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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  Great but needs forgiveness - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By molsen2064 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  Overall I love this vehicle... except for the build quality... I had to have the engine replaced at 9500 miles... dealer said there was a gouge in the 5th piston sleeve... plus there have been some other smaller things... "other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?" it has run great since the replacement though...

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  great little car - 2004 Chevrolet Aveo
  By BJ S - May 6 - 10:00 am

  body is a little tinny

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  Awesome SUV/TRUCK - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By dominicandominator - May 6 - 10:00 am

  Amazing performance, smooth ride, classic looks, Sense of well being (high enough) from any possible damage on an accident. !!!DOCTOR RECOMENDED!!!

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  grows on you - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By luvtheav - May 6 - 10:00 am

  4000 miles driven so no long term reliability comments. Impresive ride considering the size. Some may complain of numb steering but I find it just fine. I suggest the 4.10 rear ratio for more spirited local driving.

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  Good Value - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By berne1 - May 4 - 11:20 pm

  The Impala is a good value for the money. I got the SS model because of the supercharged engine and sportier exterior features. With the wheels and SS spoiler, the car really is an improvement over the base and LS models in the looks department. There is a lot of interior room for the size of the car. Fit and finish are great, this car is put together very nicely. I like the additional gauges you get with the SS vs. the other models (boost, etc.).

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  Excellent Vehicle... - 1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By Chris Barter - May 4 - 10:00 am

  The Z34 has the larger of the two engines....which has had a number of problems. My Monte LS has the 3.1L and has never been in the shop and should last well beyond 150,000 miles. The 3.4L is another story. If your considering a GM product, word to the wise, make sure it has the 3.1L in it.

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  2002 LS - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By shayes1 - May 4 - 9:53 am

  I have an 89 s10 w/175K miles and a 2000 Blazer, so its not surprising I have added this to my garage. The great exterior styling is beyond what I could ever wish for in a Chevy SUV. Other pluses are the strong engine, smooth ride, but it would have been nice to drop the solid axle. One thing I did not like is the fact you are forced to buy OnStar to get a sunroof in the LS (shame on you Chevy).

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  Great mid-size car - 2007 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By kagohio - May 2 - 7:56 am

  I have had my Maxx for 6 months and put 15,000 miles on it due to my commute and the Maxxhas impressed me every one of those miles. The seats are comfortable, the ride is smooth and quiet and most of the controls are easy to reach and read. . . and the sterring wheel radio controls are great. Have not been to the garage except for 2 oil changes. The rear wiper is great in the rain and snow to keep clear view out the back.

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  Total dissapoitment - 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jimmyz10 - April 30 - 10:23 pm

  This is my very first brand new truck out a dealer with only 200 miles on it. I bought it 2 days ago and tomorrow is going back to the dealer shop. I didnt drove tested as I had before on pre-owned cars, I figured zero miles zero problems WRONG!! after I drove my beautiful truck around town and on the freeway I noticed a shake or vibration when idling, on speed and at a stop light. It can be feel even at the passenger seat and rear seats, it just SHAKES. I took it back to the dealer and 2 persons drove it and told me that there was definitely something wrong, that they also felt the bad idling. Now after reading all this reviews I think I will be stuck with a 43k dollars PU, not working...

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  (Sink) Like a Rock - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By LeonardJ - April 30 - 10:00 am

  For the first 1,500 miles, it was a great truck. Then the sporatic rough idling started. The dealer says that it is a computer glitch. "Bring it back in three weeks, we might have a fix for it by then", says the dealer; "Chevrolet will certainly have the glitch worked out within the next three months". In the mean time, the problem continues. The mechanic told me that "lots of Colorados have this problem". GM unleashes another untested design on the buying public. Remember the 1977 Oldsmobile diesel fiasco? I do!! This is my last GM product.