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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  Buy one and feel younger - 2000 Chevrolet Corvette
  By vchanpe - July 29 - 11:14 pm

  Purchased a well maintained used glossy black 2000 Vette with 6 sp last year for $22K and I am having the time of my life. I am 55 but I feel like a teenager again. My previous cars were muscle cars and luxury cars and I will never go back. I knew the power was there but the grip is unbelievable. I have taken freeway exit curves at 50 mph where the speed limit was 25 mph. My muscle cars could not do that. I am averaging 20 MPG overall with the 6 speed while my brothers GTO and my sons Transam gets only 18 MPG with the same engine but with automatics. Noisy car but I will be installing sound insulation soon. My next car after this one will be a Vette.

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  Not best choice on market - 2007 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Phillip Smith - July 29 - 12:11 pm

  Vehicle is underpowered, has a hard time catching up with cruise control settings. Often resulting in high engine revs and downshifting. Even with no cargo load. Removing seats for cargo space is cumbersome and could result in back injury. They are extremly heavy, release and locking mechanisims do not work well. Center console not well designed or user friendly.

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  Awesome Car. - 1993 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Matt - July 29 - 2:15 am

  I traded in an 89 S10 Baja for this car and I have to say it was an excellent trade. This is a truly memorable car and if I ever get the chance to purchase another, I will do it. I never had any repairs except a power steering pump which was only 40 bucks. I bought the car shortly after I graduated high school, and I kept it for over 2 years. Then I traded it to a 97 Grand Cherokee limited, but I missed it so much i had to purchase the car back from the dealer. I truly enjoyed this car. It has plenty of HP. I highly suggest if you see one of these for sale to buy it. You will not be dissapointed.

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  A step up for a first time buyer - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Missy - July 28 - 9:30 pm

  My last car was a Pontiac Grand Am so I made a conscious decision to buy a more powerful car and I definitely got it! As a recent college graduate, this car is decidedly more grown-up without having the stuffiness of its larger counterpart, the Chevy Impala. Good stereo, comfy seats, and ample leg room make this a good choice. I usually get 22-25 mpg with city driving.

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  Happy With It - 1998 Chevrolet Astro
  By yoyack - July 28 - 7:03 pm

  Bought new and its been very good. Count on the fuel pump going out. Mine did and so did every one in my employers fleet. Its big, comfortable and great on long drives. Power window, water pump and alternator replaced. Never overheated in 115 degree desert heat. Great A/C kept things cool inside. Wife likes this more than the Q45. Would buy again if reliability is as good as imports. Domestics just arent there yet. Extend the warranty and significantly lower parts prices and I will buy another one. Parts for imports used to be expensive, now domestics are no different.

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  Great Car - 2006 Chevrolet Impala
  By mary ann moody - July 28 - 1:20 pm

  This car is great for the family. It will comfortably seat five. OnStar is a real bonus and very reasuring when driving.

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  New SUV Purchase - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT
  By Greg Kragel - July 28 - 9:26 am

  My wife and I bought our Trailblazer a few weeks ago and have had a great expereince with it. It drives extremely smooth and I believe it has a great turning radius.

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  The best sedan weve ever owned - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By Dave - July 28 - 2:38 am

  Ive always bought Japanese, but I found a great deal on a used Impala, so I took a chance. Im so glad I did. The car has had zero problems and it drives like a dream. The seats are very comfortable. My daughter says the rear seats are great, too. Trunk is huge. The best thing about the car is the phenomenal mileage: the Impala gets better mileage than our Subaru but its much more spacious. The engine has plenty of pep and a satisfying growl that makes it feel like a hot rod. Its really the perfect combination of size, performance and fuel economy. I would buy another one. Its really a great car.

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  Suburban - 2001 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Whitedawg - July 27 - 9:40 pm

  I am the orignal ownwer of this vehicle. I have ensured this vehicle has met every scheduled mx as well as regular oil changes, At 85K a hose clamp gave way, 98K replaced window regulator and 101K AC compressor, new one has life time warranty. We travel exetensively and love traveling in the Suburban.

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  Great Used SUV for the Money - 1994 Chevrolet Blazer
  By MICHAEL - July 27 - 6:40 pm

  This is a great auto if your income wont allow you to buy new. It is really reliable. Ive had some minor repairs, but nothing that broke the bank. It is a dream to drive in the winter in 4x4 mode! I have not fears of letting my girlfriend drive it in the snow! When my finance allow me to..I will buy another one...new!