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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  From full size to compact - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By MX336mom - October 2 - 8:23 am

  It drives great, handles good, no major problems to date. Driver’s side strut was replaced at 17k miles. Loaded with dirt bike and gear, best mileage was 23 mpg. Usual mileage is 21-22 mpg, combined. It is smaller, lower to the ground, less equipped than my old Silverado (which I continue to miss). If you can live with a 4 cyl, this is a good little truck. It would be a great truck for a young person, who has yet to experience the grandeur of a loaded full size Silverado V8.

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  History - 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By dondailey - October 2 - 4:00 am

  Truck has been a dependable vehicle. Performance is good, fuel mileage could be better. I am very satisfied with this truck.

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  GM offers value and reliability - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By RonD - October 2 - 2:00 am

  I am very pleased with the Malibu. It is quiet with a solid feel on the road. Handles rough pavement well and the seat are very adjustable, especially with the telescoping steering wheel. The engine is smooth and has plenty of power. The steering is a little too light for my taste, but my wife likes it fine. Only complaint is the tires are not up to the standards of the rest of the car. The handling is just adequate and I suppect the 15" Bridgstones dont have the grip Im used to.

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  i love my car! - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By sharonly - October 2 - 2:00 am

  im one of few teenagers out there driving impalas. but i love my car! it was really simple to get used to driving it. its big enough inside to seat 4 friends + me comfortably, and the trunk space definitly helped with moving to college. its a smooth ride, even when some accidental offroading has occured. steep hills are no problem, and i love the fast acceleration. also the gas mileage rocks. i made it from connecticut to the middle of virginia on one tank!

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  Hidious Bench Seats - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By jeprudhom - October 2 - 2:00 am

  The 40/20/40 style bench seat is ungodly uncomfortable. If I had to do it again, I would take GM up on the 24 hour test ride. If I would have done this, I might have considered a different truck.

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  Love my Blazer - 2000 Chevrolet Blazer
  By swanithan - October 1 - 6:21 pm

  This is my second SUV and I love this one. I owned a 96 Explorer before my Blazer. I wish my Blazer was the same size as the Explorer. I also wish my Blazer had rear air like the Explorer did. I love the 4.3L V6! Tons of power and revs almost to redline. Ive never wished for more power. The dash color is not very pretty and I dont like the hump in the passenger foot well for the transfer case. Not alot of rear legroom behind me, Im 6ft tall. Love everything else about the inside of my Blazer. Adore the heated seats and the seat memory feature. Only problem I had was the heater core went out, it was replaced under warranty. Gas mileage is fine, I didnt buy it for the mileage. Great 4X4!

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  Great Fun - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By D.O. - October 1 - 2:13 pm

  Screamer! Fast as hell, w/o the gas guzzler 6.0 AWD of the SS. I own a 4.2L Envoy, the 5.3L gets 2 MPG better. Remember these are SUVs not Corvettes.

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  Dont dog my Blazer - 2002 Chevrolet Blazer
  By OPIE - October 1 - 1:38 pm

  This is my third S-10 vehicle and the best yet. Great looks, reliable engine, good ride, beautiful interior, very functional, and easy to work on yourself. Bose stereo sounds awesome. I would much rather have a late model Blazer than a Trailblazer. Fuel efficiency could be better but I did buy a truck...not a car. What do you expect. Overall I have no complaints from this vehicle.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Ben - October 1 - 4:33 am

  I love this car. It has a smooth, quiet drive. I have never had a problem with it. My wife drives it on business trips and I never worry about it breaking down.

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  Convinced - 2002 Chevrolet Suburban
  By kle361 - September 30 - 9:49 pm

  I was disappointed to buy the 2WD but price range dictated. Didnt really want anything this large, but had twins on the way, and it was the only vehicle large enough to fit my double- stroller without it toppling out on me. With 4 older kids, space for cargo was definitely a concern, too. Bought vehicle used with about 40K. Added 17" offroad tires, really made a difference in handling. Put over 50K on it in the year that I owned it, and the only issue I had was the a/c went out at about 110K miles. Loved the ride and the roominess. Several TX to FL trips were comfortable, even with 6 kids along! Will always buy Suburbans if I can afford it!