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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  VERY SATISFIED,GET ONE - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By jeepguyracing - November 17 - 7:10 pm

  We got this vehicle just before taking our annual trip from pennsylvania to michigan and got about 35mpg most of the trip.going just a little over the posted speed and it would fall to 32mpg still very good milage for a 4 cylinder with 4 adults and 1 child and the back packed to the roof with suitcases.We drove just about everything forein and american made .I dont know what half these people are thinking,They get a 4 cylinder with 185 horse power in a mid size SUV and expect to get the gas milage of a chevette.I just chalk it up to most of you dont know how to drive anyway.And if you let your car sit and idle while it warms up your wasting gas and killing your average miles per gallon.

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  Drivings fun again! - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By pruvit - November 16 - 9:41 pm

  Traded in ES Lexus, havent looked back. Car is a joy to drive, it WANTS to move. 3000 miles so far, visited gas station only once. Over 300 mpg. Love that the car is so fast and so quiet. Anyone who compares this car to a normal car to calculate payback on gas savings is missing the point. This is a premium car. Negatives: visibility is somewhat limited, holds only 4 passengers, Bluetooth issues with iPhone 5 (worked flawlessly with my iPhone 4). Im told this should be fixed in the the next couple of weeks. Theyll send out the update directly to the car wirelessly. This car is a marvelous piece of technology. If youre thinking about buying one, just do it.

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  Great Car! Very Reliable - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By johnnycars22 - November 16 - 6:35 pm

  I have had my car for 3 years and I have over 98,000 miles. I have had no problems with the car, its been extremely reliable. I really enjoy owning an American product!

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  My Malibu - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By drewsookz - November 15 - 8:47 pm

  I am now 17 years old and my dad has just given me the family 1998 Malibu. Bought brand new in 1998 with almost all of the features available. It now has 300 000km on it and is running just fine. Aside from my dad never taking care of the car (oil changes once a year) I am amazed that it still runs. It charges through Canadian winters like a champ with no snow tires unlike all of those crappy Camrys or Accords. It blows away every single foreign sedan I see on the road and I love it. I am sad to see it go next spring when we upgrade to a new Chevy, but yes, Chevy has won me over and I will definetly purchase a vehicle from them.

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  Me likey the Impala SS - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By impalasswally - November 15 - 4:13 pm

  I like my Impala SS! Not incredibly sexy from certain angles, and the interior style is hideous, but for the $$, an incredible buy. V-8 power, better gas milage than my wifes V-6 Traverse (thanks to 4-cyl shut-off ... which you never notice). 0 to 60 sub 5.7 sec ... the new $40K Impala with the same HP is going to be Plus 7 sec. It stickered for $31K loaded, got it for 25K between 3K off from dealer, and 3K from GM card earnings. I am out of warranty almost a year now - almost 6 years old. I will admit, mostly local driving (I live close to work) and only 31K miles, but bullet proof. Starts every day, just changed oil. Both front hubs have been changed recently - only repair in 6 years.

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  Commuting and more. - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By timlange - November 14 - 1:56 pm

  Our daily commute is 15 miles so we use electric only while in town. Cost for a full charge (30-40 miles) is $0.62. Our last trip out of town was fine, 200+ miles, about 6 hours in the car and did not get uncomfortable. Rarely could tell when the gas engine came on. Edmunds mentions touchy brakes but ours seems fine.

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  My Big Baby Boy - 1991 Chevrolet Suburban
  By rhystepesh - November 13 - 12:48 pm

  I bought my 1991 Suburban from a mechanic friend of mine as it was all he had that I could afford... and I have not regretted it since. Sure fuel economy is not the greatest, but then it is a 2+ ton vehicle all steel, and very safe. Im not trading it in for all the cars in the world. Easy to drive, low center of gravity means less likely to roll over, and can take a beating and still keep going. All I need is a kitchen and a bathroom and Id make him my home. Hell probably become a pile of rusted dust before I think of getting another vehicle. Though I will have to replace the radio eventually, its the only thing that doesnt work in him.

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  2013 Volt - 2013 Chevrolet Volt
  By 11buster - November 6 - 11:18 am

  Traded in a C5 Vette for a 2013 red metallic Volt. Have driven about 400 miles in 10 days. Love the car - used 0.7 gal. Gas. Chevy had a $2,000 rebate, coupled with a $7,500 Fed tax rebate and a $2,000 state tax rebate, takes the cost down to $30,000. Factor in about $2,000 fuel savings per year, and the car makes economic sense. Build quality is excellent, as is integration of car operation, electronics and screen displays. Also right thing to do for the environment to cut emissions. With our local electric rates, cost per gas gal equivalent is about $0.70. Car is smooth and provides a pleasant driving experience, plus you are driving the future, not the past.

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  Solid Vehicle - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By pacman401 - November 5 - 3:56 pm

  I bought this car from my grandmother with 127,000 miles on it. So far, it has been a solid car. A few issues though. Transmission had to be rebuilt (those GM transaxles were already known to be crap) and I had to fix a wheel hub. But other than that, it has been a solid car. The sensors go bad all the time, but the car runs great and starts smooth everytime. Handles good, very comfortable for a long trip. The 3.8L is a fantastic motor so far, very torque enriched and shows no signs of quitting soon. I expect to put another 100,000 miles on it before its time for a new one, due to rust problems starting (its Michigan, so all cars are like that). Overall, a very solid car.

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  Still Love It! - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By kakki007 - November 4 - 8:45 pm

  Purchased in late 2002 as used vehicle with low miles. Now have 111,600 miles, and no major problems other than fan clutch which was covered by warranty. Just replaced compressor at $1040 after it froze up. Replaced battery twice, tires once, and tail light twice. Use the 4WD when it rains, and feel much more secure. Really love the smooth ride, radio and power. Only complaint is mileage 12.5 city/20 mpg highway which is good for vehicle this size/about 18 mpg when using 4WD on highway. Would recommend to anyone.