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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  Nice Job Chevy!! - 2004 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Cellaman - June 8 - 10:00 am

  First to Clarify, I have a z85 ext cab automatic 4X4 with 3500 vortec. This truck is terriffic! It runs great:Power(not as torquey as the old 4.3 but power throughout the RPM range is much better) And it rides like a car. Most comfortable, best handling truck I have ever been in. Besides loaded Silverado. I took this truck for the 24hr test drive and liked it so much I bought the demo.The stereo with XM is great. People bust in the interior as being bland and cheap..Come on , its a truck and the controls and instrument layout is cool and functional. Tacoma same overall look to inside but much coller outside.

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  Chevrolet has a winner!! - 2005 Chevrolet Equinox
  By CV - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I just got my Equinox and I couldnt be happier. This vehicle is SHARP. Kudos to the designers on this one. Mine is the AWD model with every available option. Everything inside is right where you would expect it (with the exception of the heated seat control). Its got a lot of pep and fun to drive. I dont know why edmunds says the radio controls are difficult. They couldnt be easier to use. It also has lots of cargo room and leg room for second seat passengers. The doors open up wide, to accommodate large items or handicapped passengers. For the money, its the best small utility vehicle available today!

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  No Problems - 1998 Chevrolet S-10
  By beafreak - June 8 - 2:00 am

  The only problem that I have had is the seat back adjuster handles have both broken off. This is a common problem with this truck(there is a technical service bulletin on this). Ive got as high as 27mpg on a 700 mile trip and average about 20. The 2.2L is no powerhouse but it gets the job done. I would surely buy another.

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  Wow! - 2003 Chevrolet Venture
  By iAmNotManan - June 8 - 2:00 am

  This van is simply mind boggling! Amazing. I love it. i have three of them. what else could you ask for.

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  our first suv - 2002 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By blazen away - June 6 - 10:00 am

  Weve this Trailblazer EXT for two months and we love it! We recently took it on a 900 mile vacation. We averaged 20 mph on the highway at 80 mph with five people, a/c running and a full load. It went up and down hills with minimal effort. The wind noise up front wasnt as bad as we had heard, although still noticeable. We made the switch to the Trailbalzer from a 2001 Venture. We thought the suv wouldnt be able to rival the convienence of the van. We were wrong. Well never have a van again.

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  GREAT little car! - 2016 Chevrolet Spark
  By salandra - June 5 - 10:33 pm

  I have been looking at the Spark for a few months...and the dealership had a GREAT incentive of $3k off, so I went down to test drive. I was VERY surprised of the roominess of this little car! I am a 6 foot tall woman and my little Ford Escort just wasnt cutting it. Well, the Spark feels like you sit up, almost like an SUV. The ride is GREAT, and I drive 40 minutes 1 way to work every day. This little guy reminds me of my old Omni (back in the day)...but a MUCH BETTER RIDE! I love the mpg. 5 STARS ALL THE WAY!!!!!

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  2001 impala rewiew - 2002 Chevrolet Impala
  By mark dettloff - June 5 - 9:50 am

  Great buy for the money. Excellent gas mileage for a full size car. Very comfortable, but not slooppy handling.

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  S10 - 1999 Chevrolet S-10
  By KRC - June 5 - 2:00 am

  The interior seat adjustment levers both broke with normal use. Other than that built well and very reliable.

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  Great Car - 1992 Chevrolet Camaro
  By zer0321 - June 5 - 2:00 am

  The 3.1L V6 does a good job at getting up and going, which is fine for most people, but if you want performance you want the V8 for sure...great platform to start with easily adaptable to fit many engines and can out handle alot the the newer cars! for those of you wanting cupholders, just get some from a 1991 or 1992 firebird, they mount on the doors, and work great.

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  97 And Still Better Than Most New - 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By gavin - June 5 - 2:00 am

  This 1997 Tahoe is still better than most new vehicles!! I cant believe I see people complaining about stupid stuff. Of course you are going to fix things on a 6 (almost 7) year old vehicle. Go buy your Toyota Sequia and pay the bill to fix it. wow!! Go bowtie!! Cant wait to get a new one, but this one does just fine and still pulls good money. how many other products can say that? so what if it drinks a little gas. if you pay that much for a luxury vehicle, why do you worry about a few dollars extra a week!