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 Car - 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By CandyM - March 13 - 3:26 pm

  Ive had my Cobalt ("Colby") for almost three years and Ive loved every minute of it. Though, like all cars, it has its minor flaws. About a month after getting it, the seal in the door in the back started leaking. A year later they had to replace the whole steering column. Then there was a recall on the cooling system. Now its vibrating. Other than those major things, I love my Cobalt. Sadly I may be getting another car since its so low to the ground and it always rains in my city.

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  Awesome, but not for the faint of heart - 2000 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Skyszr - March 13 - 2:54 pm

  Great car, awesome performance for the engine. If you can handle the V8 its good in wet weather. If not, dont dog it. I recommend getting drilled slotted rotors, and ceramic brakes. I put almost 90,000 miles on them, and I do hot rod my car. Gas mileage is good, interior is not a wow factor, but its nice. Has a lot of potential for mods, cosmetic, and perfomance If youre looking for a fast fun sharp car, this is the car to drive.

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  Tahoe LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Christina - March 13 - 2:30 pm

  I love my Tahoe LTZ. I bought it used with very little mileage, and its the best car I ever had. Its a very smooth ride and turns really well. Its great for road trips. The only true downside is gas prices. Im extremely happy with it!

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  Horrible Interior Quality - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Andre Garcia - March 13 - 12:30 pm

  Bought the car with 8K Miles, when the car reached 12K Miles door panels (door seams) started to turn yellow because of poor quality material used, dealership claims that this is normal wear. Multiple other problems, noises and ratles inside the car. Many of the problems are still there, GM customer service says they cant do anything since the dealer said its normal wear and tear. The car itself is good, but I will have to sell it soon, before the whole interios falls apart. Will never buy another Chevrolet, no wonder they are in such financial problems. Would not recomend this car to anyone.

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  Thank you, Husband - 2012 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Barbara Shrum - March 13 - 9:51 am

  My husband bought me this car after a back injury when my 4-wheel drive truck was too rough for me to drive. I have loved it! The seats are so comfortable, even on long trips. The power rear liftgate was a lifesaver for getting things in and out. And it looks snazzy too. The navigation system and Onstar always made me feel safe traveling alone.

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  Mixed feelings - 2006 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Sherry - March 12 - 9:44 pm

  My husband and I purchased our nox in 2006. I have about 29,000 miles. I love the look and style of the truck. It has awesome pick-up and handling. Not poor in the snow but could be better. I had the signal switch burn out after a year and a half. Biggest issue is hesitation with starting. Ive had to give it gas on occassion. My truck is currently being serviced for this problem. Other than that I love my truck and hope the problem is resolved after this being the 5th attempt. OK on gas, I only use Sunoco.

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  Outstanding Value - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By prosdude - March 12 - 6:23 pm

  This car has it all; looks, performance and comfort. My girlfriend is especially prejudiced in favor of Japanese cars but within 5 minutes of taking the wheel of this beauty she was impressed. The electric steering is just plain great making the car very maneuverable in tight places. The adjustable pedals are another wonderful feature for a comfortable driving position. I think this car is the best value of any car on the market especially if you have a GM credit card that gives you 5% rebate towards the purchase of a new car. Mine was $19,200 out the door with sales tax and license.

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  Fun Ride - 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
  By cj2163 - March 12 - 4:53 am

  We have put about 1200 miles on our 06 Monte. So far it has been a real fun ride. The interior is roomy enough. The kids fit fine in the back seat. Not real practial with children, but oh well. The heated seats and stereo are great. The car has a fairly stiff suspension and hugs the road well. You do feel most bumps in the road. Braking is very strong and the steering gives you a solid feel of the road. The car feels solid and substantial. The 3.9l V6 is plenty powerful for us with lots of passing power. Fuel economy is running about 23 around town and 27-28 on the highway. Overall, we are very pleased with the car and have not had second thoughts about our selection.

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  North Carolina LTZ Avalanche 2008 - 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By avyowner2008LTZ - March 12 - 12:22 am

  I thought long and hard before buying this vehicle. I compared it to the Cadillac EXT, Toyota Tundra Ltd, Ford F-150 King Ranch, Dodge TD, GMC 2500 Duramax TD w/ Allison6spd. In the end, all those other vehicles were just trucks. If what you really want is a truck, then buy the GMC or the Tundra, in my opinion. If what you want is really a very nice SUV with lots of bells & whistles that also doubles as a pickup truck, then the Avalanche is for you as it was for me. I have every toy you can get on this LTZ and I suggest you either get the LTZ or the LT3 w/Z71. No LTZ ride leveling on the LT3 though. No 4x4 in the Caddy available.

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  163000 and still going strong! - 1997 Chevrolet Blazer
  By kansley - March 11 - 9:55 pm

  When I bought this Blazer I was getting rid of my 2001 Turbo Jetta and getting something cheaper to fix. However I have put 10000 miles on the truck and have only had to replace the serpentine belt. Had a transmission shutter but realized engine misfire was the problem. I deliver pizzas so the 4WD comes in handy were I live. However better gas mileage would be nice.