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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  Run as far away from these vehicles as you can! - 2011 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Carlos - July 13 - 12:55 pm

  We purchased our vehicle, 2011 LTZ 4 cylinder with navigation and rear dvd player, brand new. Now 4 years later it is on its 3rd transmission and has been at the dealership more times than I can count. The navigation unit would reset to Washington DC as a starting point whenever we tried to located an address and the clock hardly ever worked. The dealer tried doing a software reset and ended up replacing the unit when it was 1 year old. When it happened the 2nd time they said the unit was out of warranty so we had to deal with it. The fuel efficiency is a joke. GM stated this vehicle at 32 mpg and we average 21 on mixed city driving. Our warranty is almost up and were already looking to trade this in.

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  Chevy & Yugo mated and the result ? The Spark - 2014 Chevrolet Spark
  By sillyemail1982 - January 31 - 8:43 am

  What a hunk of JUNK !! Bought this fine quality GM product 7 months ago, brand new. Out of the 7 months ? It was at the dealer for 2 months total. 7 month old car with a MASSIVE OIL LEAK from the valve covers, 3 recalls, rear latch breakage and bad tire pressure sensors no one could figure out how to clear the code. Chevy has re-invented the Vega got the "quality" from Yugo & created the Spark. Road noise is horrible !! Fit and finish is a JOKE !! The door chime causes loss of hearing. Its a plastic hot mess. And the black paint is an upgrade ? Junk all the way. Traded it in yesterday on a far more reliable method of transportation. That car should of been recalled & forgotten about.

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  Piece Of Cr%p - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By alexborsberry - January 3 - 4:33 pm

  This car was the worst investment I ever made. Ive had problem after problem with this thing. The whole car should be a recall. The thing leaks water in the inside the gear shifter broke, blower motor went out, emergency brake cable snapped, I changed the air filter and the in take hose broke, and know the piece of crap is leaking anti freeze. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR. Also the chevy dealer is a bunch of scammers!!!!!

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  RUN...dont walk...RUN AWAY FROM THIS JUNK - 2014 Chevrolet Cruze
  By cruzesux - December 29 - 10:37 pm

  My wife wanted this car. Bought April, 2014. Now December, 2014. She loved the look of it and the sticker showed some good numbers for fuel consumption. The first 5000 miles or so got about 31 mpg steady. After that we are lucky to see 26. Same route and speed to work. The car accelerates on its own. The rpms rev all the way up and the car bucks away. You need to pay attention and hit that brake! Dealer says, "no problem found". There are interior gaskets and moldings coming off. Dealer shoved them back on and they are coming off again. Newest problem is the car keeps stalling and doesnt want to start. Have an appointment to bring it in again in two days, if it starts.

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  My car sucks - 2000 Chevrolet Prizm
  By bettyboop16 - December 8 - 12:51 am

  I have had my prizm for just over a year and I will NEVER buy another car like it again...it eats oil like crazy,the inner door handle on drivers side is broke,the clear coat on the hood has peeled off, and it does the same as most of the other reviews, it hesitates when you pull out(VERY DANGEROUS) my fuel pump just went out today...cant wait to see whats next!!!!

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  Chevrfolet Cruze is not worth its weight in salt - - 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
  By surfnmore - October 14 - 10:03 pm

  I bought my chevrolet cruze in hopes of obtaining a reliable vehicle. 1 year later at around 34k miles I started having problems. It stalled. I brought it to the dearlship. They couldnt figure it out and had to use a diagnostic tree since the computer wasnt operating properly. They then replaced the mass air flow sensor, billed me $300 and the vehicle is still there until corporate call them

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  UNSAFE!!!! - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By mercuryhater - August 2 - 10:23 pm

  Our Malibu has just been recalled there are so many problems with this car. The key can practically be pulled out while driving. While closing windows accidentally put the Malibu key in our 99 Blazer and it fit in it wouldnt turn but the door chime came on a quality key wouldnt even fit in. we recently had a blown head gasket and it needed a new engine the ac doesnt work well our familys 02 malibu was left in drive and the key came out and the battery died the key should not turn when a car is in drive it wa so scary I dont want to even ride in the car we typically drive our Tribeca everywhere.

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  Dont buy it! - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By juan_david - March 25 - 1:54 pm

  Worst first car ever!, I got the Malibu 2001 on 2003, the breaks went bad, then the ac randomly tuned off, then the AC didnÂ’t work, then the ABS went wrong, then the wheels covers did a squeaky sound on the road... then the RPM stayed at 3,000 randomly, the tail lights filled with water every time it rains, the car got foggy on cold weather when the defroster went on. The steering wheel started to disintegrate on my handsÂ… the car lasted 5 years with meÂ… I switched to Nissan Rouge on 2008, and now I own other Nissan, a Murano

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  MONEY PIT - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By moneypit10 - January 13 - 8:12 pm

  Since I bought this van at 22,000 miles its needed a $1200 engine seal, new windshield wiper motor, new headlights because they leak water into them. Now its at 50,000 miles and it needs a tune up. I wonder what else will go wrong with it. It just keeps costing me money. This has not been a good vehicle to own. The only good thing about this van is that its 11 years old with only 50,000 miles on it and the interior and exterior look like new. Too bad whats under the hood cant be more reliable. I give this 10 thumbs down and 20 raspberries. I will never buy another chevy.

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  From bad to worse - 2011 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 2011nomore - January 6 - 8:04 am

  I had 3 Malibus 2006, totaled by a drunk driver. 2006, totaled by a bus. Car accelerated into traffic. I reversed as my choice was a gasoline tanker and a bus. 2011 : This car from day one has been a lemon. It is getting worse. I have 18 k on the car. I get 21 miles on open highway and 17 in city. I have been told by GM to put 20 more thousand miles to loosen it up. Door on drivers side leaks and has "been" fixed only to leak worse. At 40 mph there is a dinging in the right rear. At 60 mhp under load the steering column shakes and rattles the whole car. If you let off the gas it quits. Dealer told me this is "normal". Transmission fluid is dark brow..."normal" too. JUNK