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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  SOME PROBLEMS - 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By AVERAGE - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT SO FAR. FOR EXAMPLE THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. WHEN I CHECK IT IT IS ALWAYS FULL. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION YET. ALTERNATOR WENT OUT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER HAVING THE CAR. WENT THREW TWO NEW BATTERIES BECAUSE OF THAT. NO PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THAT YET.

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  Second time was the charm - 2002 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ms5468 - April 18 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my vehicle 4/12/02 brand new had only 13 miles on it. Drive it off the lot and 20 minutes later had a problem with the engine and brakes. The car had to be towed to the dealer the next day, and after heavy negotiations I received another Malibu. Happy to report it runs perfectly. Was a little worried since I traded in a Honda Civic for it. Hope to keep on trucking for at least 7 years.

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  Great car at a low cost! - 1991 Chevrolet Corsica
  By Corsicakid - April 17 - 2:00 am

  My 4 cyl. Chevy Corsica, which happens to be my first car has been a great one for the money. I bought it with 100,000 miles and now have close to 150,000 miles. Given the age and the mileage, reliability has been above average. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone, if fuel economy is a major concern for you, then go with the 2.2 4 cyl model, otherwise get the 3.1 V6, it has much better get-up-and-go than the 4 cyl. "Two thumbs up!"

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  Nice Truck - 2002 Chevrolet S-10
  By Eg - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my S-10 in 2000 and have had no problems to date with it. Regular oil and maintence changes are all that has been required. Fuel economy is excellent. The interior could use some upgrading, but if you use your truck alot in dirty conditions its easy to clean.

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  First Impressions - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By New Owner - April 16 - 9:43 am

  I have had the truck for about 1 week. Has the 5300 310 HP motor, Z71, trailer towing, LT1 amenities. Has plenty of power.40/20/40 bench seat is very comfortable on my lower back. Rides pretty good for a 4X4. One important thing for me was when you pop the hood nearly all of the engine components are accessible. With the electric cooling fans it opens up the engine compartment tremendously. If you had to perform any repairs yourself in the future, at least you can get to most of the components.Keeps the frustration level down. I do have a problem with the fit of the doors. The passenger door does not shut tight to the seal on the rear door.Alignment on drivers door is poor also.

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  Solid powertrain / Weak electrical - 1994 Chevrolet Astro
  By Techima - April 16 - 2:00 am

  This Van has never left me stranded. I played in a band and used this vehicle to tow 4000lbs of equipment for 40,000 miles. Ive had to replace the AC compressor because of GMs poor quality. The electrical system is now going a little haywire and the plastic AC vents break easy. The rearview mirror falls off every winter. Some of the power locks will not lock.

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  The Tracker Experience - 2000 Chevrolet Tracker
  By Andre Leniore - April 16 - 2:00 am

  The fuel economy, mobility, flexibility and durability is very good.

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  1999 Blazer is a great vehicle - 1999 Chevrolet Blazer
  By PaulC - April 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive really enjoyed driving this truck for 3 years. This was leased and its running out in May and Im sad to let it go. The residual is too high and not affordable to purchase outright. Ive not had any problems with this truck and its just been fun to drive with all of the luxuries you could want. Its not great for speeding through the corners but its a truck and if you want to do that get a sports car! :-) Ive had a blast and would recommend it. I hope to get another when the lease comes due.

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  Solid Performance Sporty looks - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By ScottZ - April 15 - 2:00 am

  When looking for a medium sized SUV, I looked at all makes and models. It came down to either an Ford Explorer or a Chevy Blazer. Chevy offered 0% financing for 60 months, so I went with teh Blazer. I am very pleased with my decision. The Blazer with the ZR2 package looks very sporty and has given me great off road performance. The only bad experience I have had with teh Blazer is gas milage. I get 16MPG in teh winder and 18MPG in the summer (Minnesota). I would consider buying a Blazer in teh future.

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  A good starter - 2002 Chevrolet Prizm
  By Tredo - April 14 - 2:00 am

  A good buy if youre trying to get on your feet. It isnt a Vette, but it gets your from A to B with reliability, comfort, and excellent fuel economy. Just be sure to take it back to the dealer for those odd squeaks and creaks while its still under warranty they get annoying quickly.