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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  Stranded in Nova Scotia - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Malibu - July 9 - 6:43 am

  In all honesty the 2003 Malibu has been fairly reliable, except for rotors. I made the mistake of getting the rotors machined back to smooth, all this did was to give the rotors a shorter life. Replace rotors if they are warped, do not machine. Its now in with a suspected fuel pump problem. The reason its at the Canadian tire is I went to the local Chev dealer, and explained I had a loose connection on a wire leading to the fan motor, a simple repair, at $152. I was furious and got the bill reduced substantially. The air conditioning never worked satisfactorily from day one, it cooled but was never cold. The vehicle was just transport

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  Perfect truck for any reason - 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Hans2 - July 9 - 2:00 am

  Best truck on the road.I like the looks Very quiet. I have Z71 option. Ride is a little stiff, but needs to be for off road. I wish for 6.0 liter engine. The 8.1 is too much.

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  "This car is off the hook!" - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette
  By keglo - July 9 - 2:00 am

  This 03 Rag Top, Yellow no less, 6 speed is our second shot at a Vette. Our 92 Coupe was great,but this 2003 is much more car! Looks, Handling, Workmanship, Performance. Grab a dictionary and all the "good words" describe this car. We are very pleased and put some miles on this past weekend. Lots of admiring motorists! Come on summer!

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  Better gas mileage - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Shari W - July 9 - 2:00 am

  After owning 3 Suburbans over 20 years, we decided to downsize now that the kids are grown. The Tahoe is a great, dependable vehicle and much easier to park than the Suburbans were. I still have all of the cargo room behind the second seat and have enjoyed the ride and feel of the vehicle very much. Just did not expect to pay MORE for the Tahoe than any other Suburban we ever had!

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  Areas needing attention - 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Keith Henson - July 9 - 2:00 am

  In general, this truck has been great. It has required very few adjustments and the dealer has been great for those that are not design flaws such as the cruise control - downshifts on every interstate hill. Have not seen a cruise control that does not allow minor "slip" of 1-2 MPH. This one doesnt and GM claims it cannot be tuned. Need to hire a good controls engineer.

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  Great First SUV - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Arthur - July 8 - 8:30 pm

  This was my first SUV. I fell in love at first sight. My NOX performed great during recent snow storms. Great family SUV and fun to drive. Its been seven months and Im still in love.

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  Best SUV Ive ever had, by far! - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By DBLAZ - July 8 - 6:34 pm

  This is by far the best SUV my wife and I have ever driven or ridden in. The ride is as smooth as can be, the handling is amazing, the looks are awesome, and we get 20 mpg which is great for an SUV of its size. It has lots of leg room, as well as a lot of luggage space. It gets up and goes great! The safety features are first class. We have put quite a bit of mileage on it and changing the oil is really the only maintenance it has needed. Great vehicle!

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  Never owned a chevy - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Woodboat - July 8 - 2:55 pm

  I have always owned Dodges or Fords. Never liked Chevys. I test drove every vehicle made in this class. This had the best ride, best fuel mileage,, smoothest operation, and best price. With factory incentives the car cost $12,100. I was very objective and simply couldnt pass up this great car. I liked the size of some others like the Scion XB but the ride was harsh and jiggly, gas pedal operation was abrupt. The Chevy is way easier to drive. We have them in our fleet at work and the mechanics say they are the most reliable cars we have ever owned.

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  My First New Car - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By 98Roadster - July 8 - 1:15 pm

  Ive owned 10 cars and this was my first new car. Shes got 115,000 miles now and all Ive replaced is a starter, spark plugs and wires, and an alternator. Its been a great car and is really fun. Its kept in the garage so it still looks almost brand new. Ill probably trade it in for a new 2009 Camaro just as I did the 1988 IROC is used as a trade in for this Camaro.

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  I love it. - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By JME - July 8 - 9:45 am

  I love this car. I get 29 mpg. I do a lot of highway driving and when the windows are closed it seems like its sound proof. I could use a little more light, being that the windows are tinted and small it doesnt flood the vehicle with light. The one thing I do hate is that the cup holders are between the seats and the power window buttons are next to the shifter on the floor. I have actually been thinking about an upgrade to a 08.