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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  Expensive to maintain - 2001 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Struggling Student - July 15 - 3:06 pm

  I got this car with 9900 miles on it, now has almost 160,000. I seem to have similar problems as everyone else. The intake gaskets need replaced, which causes the car to leak coolant, coolant reservoir replaced, fuel pump replaced water pump replaced, electrical problem with the emergencey hazard switch, some type of oil sensor replaced. The A/C turns off and on sporadically. Then the other normal manitenance. This car has been a very expensive car to maintain.

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  Great car - 2001 Chevrolet Lumina
  By linda howell - July 15 - 1:25 pm

  The Lumina has been a very dependable car. We have gotten about 38 miles per gallon on trips from NYS to North Carolina. This is better than our 2005 Toyota Camry. It is roomy and comfortable.

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  The best car in the world - 1993 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Billy - July 15 - 11:14 am

  This vehicle runs strong at 162,000 miles. Had to replace the power steering about 30,000 miles ago and recently had to replace it again but the mechanic was a crook. GM designed a magnificent car when they made the 1993 Chevy Suburban.

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  Useful but plain - 2001 Chevrolet Astro
  By Mr. Rufener - July 15 - 10:55 am

  The Astro’s greatest merit is its interior space. It has room for 8 large passengers plus considerable cargo. It is also the only newer minivan that can tow 4500 pounds. Otherwise, it’s a humdrum vehicle that delivers dependable, no-frills transportation. AWD, a common option, is valuable for driving in snow, but unfortunately doesnt work in reverse. It also reduces mileage by 2 mpg. Expect 13-17 mpg for an AWD model. The powertrain performance is adequate but doesn’t feel strong, and it’s noisy when pushed hard. The seats are only moderately comfortable, but they were improved in 2002. The Astro offers usefulness and value to owners willing to sacrifice modern design and performance.

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  So far so good - 2007 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Joe - July 14 - 10:13 pm

  I started driving this truck in 2/08, it is my company vehicle. It has as much leg room as my 07 Tundra Double Cab and rides just as good. It did way better in WI winter conditions than I expected. I regularly get 25 mpg on the highway with an aluminum cap and 300 - 500 lbs of tools and stuff in the back. It doesnt have many options, but it hasnt had a single mechanical flaw. I put 100 - 220 miles on it daily and I find the seat in my cheapee model comfortable. Seems to be a little more cabin noise than I would like, but it is so much more comfortable and roomy than S-10s. This is a standard cab with the 4 banger. People flash their brights at me a lot at night when mine arent on

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  2005 that has given me no problems - 2005 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Debis - July 14 - 9:31 pm

  My daughter and I fell in love with the Colorado crew cab on first sight and I have not been disappointed. We drove it home the same day we laid eyes on it. Did the recall on the brake lights and dealt with the ac switch but I have had no other problems. It is a perfect size for me and my big yellow dog that thinks the truck belongs to him. Gas mileage is much better when I pay attention to my speed.

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  Transmission bad deal ! - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By CATHY - July 14 - 3:08 pm

  We purchased our 07 Tahoe in 06. It has been a joy to drive. I dont hurt when I get out of it ! Handles wonderfully in bad weather and pulls a load like no full sized truck weve had before ! We have had a few glitches tho we had a problem with the battery going bad after a few months. Bought a new one problem solved! Power lift gate off track still not fixed. The real problem is the transmission went out at 105,000. All our miles are highway miles. This should not have happened, it just went out ! We called OnStar for a diagnositics, couldnt find a problem! We knew there was one tho! So any way we got online and there are pages and pages of transmission problems. So check it out before you buy

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  Its just OK - 2008 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Joanne - July 14 - 9:39 am

  I should have looked a little harder. Its a bit of a gas guzzler. The interior could use a couple of perks. Had some problems with it starting in extremely cold weather.

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  Strong like Rock - 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By clownthebobo - July 14 - 4:47 am

  2004 Tahoe LS 2WD, 5.3 liter flex fuel. We bought this vehicle in anticipation of reliability, decent mileage, good priced and to haul a large family in style. We got all four. We had one repair, which was a recall item. With 2wd, we had up to 22 MPG on the freeway (Catback exhaust and cold air intake). Impressive. City mileage is on par with other SUVs. We have had nine people in the Tahoe without any complaining. The only design flaw I see is the difficulty on how the rear passengers get in and out. Difficult task for an adult 6 foot or larger, but let room in the second row is great. All in all a comfortable family vehicle!

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  kelzar - 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By kelzar - July 14 - 2:00 am

  This is an excellent vehicle. The reason for the lower score in the comfort area? -- the seat belt is not a comfortable fit. I use a "seat belt adjuster" (2 dollars and change) to tolerate. Other than that: Perfect performance, very good mileage and a fun car to drive. It is a buyers market for cars these days with the rebates and low financing... If I did decide to trade, it would be for another Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS.