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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  Got It - 2003 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Jim Wallace - May 28 - 10:00 am

  I first saw the one in the state of Washington late may. Came home to Sacramento and went right to a dealer and got one. Didnt need one, didnt have any idea that i wanted one until i saw one, so i bought one. I will never be sorry i got one. So much power, so much comfort, so much style. Dont know how i got along with out one........ Chevy Sliverdao SS...............

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  all 10s - 2004 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By mikecal - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Excellent Truck. A few horsepower tweeks and you match the lightning

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  97 Malibu Review - 1997 Chevrolet Malibu
  By MalibuFan - May 27 - 1:42 pm

  I bought the Malibu used with 40,000 miles on it. It was our second Malibu, with the first one totaled in a wreck. We drove the second Malibu to almost 140,000 miles before selling it. Overall, a good car with good gas mileage. We did replace the power steering pump, all of the front pulleys, and alternator during our 100,000 miles of use. At the time we sold it, the head gaskets were needing to be replaced (A $900 expense if done at the Chevy dealership). We would purchase another Malibu.

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  Best truck ever - 2006 Chevrolet Avalanche
  By allen copeland - May 27 - 4:20 am

  From daily driving to camping, atving, snowmobiling, RV pulling, grocery runs, hardware, and landscaping hauling. The kids love the rear seat DVD player, and the wife likes the heated seats in the winter. My favorite is the OnStar that now allows me to contact my wife as soon as I get back to the truck after a day snowmobiling instead of an hour later when I get within cell range.

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  1500 Silverado - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By Drew - May 27 - 3:26 am

  I owned an F150 prior to buying a 1500 Silverado. The ride of the F150 does not even come close to the ride of the Silverado, the 1500 is much smoother, quieter, and generally a more comfortable ride. I am extremely happy with the Silverado 1500.

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  2008 Impala LT - 2008 Chevrolet Impala
  By Manny Barriger - May 27 - 2:06 am

  The vehicle was purchased in February of 2008. I like the looks of the all black, with the cherry wood dash. My transportation has been predominately in the city, which gives me about 24-24 mpg. I have taken the car on one trip across the state of Wisconsin from Milwaukee to LaCrosse. The ride was good, and the vehicle got up to 32 mpg on the trip. It may have gotten better, but we had it fully loaded with 3 people and about 450 lbs worth of stuff. That is what I find neat about this car, its full size and the ability to get mileage that competes with the small compact foreign cars. The other thing I like is the oil life indicator, I get about 5,000 miles between oil changes.

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  Great deal on truck - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By J RICH - May 26 - 11:46 pm

  I decided on this truck on price. I have not driven any of the other brands. But where else can you get a crew cab with pwr windows and locks for $19200 after taxes. So far the only thing I would change is the wheels which I intend to and the fact that they give you heated mirrors instead of power driver seat. The truck has a smooth ride. It can become bumpy at times. The v8 provides more than enough power for normal driving. The fuel ecomomy is class leading. Real world 19.9 mpg city/hwy

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  Latch Car Seats - 2007 Chevrolet Suburban
  By Brian M - May 26 - 10:02 pm

  Only bad thing I can say is, "Why arent there latch seats on the drivers side on the 2nd row bench?". Otherwise great. Replacing our 2003 Sequoia. Hope it proves as reliable.

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  Kaleighs review - 2007 Chevrolet Aveo
  By kaleigh - May 26 - 6:15 pm

  I have owned this car for a few months and I do like it, but the gas mileage is not what I was told or expected. I love the appearance and the look to the car especially for what I spent! I have a few concerns.

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  My experience so far has been good - 2006 Chevrolet Colorado
  By Chris - May 26 - 6:26 am

  I drive my trucks until they die and in 25 years owned a Toyota a Nissan and now this 06 Chevy Colorado. All are/have been 4x4s. I cant say how the Chevy will compare with the others over time but after owning it for 8 months and putting just over 6k miles on it Im not disappointed. Ive had no mechanical trouble so far, fuel economy has been in the low twenties, sometimes slightly better, the Chevy engine outperforms the others and I must be one of the only people who likes the plastic interior (this is a truck after all not a luxury automobile). I would have preferred bucket seats, an exterior door lock on the pasenger side and a ,stronger body but overall so far Im satisfied.