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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  Nice truck - 2001 Chevrolet S-10
  By HenryJ - December 5 - 2:00 am

  It took a few modifications to really bring this truck to life. Thank goodness for a wide variety of aftermarket parts being available. I will be keeping this one for a very long time. Every model has its "quirks" , but this one has been better than some for the problems being minor and few. Really suits our needs to a "tee" (Family, weekend offroading, daily commute).

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  ex-EPA eBay find - 1990 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Geres - December 4 - 2:00 am

  Picked up this ex-EPA vehicle on eBay with 115k miles on it. Truck needed new master cylinder (scary rust) and has valve-train whump at low RPM. Blows smoke upon cold start. Lift gate refused to open as rear body mounts rusted through at the tailpan and body was drooping on the frame. Not many body shops want to tackle such a repair so check carefully for underbody rust before buying.

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  junk - 1994 Chevrolet Corsica
  By gasp - December 4 - 2:00 am

  high maintenance car,complete nightmare,stay away from it.Its in the shop once a month.Now I realize why I got it so cheap.Extremely mad.Junk. Will never buy a another Gm product again.Would buy Chrysler first which is very sad.Maybe their all not like mine but I wouldnt want to take a chance.Ill send you copies of my repair bills.

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  evaluation of malibu - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By john park - December 4 - 2:00 am

  good value for the money. Should provide a stronger battery from the factory.

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  read this:) - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By squeakky131 - December 4 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car in june and its been great since then. ive put 5k on it since then with no problems. engine is quiet but sounds healthy, and is surpringly powerful for a 4cyl. everyone seems to have gotten a good deal on their cavis, im paying 18k including interest.. i got shafted and the car is def not worth that much! i get good gas mileage. sometimes feel that the interior was very cheaply made- like the interior door paneling is going to fall off when someone shuts the door. the heat gets VERY hot but when you turn it off its too cold..

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  little brother of Z71 - 2003 Chevrolet S-10
  By big4x4_22 - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I really like the height this truck came stock and the performance with the V-6 engine. This truck can hang with the big boys in the mud and look good while doing it

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  Big guy in little Tracker - 2004 Chevrolet Tracker
  By edinjerzey - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my 2001 "new" tracker back in feb of 02. I use this vehicle traveling to and from work only. The engine (V6) has a great punch off the line along with a good passing gear as well with plenty of pedal left. The tracker handles curves and cornering well too. I drive mostly city traffic and get decent gas milage, the 4wd is great and makes driving a peice of cake even in over a foot of snow. I have no regrets with my Tracker, its perfect for what I use and need it for. Go ahead test drive one. Zoom around for yourself. Ed

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  great - 2004 Chevrolet Blazer
  By deerhunter - December 3 - 2:00 am

  handles very well off road and in snow

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  Nice Car, Poor Gas Mileage - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By LindseyLou - December 3 - 2:00 am

  I love my blazer. It is fun to drive and easy to handle. I think it is a little noisy but all in all a good SUV. Perfect size for parking, no troblem fiting in spots a reg. SUV would.

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  Love it,love it not(longtermreliabilty?) - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By stevenrobinzz - December 3 - 2:00 am

  Purchased Tahoe little over year ago. Have begun to question longterm reliabilty of vehicle. Have had problems with brakes squealing from day we left the lot. Terrible noise in front of vehicle when turning and accelerating. After repaired, steering more stiff and making grinding noises. While washing the vehicle (with sprayer) paint chipped off. Problems with lights and seats when operating. Doors sound horrible when opening and shutting. Dealership has been good about fixing things but should not be having these problems with a new vehicle. How well will it hold up? I love the ride, comfort, etc. Purchase another? Doubtful.