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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  dont buy the 6 speed transmission! - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By el_hoppy - July 6 - 1:14 am

  love the looks and ride but the 6 speed "learning" transmission is crap. it jerks and makes noise during low speed gear changes. GM says its "normal" and will not repair.

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  I love my HHR - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By Scott - July 5 - 2:11 pm

  I love my HHR! I traded in my Nissan Titan which was a good truck but terrible on gas. The HHR is great on gas and big enough for weekend trips with the kids.

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  Been an excellent car - 1999 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Darrell - July 5 - 4:56 am

  Approximately 140,000 miles on it right now and still going strong. Have only performed regular maintenance items since purchasing this car and have never had a major problem. Great mileage with the 4 cylinder and the power is good for a car this size.

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  All around decent SUV - 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By slider5 - July 4 - 11:04 pm

  Big roomy and powerful. Sure the interior is bland and plain, but it is functional and the seats are comfy. Other SUVs such as the Pathfinder or 4runner look nice with their shiny futuristic dashboards, however I have ridden in both and the seats are like sitting on a padded ironing board.

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  Best Value in the segment - 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Matt - July 4 - 10:26 pm

  It can hold its own against both the Accord (I owned a 2001) and the Camry but at thousands less. I was able to purchase this vehicle at $2500 under invoice, by far the most bang for your buck in this segment. This car is loaded: heated and power seats, heated outside mirrors, XM radio, everything you could want. GM quality has improved substantially along with interior styling. 5 years ago I dont think I would have considered a Chevy, but now they hold their own against the best. Ride is excelllent, acceleration admirable. The only gripe I have is that it would be nice to have a few more pieces of accent trim.

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  Satisfied HHR owner - 2007 Chevrolet HHR
  By hhrhb - July 4 - 9:03 pm

  I have had this vehicle for about a month now and enjoy it more every day. It is very comfortable and quiet. I have the dark blue exterior with ebony inside and it looks stylish. I drive primarily city miles and obtain 27 mpg averaging around 30 mph and have not taken it on a highway trip yet. Sunroof takes away some head space.

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  Off the Showroom Floor - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Mars317 - July 4 - 11:26 am

  I bought the new 2008 Malibu off the showroom and was pleased with all the extras. Heated seats, elect drivers seat, OnStar for the year. It works. A cell phone built in. Ive never had so many options that I really like. Very comfortable ride. Something bad, the whole steering column and its motor had to be replaced. Very odd. Doesnt give me a good feeling.

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  2004 Malibu LS - 2004 Chevrolet Malibu
  By TalkinMan - July 4 - 2:00 am

  This is really a remarkable car. Im upgrading from a 1996 Camaro LS, and although this car isnt as tightly wound as the Camaro, its remarkably fun to drive. Mechanically, the car has terrific acceleration performance, smooth shifter on the automatic. Even though its a taller car, it doesnt sway as much as I was fearing it would, so it corners well and tracks well around turns. Design-wise, there are some mysterious interior things, leading me to give it a 9 out of 10 there, but its beautiful on the outside. Perfect car in every way - I was comparing it to the Altima and Passat, and it simply blows them out of the water.

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  Kick Ass Truck!!! - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By warrendl - July 4 - 2:00 am

  This truck is simply amazing, all of the muscle, all of the toys and its so "freakin" sexy. Its like a dream come true, all the power of a Chevy truck accompanied by the comforts of a luxury suv.

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  love it love it love it - 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By Robert H - July 4 - 2:00 am

  this truck has won MVP during our recent move. the versatility is great. just like the review says, amenities and feel of a suburban with the utility of the silverado. i can haul family around or lumber. the amenities are great, comes with dual- zone climate control, GREAT bose stereo with in-dash 6 disc changer. (stereo includes subwoofer). i dont know what people are talking about "cheap interior feel"... it feels luxurious to me. a hefty curb weight makes for sluggish performance though, and gas mileage is abysmal. the onboard computer is more amazing than in my previous BMW.