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 Car - 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Lissa - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Great Car! Few small things, cup holders cheaply made, electrical system issues, otherwise no problems!

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  98 camaro z28 - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By john b - February 5 - 2:00 am

  as a mechanic for a G.M. dealership, ive found that we VERY rarely see the Camaro or Corvette in the shop for any repairs other than the standard maintenance i.e. brakes, oil changes. The camaro has virtually the same engine (LS1) as the corvette just a minor de-tune so it doesnt compete on the corvette platform. Other than that said, the exterior is extremely attractive- even more with a skirt package, and the handling is magnificent! Stopping is remarkable given the 4 wheel disk brake set up and the interior is spacious in the front cabin. The rear seating is a little tight, but remember, this is a sports car!

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  I think the user-name says it all - 2001 Chevrolet Blazer
  By FormerBlazerOwner - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Disappointed. You cannot put a child seat in the middle seating position. The seatbelt width is so narrow, no one can actually use it safely. We have had 3 multifunction switches replaced and it has been in numerous times for the check engine light, the first time being when it had 600 miles on it. After several trips to the dealer, stripped wires were found in the engine. The 4 wheel drive also decided not to work during a snow storm while we were in the mountains and without the 4WD, this is just a very large sled.

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  Not a bad Big Truck - 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By BIGRIDER - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I am nearing the end of the lease on my 1999 Tahoe. Overall, it has been a very good experience. My payments were quite reasonable due to the high residual value. I did not have any big problems until 4.5 years into the lease. I had to spend $600 to repair a problem with the steering component and with my front hub assembly. Since these were safety items, I had to fork over the dough! My transfer case is leaking, and I may need new brakes, but I refuse to fix all of that with less than 4 months remaining. I think it is a good buy for the amount of vehicle you get.

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  Great SUV - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Matt Kirby - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I had never owned an SUV, until I wrecked my Ford Taurus. I shopped around, and test drove many cars, and absolutely fell in love with the Trailblazer. It handles very well in the city and on the highway, has great acceleration (especially from 40mph- 70mph,) and has a ton of space inside. The engine is strong and quiet, and I have not had a single problem to date (although I have only owned it for 3 months.) My only disappointment is the $25 it takes to fill it up every week, but I guess I should have seen that coming.

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  One major problem - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By rugbyking - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I have a 2003 Trailblazer I bought in march of 2003. I have really enjoyed this SUV. It drives great and has good power. I have had one major problem. My transmission has had issues. The dealer said it was cracked from the cheverolet plant. That was "fixed". Six weeks later, the transmission was slipping, and the dealer found out the transmission pump was cracked, which allowed the radiator and transmission coolant to mix. The dealer did replace the transmission at that point. The clutch fan was also replaced, because it made a ticking noise. I hope my problems are fixed. So far so good.

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  Nice Car - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Ryu Saotome - February 4 - 2:00 am

  Got this car when it was at about 100,000 miles. So far Ive only had to pay for one repair. A fuel injector shorted out at around 133,000 miles. It cost $300. Considering how inexpensive this vehicle is compared to an import, it didnt bother me. Its quite roomy. The seats and ride are comfortable, and all the controls are within reach and easy to use. I also apreciate the great visibility. Performance is what you would expect from a 4door sedan. I appreciate the available power on the highway. As someone else said in their review, this is a great highway car. Overall, this car is a great value.

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  My 2001 Chevy - 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By cecil m. hickman - February 3 - 10:00 am

  It takes 2 acres to turn around. Very difficult to park, steering problems with engine in idle.

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  Excellent Car - 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Gregory Jackson - February 3 - 2:00 am

  My car was purchased new I have 378K miles and never had any engine work. It does not leak any oil.Ive put new belts,alternator,plugs and wires. But that basic maintenance on a vehicle. I put new chrome rims and tires on about 4 years ago. I need a new A/C compressor and will be getting a paint job soon. As for engine work it runs great. Its the Heartbeat of America!!

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  stole it and fell in love - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By purtycoolguy - February 3 - 2:00 am

  bought a fully loaded lease return for $10k...low miles and four wheel drive- got me through snow and ice in the mountains of colorado and new mexico, good traction and power for highway speeds...compared to other suvs it is not the gas guzzler others bought!!! love it "like a rock"