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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  Pleasantly surprised - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Chris N. - August 7 - 2:08 am

  I wanted to give an American vehicle one more chance to impress me and the Cobalt been up to the task. I have the base model LS with only cruise control as an added option. It has gotten terrific gas mileage on long trips (36 mpg) and around town averages over 32 mpg. I have had no mechanical problems with it after almost 2 and half years of daily use. It still rides quietly and comfortably and has plenty of ummp! to merge into traffic on the highway. It seats 4 avg. size adults. My only complaints are lack of interior storage space and, while the storage capacity of the trunk is ample for an economy car, the trunk entry is too small. Other than that, for a daily commuter GM got it right.

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  2005 Chev Crew Cab Short Box 4X4 Z71 - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By LJP - August 6 - 9:20 pm

  This truck is one of the best designed Chevy trucks I have owned. Everyone I take for a ride likes the 4 doors and roominess. The comfort is better then most cars I have driven. The match of crew cab and short (58" bed) is a perfect blend for my use. The 5.3L coupled with the limited slip 3.42 axle is good on mileage and acceleration. The fuel tank is large enough to get me where I need to go with minimal stops at the outrageously priced gas pumps. All in all, this truck was a hit even with some complaints that I had / have.

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  Review - 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Larry - August 6 - 8:07 pm

  Love my new Tahoe! Just came from an Armada and do miss some of the extra storage but Im loving the ride, super comfort. Mileage is awesome. If you practice hypermiling you can get 17mph around town. Its amazing how far this will coast. I didnt realize that new vehicles are designed to disengage the tranny when you let your foot off the gas. Great way to improve economy.Just went to Maine and got 20.4 hwy at 75mph and 21 when I cut it back to 62- 65mph.

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  Bought new off the lot - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Fred - August 6 - 5:10 pm

  The Maxx is a comfortable and smooth ride. It handles well in-town and quietly on the road. All of the controls are conveniently located. The 60/40 back seats fold down for much needed extra room. However, the markings for the radio buttons, power windows & locks and power side mirrors deteriorated quickly with use. We have had several bouts of electrical problems causing 2-3 week stays at the dealership while they tried to figure them out. Power locks are sluggish. Cloth interiors show stains and wear easily even with dealership treatment and cleaning. The back seat levers broke within 2 years but there were no further problems once replaced. Fuel line needed repair in 2008, too.

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  HHR water leaks - 2008 Chevrolet HHR
  By BRANDOGGY - August 6 - 5:05 pm

  My 08 panel HHR developed a water leak somewhere in the body of the vehicle. The dealer had it for a week and say they fixed the problem. That is yet to be determined. Problem was found when I took it for an oil change and discovered 3 lights out. I took it to the dealer and there was 2 inches of water in the rear floorboard from where the rain got in. The water shorted out the electrical system. My advise is to keep a close eye on your HHR particularly in the back seat area. If you detect an oder of mildew or notice any lights out, take it to the dealer at once. Other than this problem I love the vehicle

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  When will GM learn - 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By sanmech - August 6 - 4:16 pm

  Bought this car new with 0% down for 72 months. Good deal-- With 9000 miles on the car I finally realized why my hands were killing me when I drove the car. The steering wheel is hard as a rock, and I cannot drive it anymore. So, I give it to my wife and guess what? Her hands hurt. A call to GM was made and of course they said sorry, but that is all. Car now in shop for a rattle they cant find. They replaced 2 struts and 2 strut mounts, 2 stabilizer links and 2 control arms. Still rattles. How many more times can one get burnt with a GM product. Last time for me. My Honda Civic 2003 I just bought still runs and rides like a new car with 86000 miles on it. You tell me why to buy American again!

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  Retro-wagon - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By impalaman61 - August 6 - 1:48 pm

  I love my little HHR! Its fun to drive, I get all the looks, and it hasnt given me one problem yet. It gets okay gas mileage and definitely could use more umph in the horsepower but overall Im satisfied with it.

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  Loved my Sub! - 1994 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SUBMOM - August 6 - 1:18 pm

  This was a great ride. It was diesel and we got 24 HWY, 20 city. We did get rid of it after it got well over 2000,000 miles. The underneath was needing a lot of new parts replaced. Now after buying a gas 1999 Sub, I wish we would have fixed our old one. Besides great gas mileage, and power, it looked great. We did have to replace the brakes, and we had fuel and air problems at first, but once we figured them out, it was a great experience. There is more room in a 3/4 ton than in a 1/2 ton. The 94 is built much better also.

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  Disappointed! - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
  By SUBMOM - August 6 - 1:05 pm

  We had a 94 Suburban for many years, was very satisfied. But with diesel going up, and it had over 200,000 miles, we had to say goodbye. Long story short, we purchased the 99. Where do I start? Brakes, plastic interior, intake gasket, cruise control, we now have three doors that will not lock or unlock,dash cracks loudly and pops when hot. Gas mileage, 12 miles in town, 15 HWY. We are very sad and disappointed. Loved the 94, do not like the 99.

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  Bittersweet GM Purchase - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By BLKBETE - August 6 - 1:57 am

  After having a Toyota for 3 years, I decided to give GM a shot with their sharp new Tahoe. With the 20s, leather and DVD ent. system, shes a head turner. Its very quiet and extremely comfortable. The handling is suprisingly responsive. The drawback for me is the reliability and trips to the service department. Inadvertant rattles being common, Ive had issues with the tranny, the steering geer as well as a recurring problem with the recirculation AC not working thus me getting a fresh dose of deisel fumes in morning rush hour. I like the vehicle, but will probably trade it for a foreign truck before the warranty expires. Such a shame!