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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  The most under rated family van - 2000 Chevrolet Astro
  By Chris T. - October 18 - 2:00 am

  We sold our 1995 Astro only to buy another one for 2000. This van is the most under rated family vehicle on the road. It is more roomy than the Full Sized Expensive SUVs. The 4.3 6 cyclinder engine delivers a very good performance, despite what the horsepower rating of 190 says. This van is very smart.

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  You get a little more then you pay for - 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Khris97 - October 17 - 10:00 am

  After rebates and so forth I paid 10K for this brand new car. You definatly get more then you pay for. the 2.2L 140hp engine matted to the manual 5 speed gearbox is great. The car is not a Benz so I wasnt expecting it to be as comfortable as one, but for a small car, its pretty decent. Braking is very smooth and sure. As with just about all American cars, theres a question as to the quality of the fit and finish, but I havent found any blemishes. Nothing rattles or squeeks. Wind noise and engine vibration is minimal. You really do get a lot for 10K.

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  Tahoe review - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By tomyboy - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I think GM wrecked the 2003 tahoe, the 2002 was the last good year. The front seats are larger in the 02 than the 03. There are too many cubby holes in the dash area in the 03, and it looks unattractive. Had to take it to the dealer many times to fix a simple, yet, messy problem with the front axle leaking due to a defective vent tube. Build quality was surprisingly good. Great ride for an SUV with a truck frame!

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  Not Satisfied - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Monroe - October 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had new vehicle in service dept. at least 8 times with the first being a very serious problem with the rear end. The air conditioner quit, daytime light out, radio wont play sometimes, noise in front dashboard. For the price Im paying Im very dissatisfied.

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  92 cavalier - 1992 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By Trisor - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Ive put 175K on my 92 cavalier...before selling it to my sister last week. I got 37 MPG city/highway combined. I changed the oil every 4K, replaced the plugs only once at about 100K, and air filter every now and then. And never had any problems. Never had to replace clutch, brakes, anything. No timing belt to replace...has chain. I did have to replace the head gasket at about 75K. Was very reliable.

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  1999 Chevrolet Lumina LS - 1999 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Kinkey - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Smooth quite ride,Reliable family sedan with lots of trunk space and roomy for a midsize vehical.

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  excellent - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By ryanleeh - October 17 - 2:00 am

  Love this truck. I have had smaller trucks before, and was unsure if I would like this monster....well, I will never buy a small truck again. The fuel economy is week, but expected. the four wheel capability is ok. very comfortable on long trips.

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  Better than Ford - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Dmitriy Melkumov - October 16 - 2:00 am

  I got very good deal on it only $4000 and i didnt expect to see a lot of difference between my Ford Contour and this one. I was mistaken . This is defently a better car overall. Espessialy in build quality. I didnt have the car for a long time so i have nothing to say about reliability. Its working now at least...And if you like to listen to music change the front speakers. It cost only around $ 50.

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  Big space in small package - 2002 Chevrolet Tracker
  By GaryODS - October 16 - 2:00 am

  We bought this rig to save us some fuel (also have a Dodge 1500). We bought the 2.0 L inline 4. While its a little weak, it makes up for it by being frugel. We broke this one in fast and loose crusing in the 75-85 MPH range from CA to Denver and back. At 80+ we were getting 25+ MPG Im 66" and this was the only mini SUV we found that had enough leg room for me (barely). We are satisified with it so far.

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  1st CAR FOR DAUGHTER - 1996 Chevrolet Corsica
  By mrfixit - October 15 - 2:00 am

  This has been a good car for my daughter. The price was right, gas mileage is very good and after having it for 4 years cant complain. Ive had to replace two alternators though, seems like every two years they go out.