. Waited till it had 9000 before I made comment on it. Have 4 cyl and get 34 to 36 mpg on the hwy. 22 to 24 city. Great ride on both hwy and city. Handles great. Very quiet interior. Lot of standard options for the price. No real problems so far. Dont like the upgraded radio, only real complaint at higher speed radio turns up to high automatically cant hear passengers talking . Have Saab 9.5 for other car. will most likely buy another malibu instead of Saab. Same frame as 9.3 half the price, seven eights same ride.

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  Chevy 2009 - Malibu - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ivan83 - December 22 - 4:52 pm

  I just got my first Chevy Sedan after owning a Chevy truck for six years. The car is great. The look from outside is amazing. I get lots of compliments. It gives the look of a really nice high end car with out the high price.

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  Love my Malibu - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By First Chevy - December 22 - 2:41 pm

  I come from a Honda/Toyota family, but couldnt resist buying the Malibu after getting in one at the LA Auto Show. The interior design is better than all the competitors, although materials arent as good as some. The ride is remarkably quiet and comfortable. The exterior grew on me. Its a great balance of aggressiveness, class, and distinctiveness. So far no problems except that one passenger door would not open the day I bought the car, but that was fixed promptly. Im giving American cars a chance, and so far I am pleased.

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  Great Car AVEO 5 - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Bill - December 22 - 11:45 am

  The only problem I have with this car is some of sensors blink on when it gets really cold. Otherwise I would suggest this ride for anyone. Much roomier than what it looks like from the outside. Thanks Chevy for putting out a great car.

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  Good Solid Truck - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BlueDevil05 - December 22 - 10:00 am

  The power in the new Silverados is what made me pick it above the competition. The new look is great too. It rides quite comfortably and handles very well for a full-size pickup. With the biggest tires available stock from Chevy, the lowest point to the ground besides the tire is approximately 9.5 inches off the ground which is exceptional ground clearance for a stock truck. With what I do to pickups, i need the kind of off-road performance that the Z71 off-road package delivers. This is a good truck.

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  Bought mine NEW!!! - 2000 Chevrolet Venture
  By Purchased New - December 21 - 11:14 pm

  Purchased vehicle new and added a 100,000 mile warranty. Glad I did. After 62,000 miles we had to replace the transmission. Great dealer service and no problems with transmission since! Several problems with what felt like transmission shifting problems. Local mechanic replaced the spark plugs and wires and this fixed the problem. Overall it has been a good, reliable vehicle for a young family of 5. Recently the van has had several mechanical faults costing a total of $2500. Now it has started smoking (from where I have NO idea). Will sell soon but have enjoyed the van.