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 - Fun to Drive - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By Henderson - September 6 - 2:30 pm

  This is my first Chevrolet and my first GM product since having complete disappointment in a 1990 Pontiac Grand Am. Chevy has hit the mark with this car. Its fun to drive and very comfortable. The 3.9L engine has plenty of pickup but you lose mpg as a result. Overall, I get about 23 mpg which is still pretty good. The only thing that is annoying is a clicking noise that comes and goes. The service department has not been able to identify where it is coming from.

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  LT - 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt
  By Matt - September 6 - 1:30 pm

  Loved the color of the vehicle and the radio. It has good acceleration and abs brakes grab smoothly. So far fuel economy has been great. The computer in dash is real nice. This car will make a nice commuter car

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  Outstanding - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Tigga - September 5 - 11:46 pm

  When I first saw this car iI wanted one, but never thought the day of me owning one would come so soon. I admire all the features that came with this car. Drives smooth, good on gas, and preformance and handling is excellent, as well as heated seats. I would recommend this car to anybody thats looking for a nice luxury car.

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  Wind Noise - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By mockster - September 5 - 10:59 pm

  I love the power of this vehicle. I also love the "weight" of the vehicle. It feels sturdy. The cargo room is better than other SUVs I have owned. My biggest gripe and the reason I am looking to sell? Wind noise. This is the loudest vehicle I have ever driven in. It sounds like the windows are open when you get out on the highway. You cannot hear anyone from the back seat. I read reviews about the noise when I bought the vehicle but didnt realize what it really meant. I cannot drive it any longer because of this one complaint. It makes me crazy. Watch your air conditioning belt also. Mine froze up and cost $1100 to fix.

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  SWZ26s review - 1996 Chevrolet Beretta
  By SWZ26 - September 5 - 5:05 pm

  Excellent car! And I have owned 4 in the past. Now I own a 1996 Z26 and it is beautiful car. I recently lost my 2002 Chevy Cavalier in a accident and it was a total lost. This car rides so smooth and the seats are so comfortable. I would recommend this car to anyone. It is a well made car and stands the test of time.

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  Best truck I ever owned. - 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
  By awesometruck - September 5 - 12:14 pm

  Low Maintenance. High performance ,good gas mileage. Cannot say enough about the satisfaction of getting a great truck with great support.

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  Amazing Z06 - 2008 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Stevie - September 5 - 8:15 am

  Did the museum delivery. It was amazing. People were great. Was very interesting seeing the manufacturing. Really appreciated the peoples commitment to the Corvette. The car is great. Very tight. My 10 year old did the best one word explanation of the car calling it "sick"

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  angry and bitter - 2003 Chevrolet Blazer
  By angry and bitter - September 4 - 11:37 pm

  Used 03 Blazer has one issue after another since purchase over a year ago. I had to replace a ball joint, ignition switch,and now the mass air flow sensor after being tested for hesitation when accelerating. This does not include many minor repairs. These are just the most costly. I understand wear and tear, but this is ridiculous. Problems that just baffle me are the passenger seat belt doesnt clip every time you have to push in button. That to me is a major red flag for safety. The drivers seat wont tilt forward anymore. After about three months the cd player quit working. I was told by GM that it will be cheaper to replace. I think it will be cheaper to replace the car than parts!

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  C6 Corvette Coupe - 2006 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Volocty - September 4 - 7:03 pm

  Ive had my car now for almost 2 years and it is hands down the most exciting car Ive ever owned. Power, style, and even the fuel mileage is fantastic. We just came back from a 3400 mile road trip, avg 27.2 mpg, it was so comfortable, no complaints. Passing power & it drives like its on rails. The coupe offers the best of both worlds, as the roof comes off and stows in the back, when ever youre craving a little wind in your hair. I have the 6spd Auto w/Paddle shiffting and we used it aevery time we came across some twisty roads. I cant wait for the next road trip... (yeah Im still smiling)

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  Awesome Car - 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier
  By JaredJon - September 4 - 2:56 pm

  I love this car! Everything is standard. I added some cool effect like white face gauges, alumin wheels, xenon lights, euro tails....had a head on accident last week in bad weather...car frame did great and sustained no engine damage...did $6k to the body tho. That must mean its a safe choice.