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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  My former Cobalt - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Melissa - December 2 - 9:07 am

  I drove my 2008 Cobalt until just weeks ago when it was totaled. The car fully protected me in a head-on collision, airbag deployed, which is a major plus. At 26,000 miles, I had no maintenance issues outside of several annoyances with the radio / digital display. The car was quite reliable, quiet, and did extremely well on long trips. The stock sound was fantastic and the interior, albeit plain, was not bad for the value. The car handled the road very well for the value, also. This was the 2nd Cobalt Ive owned in the last 5 years (an 05 previously) and Ive not been disappointed. A great, reliable car for the value.

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  Great All-Around Vehicle - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By MHornSS - December 2 - 3:13 am

  Owned only 3 weeks but exceeding expectations. BMW/Vette owner that needed all round daily driver that drives well, has 4 person practicality, holds my offroad bicycle inside, and gets decent mpg. Found 4K mile SS by accident at dealer lot. Surprised with features. Dual sunroofs, XM, OnStar, DVD, 6CD, as well as space, quality, and value. Having been to Europe alot I like the styling and have never seen another Maxx SS (live in big city). Good power, ride, handling, dynamics, ergonomics and excellent value! MaxxSS replaces my Z71 Tahoe - almost as much cargo space but much more fun to drive and better mpg. GM/Saab platform for this car is very solid and sophisticated for this price level. Recommend!

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  Great Car - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Phil H - December 2 - 1:16 am

  Bought it with 17,000 miles on it and have put another 60k on it. Great performer, 28-30 mpg in rural area, yet very peppy. Very versatile layout. Dont like rear skylights with curtains as the curtains sag since wont roll up tight. I also dont like the seats which are like a Saab with no lumbar support. Have only had to replace the outside mirror switch, but the fit and finish is only average.

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  Love my Camaro - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By S. Lyon - December 1 - 6:09 pm

  I just traded my 2996 Toyota Avalon Ltd. for the new 2010 Camaro 2LT Automatic with the RS package. Its black with silver rally stripes on the hood and trunk. I love it. It has features even my Avalon didnt have and I thought that was loaded. Gets lots of 2nd looks from passing vehicles. Think Ill keep it. Its the first sports car Ive ever owned.

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  Tires,tires,tires - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By concerned - December 1 - 6:01 pm

  I purchased my 2008 Impala and it had 26000 miles on it. It now has 35500 and has the back tires on the inside of the tire wore to the cords. I have to also replace the front as they are wearing unevenly. I took it to the garage and this is the 2nd set of tires that it has went through at 36000 miles and was told that this is common with this model. The road noise is terrible. When my granddaughter rides in my car with me she saw "airplane grandma?" by hearing the noise of the car on the road. I like the power & the room the car provides however I feel that if there is a problem with the tires that the company should step up and take care of it. I hope it sticks good in the winter.

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  Venture OK - 2005 Chevrolet Venture
  By Gary - December 1 - 4:07 pm

  This has been a very dependable vehicle. I had to downsize from Suburbans I drove in the past so it was a real challenge at first. I have grown to appreciate saving money on gas, tires, and repairs.

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  Nice vehicle for the price. - 2010 Chevrolet Traverse
  By JenJ - December 1 - 1:28 pm

  The Traverse is very fun to drive and is much more attractive than our previous Uplander mini-van. The interior is very nicely designed and the Bose stereo system is wonderful. I do find that there are quite a few blind spots and my visibility in the Traverse is not as good as it was in the van. I agree with the previous review, the brakes arent as responsive as I expected. The gas mileage is working out to be less than promised but still better than a truck or SUV. Overall, a very nice vehicle for the price.

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  Really Disappointed - 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Not Happy - December 1 - 12:10 pm

  MPG= 15 regardless of city/highway. This vehicle has spent more time in the dealers shop than my garage. Trans, rear defr, a/c, engine bearing, brakes have all been serviced, some of them twice. Im not hard to please, but this is the worst vehicle ive ever owned from a maintenance standpoint. (and they keep trying to upsell me some $500 maintenance package everytime i go to the dealer). I never had these issues with the Tahoe I owned prior to this.

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  Great Value - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
  By Bud - December 1 - 2:20 am

  I bought the Chevy Mailbu hybrid 2 weeks ago. And Im very pleased with the car so far. It gets good MPG and is a lot of fun to drive. GM did a nice job on the new Mailbu hybrid.

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  A win for GM! - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mike - November 30 - 10:23 pm

  This car is absolutely amazing. After taking a long road trip (over 1000 miles)in a Camry recently then driving this Malibu, I have to say there is no comparison. The Malibu felt 10X more premium and was so much more comfortable. The Camry just felt way too cheap in comparison and had no power at all especially when trying to merge on a highway. Highly recommend this car...GM has been on a roll lately!