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 Vehicle for the money. - 2011 Chevrolet Traverse
  By Lunar - September 25 - 2:00 am

  We bought a LT1 and added the rear view camera feature because the visibility through the rear window is minimal. The ride is firm and quiet and the 6 speed transmit ion makes it smooth and very peppy. Used to drive a minivan, we found that the cargo space is limited but adequate for our needs, when we test drove them, we found that the 4 wheel drive version felt a little heavy on takeoff, so we choose the FWD with traction control. We love the looks and body stile and the interior is quite luxurious for the price.

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  I Love My Suburban (Big Black) - 2010 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Dr. of Goop - September 24 - 2:00 am

  Ive had everything from Corvettes to Jeeps (my family owned 3 new car franchises) and for a "Grown Up" the Suburban is the perfect vehicle for me at this stage (50 years old). My black LTZ gets looks everywhere because it evokes the Secret Service / Government impression. The LTZ package offers all of the amenities that I need. My actual mileage is a very respectable 15 MPG and would be substantially better if I didnt use the remote starter so much (to warm/cool the interior). Also, mileage would be better if I didnt have such a heavy foot. For me this is the right vehicle at the right time.

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  Excellent Automobile - 2005 Chevrolet Impala
  By mariebl - September 24 - 2:00 am

  I really cant find anything about my Impala that I dont like. It is comfortable driving, I have good visibility, use my cruise control on highway and have only had the usual maintenance done and the history the maintenance was done when specified. I would recommend buying this car to anyone wanting a comfortable, safe car especially those who travel a lot. Had back problems with other cars, not with my Impala, has a Lumbar adjustment in drivers seat. Love driving my car.

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  Awesome car - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By nards4 - September 24 - 2:00 am

  great sports car for the money. love the car it gets a lot of attention and has all the power in world.

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  Love it - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Jeff - September 23 - 2:00 am

  GM nailed this one. Rides like a dream. Gets great mpg avg 35 mpg at 69 mp. I drive mostly highway miles. The trunk needs to be bigger other than that. Very happy.

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  Good value grocery getter - 2005 Chevrolet Classic
  By Mr. Wall - September 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive owned my Classic for 2 years now and put 25k miles on it. Averages 26- 30 mpg combined city/hwy driving, 32 mpg on road trips with two adults and luggage. For only $6900 it has been a great car. No mechanical issues. Has a huge trunk and plenty of interior space. The dealer I bought from had a 2001 Corolla with over 100k miles for the same price. Im glad I went with the newer, lower mileage Chevy. The Ecotec has been very reliable. Looking forward to putting another 100k miles on this.

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  If You Are Short Read On - 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
  By LoveChevy - September 22 - 2:00 am

  I am 5 2". I have the seat all the way up and almost completely forward. The steering is QUICK. Driving a GEO Prizm for many years was very different. Blind spots left and right passenger. As you can see I dont drive much but I have been told it is a car that can rack up the mileage and is still very dependable. Drove from PA to NM and it was very comfortable.

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  Excellent SUV - 1995 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Joey Dorsey - September 21 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Tahoe from a friend who had it since new, after numerous offers, he finally agreed to sell it to me. Probably the best $3000 I ever spent. The truck has 205,000 miles and still drives like a dream, and to call the 4 wheel drive powerful is an understatement. All and all this is my favorite of all the vehicles Ive owned.

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  A bit too pricey - 2009 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Elwapo72 - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I have had my Chevy Aveo for about 1 year now. I havent had any major problems. The very first problem I had was that the Onstar wasnt working. Second problem I am still having is that at times it will not start. I usually have to wait about a minute or two then try again and it usually starts. The other thing is how hard it is to find oil filters for it. Sometimes the filters are a little pricey.

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  LOVE IT - 2010 Chevrolet Aveo
  By Gary - September 20 - 2:00 am

  Well just picked it up few days ago, but in that time i see a car that compared to its competitors is very capable, cant say about fuel mileage but style exterior and interior i feel is great, looked at others in this category compared to the Aveo more money warranty not as good, in short for the money cant go wrong will see soon so far extremely happy.